Can a 5gal Aqua-tech Hex be cycled?

[Stara'lfur]

In particular, without substrate? I like it bare-bottomed.

I got my 5 gallon aquatech hex a few months ago when I got my first betta. I was told it didn't need to be cycled so I didn't... well now I don't think my betta is doing so well, he has a mild case of fin rot which I am treating with aquarium salt and 80 degree temp.

I want to cycle it, and I am going to be getting a 10 gallon tank set up soon and using bio spira for it. Can I just pour some bio-spira into the 5 gallon and it will cycle? Or do I need to do a 100% water change? Is no substrate okay?

The Aqua-tech is basically an eclipse system 5 hex tank. It has a biowheel and filter pads with carbon in them.

Thanks for any help!

 

[Stara'lfur]

Still wondering!

 

[Lupin]

Throw the carbon out of the tank and test your water parameters using API liquid test kit. Please tell us the water parameters once you've tested the water. Your colony of bacteria will reside mostly in the filter.

As far as treating finrot, bacterial infections usually progress better in warm temperatures. No need to touch the temperature. Doing plenty of water changes should be your solution aside from monitoring the water parameters making sure both ammonia and nitrites remain at zero. To clean your filter media, use tank water. Avoid hot water and soap residues.

Good luck.

 

[Rbishop]

No you don't need the substrate to cycle, though it does provide more surface area for them to grow on. I am not a believer in salt and temp being the most effective cure for fin rot.

Bacteria will reside where ever the water touches something, and it is getting food and oxygen.

 

[Cory Keeper]

Staralfurl, the AT Hex IS an Eclipse 5, or maybe you didn't see the marineland booklet included in it.

Luppy, Its kinda hard to throw the carbon out, its built into the pad and more trouble than its worth. on the upshot, its a great medium for bacteria though.

BTW, throw the salt away... leave the temp alone. Meds work better, name starts with an M but I can't think of the name for the life of me.

 

[oscaremmy]

My betta had finrot - very successfully treated with daily partial water changes, addition of some aquarium salt. Now fins growing back nicely. Bare tanks will still cycle via the filter, but substrate provides additional habitat for bacteria, making the tank's cycle less dependent on the filter.

 

[oscaremmy]

Staralfurl, the AT Hex IS an Eclipse 5, or maybe you didn't see the marineland booklet included in it.

Luppy, Its kinda hard to throw the carbon out, its built into the pad and more trouble than its worth. on the upshot, its a great medium for bacteria though.

BTW, throw the salt away... leave the temp alone. Meds work better, name starts with an M but I can't think of the name for the life of me.

Sorry cory...I disagree. Meds and bettas are not always successful - best to concentrate on clean water. Aquarium salt is harmless and helps to buffer the fish against nitrite toxicity - sounds like this may be an uncycled tank.

Carbon need not be removed from the filter if using salt and water changes.

Having read various web pages about the impact of Melafix on bettas, opinion seems divided...I prefer not to risk it. I have it but I didn't use it when my betta had finrot - if I had used it, he might not still be alive and well today!