makewaralot

Last Sunday night, I filled my approx 3 gallon tank with tap water and used Prime Water Conditioner. I ran the air pump for a few hours that first that but not after that. About 3 days later, I noticed the water looking not as clear. Not it is at the point that the water looks a bit white and a bit cloudy. Is this a bacterial bloom?

If so, how long does the cycle take? Can I speed it up?

I plan on putting a single betta fish in there. If my week hadn't been so busy, I would've already stocked it with a betta and a java fern. Would that have been a bad idea? What should my plan of action be?

Also, can I put a plant and a fish in there at the same time? Or do I need to put the plant in there first and let it sit for a few days?

Thanks.

clinton1621

You need a test kit first off to measure the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels before you can even know where you are in the cycle. Yes white cloudy water is a bacterial bloom, so youre off to a good start. DO NOT put any fish in the tank, if you absolutely cant wait to get your fish then you need to find a product called Tetra Safe Start or Bio-Spira... this will make your tank fish safe immediately and will fully cycle your tank in a week. A natural cycle (without the safe start) can take anywhere from 3 weeks to 2 months.

You can add fish and plants at the same time... but not before the tank is cycled!

EDIT : DO NOT use Prime with Tetra Safe Start or Bio-Spira... they will not work if you do!

makewaralot

I bought a bottle of Tetra AquaSafe for the chlorine and a bottle of Tetra EasyBalance for the cycle, but then I was told that Prime would do the job of both of them. Was that not correct?

(I'm in no hurry to get the fish. I'd rather wait until the tank is ready than deal with a less than cotent fish.)

EDIT: I did not use either of the Tetra products. I only used the Prime.

clinton1621

None of those will help the cycle, but they are good water conditioners for chlorine removal and neutralizing ammonia. You dont need to use prime without fish in tank though... you only need to dechlor the water... the bacteria need the ammonia in the water to eat and thus cycle the tank faster, so dont use the prime right now.

makewaralot

Wow, so none of those three products are for cycling? My Tetra products are unopened (because I used the Prime when I first put the water in the tank). Can I take them back to the store; will I need them?

EDIT: After the tank cycles, is it something I need to worry about as long as I'm performing partial water changes?

Lucy

Your aqaurium info says you know about the nitrogen cycle, but in your first post you said you'd already have a betta if you weren't so busy.

Please, for the health of your fish, cycle fishless using pure ammonia or fish food. It can take up to a month to cycle unless you use Tetra Safe Start or use used filter media from an established tank.
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

After your tank cycles, then you just have to use a gravel vac to do your weekly water changes and check the water, weekly to begin with until your sure you have a handle on the cycle.

makewaralot

I am aware of the cycle, but I was under the impression that Prime would help with cycling, instead of just water conditioning. The salesperson who set me up with the product claimed to be an avid betta owner, so I suppose that is the cause of my confusion. I have no intention of harming a fish that comes in a plastic bag. Nonetheless, I appreciate the sound advice and help I have been recieving on this forum. Thanks.

Lucy

great!
Prime is a water conditioner, the salesperson was probably telling you that because it does detoxify ammonia for 24hrs which helps if you're cycling with fish (which a lot of salespeople wrongly advise) or going through a mini cycle.

makewaralot

Aha, I think this may be starting to make sense. How does this sound?

Use the Prime when doing water changes. I can't use any cycling products because I have already put Prime in my tank. Unless I start over, I need to use either pure ammonia or fish food. Once the cycle is complete, I can add fish. Partial water changes should keep everything balanced, but I still need to test the water to be sure.

Am I close?

This seems to be alot to take in. Interestingly, none of this was mentioned in the Betta Care book I thumbed through while at the store. I knew this wasn't going to be easy!

Lucy

You got it!

Once you cycle the tank, you'll be able to enjoy your hobby a whole lot more.

clinton1621

You are pretty close... you can still use cycling products (Bio-Spira or Tetra Safe Start) but you have to stop using Prime or else they wont work. It doesnt matter that you have used it, as long as you stop using it.

Heres my advice....

1. Stop using Prime and add ammonia to the tank and wait until it cycles completely (NO FISH until you have completely cycled)

2. Stop using Prime and add Bio-Spira or Tetra Safe Start, WITH the fish or it wont work... this method takes 7 days and you are usually done with the cycle (ADD FISH right away or it wont work)

makewaralot

Whew. Thanks again.

A final question (or at least I hope so), when is the best time during the cycle to add a plant? The chart seems to suggest that plants consume nitrates and ammonium and release ammonium through decomposition, but I'm not sure how to use that information to answer my question.

---

Ah, well I haven't used any Prime for almost a week. Am I in the clear? Is it that I can't add Prime and then immediately add the cycling product?

clinton1621

I edited my post above.... =)
And I would wait to add plants, they need nitrates and you dont have any until the tank is cycled

makewaralot

Update: So, I've been feeding the tank some betta pellets every 12 hours, and I've also been running the air pump 20 minutes at a time every now and then. Today, I'll probably put my heater to use and get the temperature to right above 80.

Here's my question (I always have one): With my tank being so small, about half an inch has evaporated. I don't want the water to get too low for the heater to be of any use, but I know that you aren't suppose to perform any water changes before the cycle is over. However, can I add a small amount de-chlorinated (via prime) water to bring the water level back or is best to let it be? I suspect that I will lose alot of water by the time the cycle is complete.

Fishies-for-me

You can add declored water as needed to keep the water level up...also you should be running the filter 24-7. If you keep shutting it off you are starving the bacteria every time...they need aerated water and ammonia/nitrites running threw them to be healthy.

Edit: I am not sure if you should be using prime as a declor during the cycle..I know it locks up ammonia so it isn't as toxic to fish...but I am not sure if it leaves the ammonia available for the bacteria to feed on...hopefully someone whose knows this will come along and address this soon....good luck.

makewaralot

Thanks for the input, Fishies!

Clinton, if I use Tetra SafeStart, can I feed the tank or add ammonia instead of adding the fish?

EDIT: My tank does not have a filter. It has an air pump. What effect will this have on establishing the cycle?