5 Gallon Tank Is my betta tank cycled ?

Hey!

I got this tank around a year ago and cycled it. I tested my water at PetSmart; they used API test strips and they tested it in front of me.
After a couple weeks, my tank was at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and a couple nitrates. It was cycled according to the test strips.After that I completely stopped testing my water.
Last week, I finally purchased a Freshwater Master Kit after realizing that my betta’s behavior is off (I later diagnosed it as Fear Stripes btw; I’m working on getting more hides in her tank). Ammonia was 0.25 ppm, Nitrites was around 0.25 as well and Nitrates were around 20 ppm. I did enough water changed to get my Ammonia and Nitrites down to 0 ppm and Nitrates down to 10.

Was that a spike or is my tank not cycled?

Every time I test my water ammonia/nitrites remains at 0. Nitrates are currently at around 5-10 ish. I tested my water just now and will post the results.

I also added my pH.

Also, I bought some TSS. Should I still add it in my tank ?

The stocking of this tank is one female betta. After I’m 100% sure my tank is cycled I will purchase a snail and some shrimp as a clean up crew.

 

Hey!

Heyo!

I got this tank around a year ago and cycled it. I tested my water at PetSmart; they used API test strips and they tested it in front of me.
After a couple weeks, my tank was at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and a couple nitrates. It was cycled according to the test strips.After that I completely stopped testing my water.
Last week, I finally purchased a Freshwater Master Kit after realizing that my betta’s behavior is off (I later diagnosed it as Fear Stripes btw; I’m working on getting more hides in her tank). Ammonia was 0.25 ppm, Nitrites was around 0.25 as well and Nitrates were around 20 ppm. I did enough water changed to get my Ammonia and Nitrites down to 0 ppm and Nitrates down to 10.

Was that a spike or is my tank not cycled?

Every time I test my water ammonia/nitrites remains at 0. Nitrates are currently at around 5-10 ish. I tested my water just now and will post the results.

If that was that one instance and now ammonia and nitrite is always at zero, well probably a spike and now it's all cycled. After all, if not cycled, you'd still notice ammonia and/or nitrite.

Also, I bought some TSS. Should I still add it in my tank ?

It won't hurt to add TSS. It may not do anything, but if it is gonna expire eventually anyways and you are sure you won't use it for anything else, yeah feel free to dose it.

 

It looks good, but it might be good to test your water every 3 days or so to make sure. Adding the BB won't hurt it, and it's safe for the betta, too.

Happy it's cycled, and hope your fin baby is doing well!!!

 

Hey!

I got this tank around a year ago and cycled it. I tested my water at PetSmart; they used API test strips and they tested it in front of me.
After a couple weeks, my tank was at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and a couple nitrates. It was cycled according to the test strips.After that I completely stopped testing my water.
Last week, I finally purchased a Freshwater Master Kit after realizing that my betta’s behavior is off (I later diagnosed it as Fear Stripes btw; I’m working on getting more hides in her tank). Ammonia was 0.25 ppm, Nitrites was around 0.25 as well and Nitrates were around 20 ppm. I did enough water changed to get my Ammonia and Nitrites down to 0 ppm and Nitrates down to 10.

Was that a spike or is my tank not cycled?

Every time I test my water ammonia/nitrites remains at 0. Nitrates are currently at around 5-10 ish. I tested my water just now and will post the results.

I also added my pH.

Also, I bought some TSS. Should I still add it in my tank ?

The stocking of this tank is one female betta. After I’m 100% sure my tank is cycled I will purchase a snail and some shrimp as a clean up crew.

While it looks like your tank is cycled now, I’d be curious about what caused the ammonia and nitrites to appear.

Did you clean or change anything in your filter? If so, can you describe what you did?

 

It looks good from the pics so far. I believe you should use the high pH test? That low one is definitely tapped out. It shouldn't be that dark blue. I would be willing to bet its a purply brown color. about 8.2. Any takers? lol

 

It looks good from the pics so far. I believe you should use the high pH test? That low one is definitely tapped out. It shouldn't be that dark blue. I would be willing to bet its a purply brown color. about 8.2. Any takers? lol

It's kinda late where I am but I'll retest it tomorrow! I'll keep you posted!

While it looks like your tank is cycled now, I’d be curious about what caused the ammonia and nitrites to appear.

Did you clean or change anything in your filter? If so, can you describe what you did?

Honestly, I'm not sure. The only difference I made in the tank was feeding her 5-6 pellets a day. Maybe since the amount of poo increased my established BB wasn't reacting to how much ammonia was now being produced?

 

Hey!

I got this tank around a year ago and cycled it. I tested my water at PetSmart; they used API test strips and they tested it in front of me.
After a couple weeks, my tank was at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites, and a couple nitrates. It was cycled according to the test strips.After that I completely stopped testing my water.
Last week, I finally purchased a Freshwater Master Kit after realizing that my betta’s behavior is off (I later diagnosed it as Fear Stripes btw; I’m working on getting more hides in her tank). Ammonia was 0.25 ppm, Nitrites was around 0.25 as well and Nitrates were around 20 ppm. I did enough water changed to get my Ammonia and Nitrites down to 0 ppm and Nitrates down to 10.

Was that a spike or is my tank not cycled?

Every time I test my water ammonia/nitrites remains at 0. Nitrates are currently at around 5-10 ish. I tested my water just now and will post the results.

I also added my pH.

Also, I bought some TSS. Should I still add it in my tank ?

The stocking of this tank is one female betta. After I’m 100% sure my tank is cycled I will purchase a snail and some shrimp as a clean up crew.

Hey! Okay Tank definitely NOT cycled... ammonia 0.25, nitrite 0.25, and nitrate And to make things worse I just did a 50% water change. What do I do?
Wait... I find this heavily ironic because I just added new root rabs from an Etsy store? Maybe that's the cause ?

 

Hey! Okay Tank definitely NOT cycled... ammonia 0.25, nitrite 0.25, and nitrate And to make things worse I just did a 50% water change. What do I do?
Wait... I find this heavily ironic because I just added new root rabs from an Etsy store? Maybe that's the cause ?

The root tabs could be contributing by leeching ammonia into the water. It's not very unusual to get a little bit of leeching with new tabs, but that gets problematic quickly when the tank isn't fully cycled. My guess would be that you were cycled when it was just the betta, but you don't have a big enough colony of BB to keep up with the ammonia from the root tabs.
Do water changes to keep combined ammonia and nitrite below 1ppm and add Prime after every water change. Once your colonies catch up you should be all good!

 

The root tabs could be contributing by leeching ammonia into the water. It's not very unusual to get a little bit of leeching with new tabs, but that gets problematic quickly when the tank isn't fully cycled. My guess would be that you were cycled when it was just the betta, but you don't have a big enough colony of BB to keep up with the ammonia from the root tabs.
Do water changes to keep combined ammonia and nitrite below 1ppm and add Prime after every water change. Once your colonies catch up you should be all good!

I use API Stress Coat not prime but I'll order some! I just did a 50% water change so my parameters should have calmed down by now. I don't have time to test it but I sure will when I get home.
I will be putting the bottle of TSS this Friday!