i've heard that it is very difficult or impossible to cycle anything below two gallons because there is so little water and surface area.
Need Guidance for a Quick Fishy Cycle
- Thread starter BlueTetraGirl
- Start date
I am using a Tetra Whisper internal 3i filter. It uses an air pump to run, and is designed for 1-3 gallon tanks. The filter cartridge just sits inside the cylinder that the water is drawn into, and the filtered water spills out of the side of the top. I added some Bio-max pellets into the filter chamber, behind the regular cartridge, to provide the good bacteria a nice place to grow.
I have been testing my water and keeping a log twice a day since I got my test kits on Monday night. I have been using Cycle, Novaqua+ and Amquel+ regularly since Saturday. I first set up the tank on Tuesday last week.
I changed the water again, and got the ammonia down to 0.25ppm and the temp down to 78*
I am trying to watch the tank parameters very carefully. Should I buy Bio-spira, or is Cycle good enough?
BTW, I know it is a really small tank, but as a college student, it was all I could afford/have room for. (My roomate does not understand the love of fish)
I plan to set up my bigger tank (10-15 gals, I can't remember which) when I graduate and go back home in three months. Maybe I could even get out my old 50 gallon! 
Anyway, I want to get this tank safely cycled ASAP. When can I expect to finish the cycle? Do all these water changes make it take longer?
Sorry about the long post, and all my questions. Thanks for all the helpful advice.
I have been testing my water and keeping a log twice a day since I got my test kits on Monday night. I have been using Cycle, Novaqua+ and Amquel+ regularly since Saturday. I first set up the tank on Tuesday last week.
I changed the water again, and got the ammonia down to 0.25ppm and the temp down to 78*
I am trying to watch the tank parameters very carefully. Should I buy Bio-spira, or is Cycle good enough?
BTW, I know it is a really small tank, but as a college student, it was all I could afford/have room for. (My roomate does not understand the love of fish)
I plan to set up my bigger tank (10-15 gals, I can't remember which) when I graduate and go back home in three months. Maybe I could even get out my old 50 gallon! Anyway, I want to get this tank safely cycled ASAP. When can I expect to finish the cycle? Do all these water changes make it take longer?
Sorry about the long post, and all my questions. Thanks for all the helpful advice.
1) test water for ammonia. ammonia greater than .25?
2) change some water, say 50 to 75%.
3) Test for ammonia again. If above .25, change more water.
If .25 or below, leave it for now.
4) read the sticky on freshwater cycling
(you asked how much ammonia is it ok to leave in. the answer is .25 at this point)
In such a small tank, I would test 3x/day at first if possible until you see how fast the ammonia builds up.
vaccuuming~ An aquarium vaccuum is just a length of tubing with a rigid tube at the end. the tube is of a greater diameter than the tubing. start a syphon, and stick the tube into the gravel.the syphon will lift the gravel into the tube, the dirt from the gravel bed will be syphoned out with the water, as you raies the tube up to the top of the gravel, the gravel will drop back down. If you can find one small enough, i'd recommend you get one. Yes you can skip vaccumming during the trying to cycle the tank. Even w/o a vqaccuum, a bit of air hose as a syphon will make water changes a lot easier;no need to move the fish,for one thing.
I expect you will be doing a couple of changes a day for a while.
You don't need to worry about getting through it fast, as long as you keep the ammonia, and then the nitrite levels down below .25
I would not expect cycle to do anything.
When fishy cycling, you need to keep the ammonia/nitrite levels low. Yes it would probably 'finish cycling somewhat sooner with a large steady supply of ammonia, but that just isnt an option with fish in there, so don't hesitate to do the necessary water changes.
additives~ every time you change the water you need to remove chlorine and chloramine from the replacement water. That is the only water conditioning you need to use at this time. not an ammonia blocking thing, nothing to mess with the PH...just remove chlorine chloramine. Biospira would be fine and probably helpful if you want to spent the money.
Did you say that you have 2 cories and a betta in this 1.5 gal?
2) change some water, say 50 to 75%.
3) Test for ammonia again. If above .25, change more water.
