One fish, 24 gal., one week -- no ammonia

[cawaltons]

After reading several fish books and on the suggestions of LFS, we started cycling our new 24 gal. tank on Jan. 2 with one male betta. As instructed by LFS, we used Prime to remove chlorine and added Cycle. We have been eagerly testing the water about every other day and still have no measurable ammonia. We have done two water changes (about 2 gallons each time), mostly because the water looks like tea from our driftwood.

We would like to see some rise in ammonia so that we know that our tank has cycled so we can add other fish. Do you think the low readings are normal? Is it from the Prime or Cycle? Could it be that one fish in that much water won't cause a normal cycle?

Thanks!

 

[Seaman]

maybe your test strips are bad?

 

[cawaltons]

we're using the drops

maybe your test strips are bad?

We're using the type where you get the test tubes and add drops. I'm sure we're using the correctly. The directions are very clear. Do people have trouble with the drop tests?

 

[Swimfins]

I think your lone betta is not enough to give a noticeable rise in ammonia,
You might want to add 5 or 6 ghost shrimp and feed some flakes to create amonia. They say 'cycle' is useless in tank cycling. I found it worked best when my tank was showing high nitrItes. This should occur after you've been registering amonia for awhile.

Your drop test is likely just fine. One itty bitty betta in 20g, is not much of a load. I'd add the ghost shrimp. Feeding the flakes is what will cause the amonia, but the shrimp will clean it up just fine.

 

[cawaltons]

what about plants?

Interesting, thanks! Yes, someone else mentioned the Cycle was not a great idea.

I'd add the ghost shrimp. Feeding the flakes is what will cause the amonia, but the shrimp will clean it up just fine.

See, I feel funny about adding the shrimp because I don't know if I can make a long term commitment to them. (I was hoping to eventually add: 8 Neon Tetra, 2 Honey gourami, and 3 Kuhli Loach, although I am not sure about that since I read the sticky debunking the 1" rule.)

What if I added some plants? That was the original plan, but then the LFS said that I should either cycle with plants or fish, but not both.

Also, we learned that our neighbor has a freshwater tank. Maybe we could beg some gravel from them? Would that be helpful?

 

[platesnc]

Plants will do fine with fish IMO, no harm for sure.

Yes you should get some gravel or filter material from them to speed up the cycling process. But do check that his fish are healthy and find out more about his water change habits, etc.

 

[carpguy]

Plants are good for a fishy cycle. They'll bring good bacteria with them and will eat ammonia themselves.

Bright plant lighting with high ammonia levels can sometimes lead to algae, the usual recommendation for fishless is to wait.

Here's a good link on "silent"planted cycling

I think the one betta may not be giving you enough ammonia. You could always try using a little too much food to simulate bioload. He may also have trouble with the gouramis down the road. They're kind of closely related.

 

[JSchmidt]

If you are using Prime, most ammonia tests will give you false results. The only one I know of that works when using Prime is the Ammonia Shield, which is a little card you put in your tank. I shows how much ammonia is present.

The other common tests -- the Nessler tests with one reagent and the salicylate tests with two reagents -- won't give you accurate results when used with Prime.

HTH,
Jim

P.S. This is not an indictment of Prime; it's a good treatment for chlorinated/chloriminated water. It just messes up ammonia tests.

 

[Swimfins]

I woudn't worry about a long term commitment to the shrimp. You can leave them there as fish food eventually. In my experience they don't last long (a few weeks or months) and they are fun to watch while you have them.
When they were in their molting period, my gourami treated themselves to lunch.

 

[cawaltons]

filter material and betta

Thanks, all!

Argh! The Prime may be cloaking my ammonia? I was afraid of that. So, I can just buy any other dechlorinator?

Now, if I get the filter material from my neighbor (and I'm not sure about his tank habits -- he's a newbie whose 10 gal. tank has cycled but seems overloaded to me), what do I do with it? Put it in a nylon in the tank?

Thanks for the link on the planted cycle. He refers to adding CO2. Should I do this with my betta in the tank? Is this something I can buy at the pet store?

And yes, I am wondering about the betta with the gouramis. I am hoping that they'll get along, especially in a planted tank. It's interesting to read the conflicting info out there. One book we have has a picture of a male betta in a community tank on the cover. Another recommonded the gourami as being compatible with bettas. After reading the betta thread, it sounds like it would have been best to add the betta last. As it is, we may have to use a betta condo in the tank. OTOH, he may get along just fine -- he never flairs at his reflection in the glass (though he did once only for a mirror).

Thanks very much for all the advice!