bolivianbaby

Dracula's tank was cycled back in June. Last Wednesday, he was showing ammonia for the first time since the cycle completed. He's the only occupant in the tank. I've been doing daily water changes with Prime. He's still showing ammonia this morning.

While researching causes of ammonia spikes, I came across information about faulty filters. That is the only cause I can think of. I've already rinsed all of his gravel in his used tank water in case it was a food issue. There have been no changes in his diet or the amount he's fed daily.

The filter in his tank is an Aquaclear 5-15.

Should I just ride this out as a mini-cycle (without provocation) or is there something else I can be doing to resolve this for him?

I have sponges running in other tanks, so replacing his filter isn't a problem if I need to do that.

All I want is for him to have a cycled tank again. Whatever I need to do to resolve this is what I'll do. Any advice would be GREATLY appreciated.

pH 7.6
Ammonia 0.25
trites-0
trates 10

Lucy

Have you checked your tap water?

Shawnie

oh no!!!!!!! im sorry for dracula's issues ...I hope its a fast mini!!!!!!!!! as well as lucys suggestion, how often are you cleaning his tank? over cleaning can sometimes be just as bad believe it or not ...especially with low waste producers like bettas...sometimes the bacteria can starve if we over clean ....

navyscuba

If you did a lot of changes in one tiny tank like that most likely is a mini cycle. Hope gets goes fast.

bolivianbaby

Not lately-I'll check that when I get home. I checked in back in July and showed no ammonia, trites, or trates

Thanks, I just want to get it resolved for his sake. This is the betta who lived in a bowl for a year and a half before I learned about Fishlore.

He gets 25% water change weekly. After I get this resolved, I'll bump it back to 10% weekly just to refresh his minerals-does that sound good?

Thanks.

So I guess the general thought is to keep doing the water changes until the ammonia drops, don't fiddle with the filter, and hang in there, right?

This is my vampire betta boy, who I love very much, and I just want to get his home back to a happy betta environment for him.

Shawnie

BB, you are an awesome fish mom...nothing you have done causes issues on purpose and the love you have for your fish is amazing!! ...and never should fish live in filth..but sometimes our betta kids are over cleaned and just need a little bit of nature to be allowed in there.....his diet,love and tank size is perfect, so yes id get through the mini cycle with partial daily changes, then maybe back off on so much cleaning...10% is great and mainly to replenish the minerals and such and not so much cause hes dirty...my betta kids get every other week water changes...or top offs when the level gets low..but ive had them for years and their tanks are fully established....it works for me and for others, it is a different routine..but id say where nothing else is off, my guess is over cleaning and disrupting the bacteria from doing such where they arent big waste producers...

bolivianbaby

Thank you Shawnie. Mercy, you gave me the warm fuzzies

I'll keep up with the water changes with Prime and once he's through this, I'll bump it back to 10% weekly.

In addition, I'm going to bump Firecracker's water changes to 10% weekly as well. Maybe I can prevent this from happening to his home.

Prevention is the best medicine

Shawnie

prevention isnt always the answer...you prevent allot!!! like fish going to their death beds and totally mistreated...you take them all on if you can!!...not many would do half of what you do ......its always a learning adventure with fish keeping...and im not saying what you have been doing is wrong, just suggesting something that ive learned along the way .....others clean more / less weekly and have great results..... goodluck my friend!

bolivianbaby

I have a lot of faith and trust in what you've learned along the way. You've never offered me advice that didn't help both me and my fish What can I say, you're the BOMB, BABY

Here's the "oh-so-pleasant" update:

Did a 50% water change with Prime, went to plug the filter back in and it wouldn't start. I tried "re-adjusting" it and that didn't work. I pulled it out of the tank and the bottom was VERY HOT! Needless to say, I took it out of commission, went and bought a new filter, put the bio-fiber from the old filter into the tank, and will be continuing to watch this tank closely, not only for it to get through the mini-cycle, but I'll also be monitoring it for a few weeks after just in case of problems. I'm also floating a sponge in the tank that has been in the filter of another fully cycled tank. It's been in there so long, I forgot when I had put it in there. It ain't pretty, but I'm willing to wager it's got plenty of bacteria on it. I need to start keeping records of sponge additions and swaps with all my aquarium readings.

The best I can gather is that the filter had something wrong with it. Which is perfectly fine, just not when it's risking the life of one of my fish. I'm also going to be getting two extra filters for the 5 gallon aquariums to keep on hand since none of my other filters will fit those tanks in case of future emergencies.

bolivianbaby

Almost Fabulous Update: The good news is that he's shown no ammonia yesterday or today. The bad news is there are no nitrates, either. There is bio-fiber floating in the aquarium from the old filter and "his" sponge that I'd used to decrease the flow of the water.

Does anyone think it would cause a problem for me to also float a sponge in his tank that I've been keeping in the filter of another cycled tank as well?

I'd really like to get his tank back on track for his sake. I'll be monitoring the tank closely for the next few weeks, or long if necessary, but anything I can do to "bump" the cycle along without putting him in danger would be great

This poor boy lived in a betta bowl for a year and a half before I discovered Fishlore. I'd like for the rest of his life to be great

Any advice or information would be GREATLY appreciated

navyscuba

The sponge would be fine if you can put an air line on the sponge better.

bolivianbaby

Like the lines we use for bubbler ornaments and things like that? I have those AND I have an extra air pump. Is that what you're talking about?

navyscuba

Yeap so the bacteria that is on the sponge flows faster to your filter and ornaments.

bolivianbaby

You're a very, very smart man. Thank you so much! And I know Dracula will be thanking you, too

navyscuba

All i ask is to keep him far enough so he don't suck my blood.

Tony G.

redlessi

I am so glad to hear that things are looking better................

bolivianbaby

Thank you One more hump, and Dracula will be back in a happy home again.

navyscuba

BB did u read my post about Mr. Bloodsucker?

bolivianbaby

I just did You're too funny

Maybe that's why my finger started healing up. He's been jumping out of his tank and sneaking into my room sucking my blood