If .25 or below, leave it for now.
4) read the sticky on freshwater cycling
(you asked how much ammonia is it ok to leave in. the answer is .25 at this point)
In such a small tank, I would test 3x/day at first if possible until you see how fast the ammonia builds up.
vaccuuming~ An aquarium vaccuum is just a length of tubing with a rigid tube at the end. the tube is of a greater diameter than the tubing. start a syphon, and stick the tube into the gravel.the syphon will lift the gravel into the tube, the dirt from the gravel bed will be syphoned out with the water, as you raies the tube up to the top of the gravel, the gravel will drop back down. If you can find one small enough, i'd recommend you get one. Yes you can skip vaccumming during the trying to cycle the tank. Even w/o a vqaccuum, a bit of air hose as a syphon will make water changes a lot easier;no need to move the fish,for one thing.
I expect you will be doing a couple of changes a day for a while.
You don't need to worry about getting through it fast, as long as you keep the ammonia, and then the nitrite levels down below .25
I would not expect cycle to do anything.
When fishy cycling, you need to keep the ammonia/nitrite levels low. Yes it would probably 'finish cycling somewhat sooner with a large steady supply of ammonia, but that just isnt an option with fish in there, so don't hesitate to do the necessary water changes.
additives~ every time you change the water you need to remove chlorine and chloramine from the replacement water. That is the only water conditioning you need to use at this time. not an ammonia blocking thing, nothing to mess with the PH...just remove chlorine chloramine. Biospira would be fine and probably helpful if you want to spent the money.
Did you say that you have 2 cories and a betta in this 1.5 gal?
Yes, I have 2 cories and 1 betta in this tank. The cories are just juvenilles, so I thought they would be ok in such a small tank for a few months. They get along well with the betta. He tries to intimidate them and bully them a bit, but they either a) hide b) ignore him or c) sass him right back.
BTW, I got a mini gravel vacuum the other day, and it does make water changes a lot easier. I know how to use it as a siphon, I just wasn't quite sure how to use it to vacuum the gravel.
So Bio-spira really works?
Thanks for the help!
BTW, I got a mini gravel vacuum the other day, and it does make water changes a lot easier. I know how to use it as a siphon, I just wasn't quite sure how to use it to vacuum the gravel.
So Bio-spira really works?
Thanks for the help!
sorry, I guess you posted while I was responding.
I think the amquel will distort your test results.
If you were not definitely absolutely positively going to get a larger tank in 3 months, you would definitely have to take out those cories. as it is, keep an eye on them.
I think you might have a very hard time cycling that tank with three fish in it. maybe the bioballs will help. I was just looking at those filters in the store today. I think it should be fine.
I think the amquel will distort your test results.
If you were not definitely absolutely positively going to get a larger tank in 3 months, you would definitely have to take out those cories. as it is, keep an eye on them.
I think you might have a very hard time cycling that tank with three fish in it. maybe the bioballs will help. I was just looking at those filters in the store today. I think it should be fine.
Thanks for giving me a good game plan to use for the next few days/weeks. Yeah, I'm keeping a close eye on EVERYTHING at this point! 
So what water conditioner do you recommend I use? I have some Tetra Aquasafe (a little packet that came with the tank). Should I use that?
So what water conditioner do you recommend I use? I have some Tetra Aquasafe (a little packet that came with the tank). Should I use that?
I think aquasafe is the one I used to use. right now I am on well water an I use none. I am terrible at remembering product names. read the ovaqua bottle that might be what you are looking for.
look to neutralize chlorine And chloramines. not all water has chloramines but I for get how to test.
gee, I think I used to like having a memory...
look to neutralize chlorine And chloramines. not all water has chloramines but I for get how to test.
gee, I think I used to like having a memory...
That's ok. I'm in an accelerated college, and we fry our brains everyday trying to remember stuff for tests!
Thanks for being so patient with me!
I'll test the water again tomorrow, whoops, I mean later today, and post the new water parameters.
Thanks for being so patient with me!
I'll test the water again tomorrow, whoops, I mean later today, and post the new water parameters.
