Ammonia readings with new betta..

Fishnoob78 · 12-01-2005, 03:14 PM

I just tested the water in my 5 1/2 gallon tank. The ammonia is .5-1.0

Nitrites are 0.

I only added the betta last night. Is this normal? I have only fed him once and some of the water from his bowl went into the tank.

Other than the readings my new betta seems to be happy in his new home. Swims around a lot, through the rocks, spends time near the heater and plants. I think he maybe seeing his reflection on two sides of the tank since he spends lots of time there with his tails raised.

What should the ammonia levels be right after you do a water change and right before a water change, lets say after 4 days?

I plan on changing about 40% the water every 4 days.
Tank 5 1/2
Water Temp 79
PH 7

Tap water conditioner and PH buffer used in the water.

thanks

Fishnoob78 · 12-02-2005, 02:31 PM

He seems to be doing fine. He blew a bubble nest last night. He's very active...although sometimes he can go up and down or side to side very fast along the sides of the tank and i'm not sure if thats normal betta behavior or not. I've only have seen other bettas in bowls just laying there motionless.

i will be changing about 40% of the water tomorrow, saturday morning. I've had him since wed night.

Except for trying to keep the temp steady, its goes between 80 and 74 very easily all is well.

mousey · 12-02-2005, 05:49 PM

are you trying to cycle the tank?? The ammonia reading should be at 0 for it to be safe for your fish. Bettas are not too tolerant of the cycling process.
I have a friend who cycled her 5 gal tank and just does her water change weekly. Who else is in the tank with him?
mousey

Fishnoob78 · 12-02-2005, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mousey

are you trying to cycle the tank?? The ammonia reading should be at 0 for it to be safe for your fish. Bettas are not too tolerant of the cycling process.
I have a friend who cycled her 5 gal tank and just does her water change weekly. Who else is in the tank with him?
mousey

I thought with this small of a tank and with how bettas breathe that you didn't really need to have a cycled tank. I thought that regular water changes are all thats needed. I dont mind changing water frequently.

mousey · 12-04-2005, 11:46 AM

well as long as you are doing the water changes each week you will be ok. I like to cycle the tank and do only partial water changes as the cost of water is pretty high here. I reuse the water on my plants.
mousey

RockabillyChick · 12-05-2005, 04:27 PM

how big is the tank? bettas only breathe with their labrynthe organ when the water has very low oxygen. otherwise they use their gills like every other fish.

however, the way they breathe has nothing to do with having a cycled tank or not.

bettas eat, and poop, just like every other fish. their waste decomposes into ammonia. bacteria in the water begin to eat the ammonia, and soon grow and multiply, converting the ammonia into nitrItes. then in the presance of nitrites, more bacteria start growing and feeding on the nitrites, and convert it into nitrAtes. then you do water changes to remove the nitrAtes. this is cycling.

bettas need a filtered, heated TANK, just like any other fish, and the TANK needs to be cycled, just like any other fish. yes, its possible for them to survive in a small bowl for quite a long time with regular water changes, but its not very comfortable. go out and get a proper tank, no less than 3 gallons, 5 is better, and 10 is ideal. and cycle it!

Fishnoob78 · 12-05-2005, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockabillyChick

how big is the tank? bettas only breathe with their labrynthe organ when the water has very low oxygen. otherwise they use their gills like every other fish.

however, the way they breathe has nothing to do with having a cycled tank or not.

bettas eat, and poop, just like every other fish. their waste decomposes into ammonia. bacteria in the water begin to eat the ammonia, and soon grow and multiply, converting the ammonia into nitrItes. then in the presance of nitrites, more bacteria start growing and feeding on the nitrites, and convert it into nitrAtes. then you do water changes to remove the nitrAtes. this is cycling.

bettas need a filtered, heated TANK, just like any other fish, and the TANK needs to be cycled, just like any other fish. yes, its possible for them to survive in a small bowl for quite a long time with regular water changes, but its not very comfortable. go out and get a proper tank, no less than 3 gallons, 5 is better, and 10 is ideal. and cycle it!

It's still the same size as in the first post, 5 1/2 gallons.

RockabillyChick · 12-05-2005, 10:57 PM

i didn't see it. dont be snarkey.

the tank needs to cycle. you need a filter if you dont already have one. do water changes as often as possible to try and keep the ammonia and nitrites below .5 until they start going down on their own.

