Need Expert Help On Guppies And Bettas!!

Hello, I recently just got the urge to start up my 10 gallon fish tank again. I used to have my tank divided with two bettas...

Now i'm thinking that I will start with two guppies to cycle my tank and filter again, then divide the tank and get a betta. my question is, how do you know your tank is cycled, how often should I do water changes.(I have a test kit) and do my two guppies need a sort of an air pump or will my AquaClear filter do the trick? (if I really need one)......... I live in Canada and have access to petsmart and amazon.ca. Also, are there any beneficial bacteria I can add to my tank to help establish it. Thx!

 

Here's a helpful guide for fish in cycling: Cycle With Fish (Fish-in Cycle) in a New Aquarium - Pet Fish Club Use your filter. That's where the beneficial bacteria will be living in. You can use Tetra safestart to speed up the cycling process. I'm not too clear about it because I never used it. But someone else could help.

 

Hello. Welcome to fishlore! Do check out the link above. Very helpful info on fish in cycle. Keep us posted ok?

 

What a great article!
So, if I was going to do two guppies do they need an air pump as well or will my heater and filter on full already do the trick? I know Bettas don’t need an air pump but are they essential to things like guppies? Do you also recommend buying that different water conditioner as well.... thanks everyone!

 

What a great article!
So, if I was going to do two guppies do they need an air pump as well or will my heater and filter on full already do the trick? I know Bettas don’t need an air pump but are they essential to things like guppies? Do you also recommend buying that water conditioner as well.... thanks everyone!

I kept 2 male guppies in a planted tank with no air pump or filter but planted with anarchis water lettuce and 2 pothos pieces one fully submerged and one roots in only and they lived for about 2 years before I gave them away to a pal so I'm not sure of an air pump is nessecary

 

What a great article!
So, if I was going to do two guppies do they need an air pump as well or will my heater and filter on full already do the trick? I know Bettas don’t need an air pump but are they essential to things like guppies? Do you also recommend buying that water conditioner as well.... thanks everyone!

Not an expert in guppies, so don't know of they would need one. But if your filter can create surface agitation with some bubbles, I think you're fine. Yes it's recommend to buy the water conditioner because it detoxifies the ammonia to protect the fish from being poisoned to death.

 

I apologize, someone recommended a different type of water conditioner to help start my tank up. Don’t worry I will not be poisoning my fish to death!

 

Personally, I would get an air pump and a cheap bubble wall or something to help oxygenate the water. I wouldn’t say it’s imperative for guppies to live but I think they would appreciate more oxygen in their water. You can also lower the water level a bit and let the water coming out of the filter make a splash adding bubbles in the process. I will say I think Seachem Prime is the best water conditioner on the market. It detoxifies ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate along with making your water safe. I love the stuff. I’ve never used Safe Start, but I’ve used Seachem Stabilize for beneficial bacteria when cycling my aquariums. Hope my long winded post helps

 

I kept 2 male guppies in a planted tank with no air pump or filter but planted with anarchis water lettuce and 2 pothos pieces one fully submerged and one roots in only and they lived for about 2 years before I gave them away to a pal so I'm not sure of an air pump is nessecary

That doesn't mean they were ok with what you did. OP what exactly is your question?

 

Hello, I recently just got the urge to start up my 10 gallon fish tank again. I used to have my tank divided with two bettas...

Now i'm thinking that I will start with two guppies to cycle my tank and filter again, then divide the tank and get a betta. my question is, how do you know your tank is cycled, how often should I do water changes.(I have a test kit) and do my two guppies need a sort of an air pump or will my AquaClear filter do the trick? (if I really need one)......... I live in Canada and have access to petsmart and amazon.ca. Also, are there any beneficial bacteria I can add to my tank to help establish it. Thx!

I tried cycling a tank with guppies and they all died within a week. They aren’t really “hardy” fish.

 

I tried cycling a tank with guppies and they all died within a week. They aren’t really “hardy” fish.

Guppie's'? How many exactly coz your supposed to start with some then add more fish slowly to allow bacteria to grow and adding too many would cause ammonia poisoning and just because a fish is hardy doesn't mean its invincible so you should add only some at a time so I hope you didnt just add all your guppies in a new tank to cycle it?