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Post by dragonflower on Jan 12, 2006 15:37:27 GMT -5
I stopped in at the fish store looking for Bio Spira from Marineland, which I've read on here will instantly cycle my tank. He asked me some questions to see why I needed it (he didn't carry it) and then told me I was doing stuff wrong.
I told him I do a 40% water change every couple of days to help cycle my tank. He said not to change the water because I'm only making it stay bad. Only do the monthly water change and not to change the filter until the tank is cycled.
He asked how much I feed my betta and I told him about 3 pellets in the morning and at night. He said I'm feeding him too much. Only 3 pellets in the morning.
Instead of getting the stuff from Marineland, which he didn't carry, he said I should use this other stuff, which I conveniently left in the car and will have to come back and post the name of later.
What about the other things he said? Am I changing the water too much trying to cycle the tank and am I feeding my betta too much?
Thanks!!
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Post by amanichen on Jan 12, 2006 15:54:38 GMT -5
Objectively speaking, Bio Spira is really the only "bacteria in a bottle" that significantly reduces cycling time in freshwater tanks. It's just that the others (currently, to my knowledge) contain the wrong type of bacteria for one of the steps in the nitrogen cycle in freshwater.
Six pellets a day for your betta isn't too many, especially if he's active and lives in a tank that has a tropical temperature (78F-80F as opposed to room temperature.) You'll want to, however, mix in different types of foods. This has benefits for nutrition as well as helping prevent constipation that can result from dry food with a high ash content.
As for cycling your tank, giving details about the setup would be helpful.
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Post by dragonflower on Jan 13, 2006 0:02:51 GMT -5
It's a 5.5 gallon w/ a filter and a heater. Heater is set at 83, but the thermometer stays around 78. He has two silk plants, one that he likes to lay in, and a swim through cave. When I do a water change, I add Stress Coat. I also test the water every few days for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.
I was feeding him about 5 pellets twice a day, but when I posted this before, it was suggested to limit his pellets to 3 twice a day. I need to get him a different food so I can mix it up, but because this guy was telling me things so different from the things you guys here told me on my last post, I didn't want to buy food from him and have him telling me it was wrong too.
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Post by amanichen on Jan 13, 2006 14:33:00 GMT -5
It's a 5.5 gallon w/ a filter and a heater. Heater is set at 83, but the thermometer stays around 78. Just do enough water changes to keep the chemical levels acceptable for the betta: ammonia <0.25 ppm nitrite <1ppm pH between 6.5 and 7.5 Yes, doing the water changes is prolonging the cycling process, but at the moment nothing but Bio Spira, or media from an established filter will cycle your tank overnight. What product did the store employee recommend to you? Don't listen to the pet store guy. I know it seems it's just a matter of my word vs. his word, but not all advice is equal, and there aren't many pet store employees who genuinely understand things. FYI, I used to work at a pet store for three years, so it's not as if my mistrust is unfounded or biased. |
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wheelyfeet
Fry
So many fish, so little tank space.
Posts: 40
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Post by wheelyfeet on Jan 16, 2006 17:51:23 GMT -5
He is right about not changing your filter, but, holy cow, only change your water once a month? Fish in tanks live in a closed environment. The toxins gradually build to higher and higher levels unless fresh water is supplied.
The water changes won't help establish your cycle, they help keep your fish from getting poisoned when the ammonia and nitrite levels climb while the cycle is being established. The frequent water changes will actually prolong the establishment of the cycle. I'd rather prolong the cycle than stress the fish.
BioSpira is hard to find and EXPENSIVE. You can do it without, and bettas are hardy enough to withstand the process. Follow Amanichen's advice for your readings. Often a 25% water change is fine. You can do a test after your water change to see if you lowered it to an acceptable level.
Your feeding sounds okay. Fishstores may under feed in order to keep from fouling the water. Also, the size of the fish matters. A young small one may need less food. Their stomach is the size of their eyeball. That may be 2 or 3 pellets.
Bettas can eat most live foods. I've heard that daphnia or wingless fruit flies are probably the live food that is closest to what a betta eats in the wild. I don't have a supply available in my area and I don't feel like growing my own, tubifex gross me out, so I use blood worms.
I feed my betta thawed frozen blood worms a couple of times a week . I take a little portion of a cube and put it in a little dish. To this I add a little aquarium water. This thaws the block and you can see the individual worms. I take a toothpick and fish out a worm and hold it at the top of the water and the betta takes the worm (entertaining). If I don't do this the worms sink and I'm afraid they will rot at the bottom. I have three tanks, so I feed all my fish blood worms at the same time.
Deb
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