Imbrium · 12-06-2005, 08:55 AM

You don't need a filter really, as long as you keep up with water changes. And bettas breathe through both their gills and their labyrinth organ no matter how much oxygen is in the water, but that has nothing to do with whether or not the tank is cycled.
If it were me, since the tank is over 5 gal I would probably get a small filter and go ahead and cycle it, plus add a small heater to stabilize the temp.

12-01-2005, 03:14 PM	#1
Fishnoob78 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Age: 30 Posts: 92	Ammonia readings with new betta.. I just tested the water in my 5 1/2 gallon tank. The ammonia is .5-1.0 Nitrites are 0. I only added the betta last night. Is this normal? I have only fed him once and some of the water from his bowl went into the tank. Other than the readings my new betta seems to be happy in his new home. Swims around a lot, through the rocks, spends time near the heater and plants. I think he maybe seeing his reflection on two sides of the tank since he spends lots of time there with his tails raised. What should the ammonia levels be right after you do a water change and right before a water change, lets say after 4 days? I plan on changing about 40% the water every 4 days. Tank 5 1/2 Water Temp 79 PH 7 Tap water conditioner and PH buffer used in the water. thanks Last edited by Fishnoob78; 12-01-2005 at 10:27 PM.

12-05-2005, 04:27 PM	#6
RockabillyChick Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 23 Posts: 298	how big is the tank? bettas only breathe with their labrynthe organ when the water has very low oxygen. otherwise they use their gills like every other fish. however, the way they breathe has nothing to do with having a cycled tank or not. bettas eat, and poop, just like every other fish. their waste decomposes into ammonia. bacteria in the water begin to eat the ammonia, and soon grow and multiply, converting the ammonia into nitrItes. then in the presance of nitrites, more bacteria start growing and feeding on the nitrites, and convert it into nitrAtes. then you do water changes to remove the nitrAtes. this is cycling. bettas need a filtered, heated TANK, just like any other fish, and the TANK needs to be cycled, just like any other fish. yes, its possible for them to survive in a small bowl for quite a long time with regular water changes, but its not very comfortable. go out and get a proper tank, no less than 3 gallons, 5 is better, and 10 is ideal. and cycle it! __________________ She does nothing to deserve it He only wants to observe it We sit back like they taught us We keep quiet like they taught us He just wants, he wants to prove it She does nothing to remove it We don't want anyone to mind us So we play the roles that they assigned us She does nothing to conceal it He touches her 'cause he wants to feel it We blame her for being there But we are all guilty http://rockabillychick.deviantart.com/

12-05-2005, 10:57 PM	#8
RockabillyChick Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Age: 23 Posts: 298	i didn't see it. dont be snarkey. the tank needs to cycle. you need a filter if you dont already have one. do water changes as often as possible to try and keep the ammonia and nitrites below .5 until they start going down on their own. __________________ She does nothing to deserve it He only wants to observe it We sit back like they taught us We keep quiet like they taught us He just wants, he wants to prove it She does nothing to remove it We don't want anyone to mind us So we play the roles that they assigned us She does nothing to conceal it He touches her 'cause he wants to feel it We blame her for being there But we are all guilty http://rockabillychick.deviantart.com/

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12-02-2005, 02:31 PM	#2
Fishnoob78 Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Age: 30 Posts: 92	He seems to be doing fine. He blew a bubble nest last night. He's very active...although sometimes he can go up and down or side to side very fast along the sides of the tank and i'm not sure if thats normal betta behavior or not. I've only have seen other bettas in bowls just laying there motionless. i will be changing about 40% of the water tomorrow, saturday morning. I've had him since wed night. Except for trying to keep the temp steady, its goes between 80 and 74 very easily all is well.

12-02-2005, 05:49 PM	#3
mousey Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 807	are you trying to cycle the tank?? The ammonia reading should be at 0 for it to be safe for your fish. Bettas are not too tolerant of the cycling process. I have a friend who cycled her 5 gal tank and just does her water change weekly. Who else is in the tank with him? mousey

12-04-2005, 11:46 AM	#5
mousey Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 807	well as long as you are doing the water changes each week you will be ok. I like to cycle the tank and do only partial water changes as the cost of water is pretty high here. I reuse the water on my plants. mousey

12-06-2005, 08:55 AM	#9
Imbrium Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Charleston, SC Age: 26 Posts: 384	You don't need a filter really, as long as you keep up with water changes. And bettas breathe through both their gills and their labyrinth organ no matter how much oxygen is in the water, but that has nothing to do with whether or not the tank is cycled. If it were me, since the tank is over 5 gal I would probably get a small filter and go ahead and cycle it, plus add a small heater to stabilize the temp.

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