Stocking Suggestions for a 4 Gallon Tank

[BettaFishMommy]

BettaFishMommy:

The tank was cycled with a combination of Tetra SafeStart and fish food. The tank has also been sitting for three months after the initial cycling, and ammonia is 0.

if the tank has been sitting without an ammonia source for three months then i would say it is not cycled any more. zero ammonia, zero nitrites, and zero nitrates say it is not cycled. as i mentioned, that many plants would not account for zero nitrates.

put some fish food in the tank or pure ammonia in the tank and test for ammonia 24 hours later. if you have anything other than zero, then your tank will need cycled again.

 

[Sparkxx]

Unfortunetly, I am afriad you left your tank for too long for the cycling rescources you used to keep effect I would add fish food and then test for ammonia, then once ammonia vanishes, test for nitrite and then finally nitrate, once you get 0 on both nitrtrite and ammonia, you could add some shrimp and a female betta ;D

 

[Sushigeek]

Are you sure? I have been told by various employees at fish stores that I could cycle my tank and let it sit. I just added some flake food and will test my water again in 24 hours.

 

[Chrisinator]

It was probably cycled the first time but a lack of ammonia source killed the bacteria.

 

[RisiganL.]

Gambusia and mosquito fish are the same thing. Actually, Gambusia is the genus name. The most common mosquito fish are Gambusia affinis and Gambusia holbrooki. I have experiance with both, and they can both be pretty nasty. I still love them though. Really and interesting fish IMO.

 

[jpappy789]

Would be more effective to dose ammonia rather than wait for the food to start breaking down, but same basically the same outcome.

Anyways, as mentioned if there was no food source for that long then I would be hesitant to still call it cycled. But bacteria are resilient things so without testing its impossible to say one way for sure or the other.

 

[Sushigeek]

Originally posted by RisiganL.: Gambusia and mosquito fish are the same thing. Actually, Gambusia is the genus name. The most common mosquito fish are Gambusia affinis and Gambusia holbrooki. I have experiance with both, and they can both be pretty nasty. I still love them though. Really and interesting fish IMO.

RisiganL.: I think I'd like to go through with the mosquitofish plan per your advice, but I still don't know how many I should stock and what sex.

 

[Sushigeek]

Just tested my water, and still have no ammonia, nitrate or nitrite after adding fish food. :woot:So am I still clear to add livestock.

 

[the wizard]

ammonia won't show right away. That is why most prefer to dose with pure ammonia to cycle. You can then dose to 2ppm and check it 24 hours later to see where you stand with your cycle.

 

[jpappy789]

Yep, you need to allow the food to actually "break down"