NinaB
- #1
Hello!
On Monday (April 23), I purchased and set up my very first aquarium:
- 10 gallon Top Fin tank
- Top Fin Silentstream 10 Power Filter
- 50W heater
- LED lights
- Fluval Stratum Mineral Rich Substrate
- Plants: x2 marimo moss balls, x2 anubias, x1 water wisteria, x1 mondo grass plant (will be purchasing more in 2 days)
My plan is to stock it with one male betta and possibly some smaller tank mates? (rasboras, snails?, or maybe just him alone)
I read up thoroughly on cycling a tank and it seems that adding an ammonia source and letting it cycle seems to be how to do it. I also read that if you have more than 50% of the gravel is covered in plants, you don't need to do a "proper" cycle, but rather let the plants grow out and see that they are thriving.
24 hours after setting up the tank, I added some crushed up freeze-dried bloodworms to add ammonia and did so once again today.
So my question is, is it better to continue to add ammonia into the tank and test the water for the ammonia/nitrates/nitrate, or should I stop adding the ammonia and let the plants grow out so that I can eventually add my fish? I'm just not entirely sure what route will be safer for when I add my betta in. This is my very first time doing anything like this, so I want to make sure I do right by this future fish!
On Monday (April 23), I purchased and set up my very first aquarium:
- 10 gallon Top Fin tank
- Top Fin Silentstream 10 Power Filter
- 50W heater
- LED lights
- Fluval Stratum Mineral Rich Substrate
- Plants: x2 marimo moss balls, x2 anubias, x1 water wisteria, x1 mondo grass plant (will be purchasing more in 2 days)
My plan is to stock it with one male betta and possibly some smaller tank mates? (rasboras, snails?, or maybe just him alone)
I read up thoroughly on cycling a tank and it seems that adding an ammonia source and letting it cycle seems to be how to do it. I also read that if you have more than 50% of the gravel is covered in plants, you don't need to do a "proper" cycle, but rather let the plants grow out and see that they are thriving.
24 hours after setting up the tank, I added some crushed up freeze-dried bloodworms to add ammonia and did so once again today.
So my question is, is it better to continue to add ammonia into the tank and test the water for the ammonia/nitrates/nitrate, or should I stop adding the ammonia and let the plants grow out so that I can eventually add my fish? I'm just not entirely sure what route will be safer for when I add my betta in. This is my very first time doing anything like this, so I want to make sure I do right by this future fish!