Hay, so I'm new here. Not only have I never used a forum site, but this is my first fishtank, so I'm not only a noob, but a super noob. Bare with me for a sec.

Anyway, I've recently been getting into fish. I bought a male betta, a year and a half ago, and had him in a one gallon tank, with no heater, and only did water changes every two weeks.

Yeah, yeah, I know.

I didn't do ANY research, I just thought "Hay. Fish + water = It will be fine". The guy at Petco also told me to feed him four betta pellets twice a day, so he got huge. Once I actually worked up some common sense and started researching, I decided to get a 20 gallon tank with a heater for him. He's lost some weight, is swimming around alot more, and I just treated him with melafix (Not sure if that was finrot...)

Oh well, here's my bottom line: I need my tank cycled, but how does one cycle a twenty gallon fishtank safely, with a betta occupying it? I have Nutrafin Cycle, but I keep hearing bad things about it. Do I take it back?

Thank you for your time.

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Welcome to the forum!

Welcome!

Well, with a 20 gallon, it might take a long time to cycle with just a betta, but since there won't be the huge build up of ammonia, that might be a good thing. I would recommend getting a bunch of live plants to make your buddy happier, and they'll also help keep the water cleaner. Live plants look better than fakes anyways. :3 If you keep up weekly water changes and such, it might take a few months, but eventually your tank will cycle and with little risk to your friend.
Also, do you have a filter?

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Lead me not to temptation...I can make it there myself just fine, thank you

OK,

does your old 1 gallon have gravel?
if so then get a small pice of stocking (nylon) and fill it with the gravel
from the 1 gallon. it will have the good bacteria aka BB (better bacteria)

Set up your new 20gal and treat the water with something like API tap water condoner and I use stress coat,
and make sure to follow the dosing directions.

I would also get some plants (live) and a small power filter
along with the heater.
I forgot to mention that betas like still water and having a filter that put out a high current of water will stress them out. (makes them swim harder to stay in one spot.)

once you have the tank set up put in the bag of starter gravel from the old tank.

Don't panic if the water turns cloudy. just do a water change once a week.
and do you self a favor and get a good water test kit.
I recommend the API master test kit. (don't chince out on this and get test strips. they are no where near as good.)

I would give it two weeks before putting in your beta.
also when you put in the beta into the new tank you need to get him use to the new water.
THe best way to do this is the drip method but unless you have the extra airline hose and a small container to let the water from the new tank drip into the container with the beta this can be a bit complicated.
I like using the small cup that the beta came in and floating it in the new tank for 20 min to equalize the temp then putting in small amounts of the new tank water into the cup every 10 min or so and do this 5 or 6 times.
then just submerge the cup and let him out.

welcome!

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"Being ignorant is not so much a Shame, as being unwilling to learn".-- Benjamin Franklin

Bettas are very tough and are good for cycling. Set your 20G tank with good filtration and plenty of plants and introduce yuor Betta slowly to your tank. Bettas don't live very long so yours may be nearing the end of his life. If available, get some flighless fruit flies and introduce two or three to him. Floating flake food is also good. Add a couple of Neon Tetras or Clouds to his new tank to assist in cycing. Cycling should be complete in 6-7 weeks.

I went to my LFS and they gave me a bag of icky water squeezed out from their filter to jump start my cycling.

Betta are not good for cycling,its very rough on the fins...


Melafix is also not good for betta fish.Get him in clean warm water and his fins will heal up pretty well.Good for you on getting him a bigger setup.he will be happier in the long run.I will also suggest live plants they will do him alot of good.The cycle stuff is worthless so take it back as well.

Like mentioned above using a nylon stocking and his old gravel is a great start,if its not been dried out or left sitting without him for a few days.Invest in a liquid master test kit and keep an eye on the levels of ammonia,nitrate and nitrite.

Good luck and welcome to the forum!

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"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

Welcome to the forum.

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Aquatic Engineer

Yes, I have a penguin 150 filter, with the bio wheel. It has somewhat of a strong current, and this tank specifically says it doesn't do well with life plants. Bummer. I have since got him a five gallon, and have started the ammonia cycle. Thanks though!

G'Day and Welcome

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1x350L Goldfish, 1x 286L Planted, 1x190L Cherry shrimp, 1x140L Feeders, 1x130L Planted, 1x119L Peppermint BN breeding colony

hello and welcome

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