ara

I am cycling 2 fish tanks: an Eclipse 3 with a Betta in it and a brand new Eclipse 6 without any fish.
First tank (with the Betta) has had reading of Ammonia 0.25-0.5, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5 since 03/25. Looks like I am not even close to the middle of cycling. I change 25-30% water every day (add Prime), clean fish poopies with a turkey baster and hand feed my fish. Am I doing anything wrong? Overclean? Too many water changes?
For the second tank (no fish) I started cycle yesterday with a frozen shrimp. Today Nitrite is 0, ammonia is 0.25-0.5. Should I add another shrimp to speed up the process? Did I have to defrost the shrimp prior adding it to the tank?
My last question is about good bacteria. As I know it lives on decorations, tank walls, filters and gravel. How should I clean my tanks without harming bacteria? If I don't have gravel does it mean it will be more difficult to grow bacteria?
Thanks a lot.

susitna-flower

Hi ara, I think it sounds like you are doing just right! You are not changing too much water, since you have a fish in the first tank...

In the second, it doesn't matter if you defrosted the shrimp first. It MAY help develop more ammonia in the tank with a second shrimp, but in this one, don't do ANY water changes until the cycle if over....the Ammonia and nitrite go back to 0 and the nitrates come up....then do a 75% water change, take your shrimp out, and add fish.....

This cycle will go much faster than in the tank with the betta, which is the reason to do fishless cycles.

The bacteria clings pretty well to everything in the tank. Normal vacuuming doesn't hurt it, just don't scrub decorations etc. If you start getting algae, you need small critters like shrimp, otoes or such to help eat it, instead of scrubbing off things.

What ever you do, DON'T change out all the filter media at one time. I NEVER change filter media unless the floss or Bags are falling apart! I try to use as much biological filtration as I can, and have even changed out some of what comes in the HOB filters I have and used bioballs, and floss in them...and never take it all out at once, but change some, leaving some to reseed the new with bacteria.

Peterpiper

Hi Ara,
susitna-flower has got you covered.
If you want to speed up the cycle in the tank that has the Betta in, then you could try this.
Once the Eclipse 6 has cycled and you have done the water change, move the Betta to the Eclipse 6.
Then add a frozen shrimp to the Eclipse 3... should speed up the cycling!