Psyched, By My 5 Gallon

I've been doing a fishless cycle on my 5 Gallon, and this afternoon I had the lack of purple and green in my parameter tests, and an abundance of blur and yellow
So what did I do?
I went out to my LFS, and picked up a coppery black, teal, and red betta, and a minI python siphon
So I was there, and I decided to clean out some of the bacterial growth covered pellets, and less than half a gallon of water. Lo and behold, after replacing water and checking params, I get .25ppm nitrite and ammonia, So so I add more pellets and wait it out, or do I put the betta in?
P.s The tank is heated, planted, and filtered
Any advice will be greatly appreciated

 

I suggest putting your betta in, monitoring the water closely, and doing water changes as necessary. Basically, treat the remainder like a fish-in cycle.

Have you tested your tap water for ammonia or nitrites? Just a thought.

Oh, and also post a picture of your betta! He sounds handsome.

 

Pictures!

 

Alright, will do,
Here he is
My tap os clean of ammonia and Nitrites

 

Ooh he's pretty!

 

I suggest putting your betta in, monitoring the water closely, and doing water changes as necessary. Basically, treat the remainder like a fish-in cycle.

Have you tested your tap water for ammonia or nitrites? Just a thought.

Oh, and also post a picture of your betta! He sounds handsome.

Any Ideas on how to acclimate him through the tiny cup of death?

 

Any Ideas on how to acclimate him through the tiny cup of death?

I poured my betta into a sandwich bag and acclimated like any other fish

 

I poured my betta into a sandwich bag and acclimated like any other fish

I'm getting updated params at the moment, looks like it'll be .25 for ammonia and nitrite again, my nitrate was 20-40ppm last I checked today, still go through with it?

 

Hmm. Stick him in a bucket, pitcher, container of some sort. Include his death cup water, then add twice as much tank water. Continue adding more tank water over the course of 20 or so minutes. I don’t think bettas need much acclimating but the change in temp and water quality can be drastic.

I'm getting updated params at the moment, looks like it'll be .25 for ammonia and nitrite again, my nitrate was 20-40ppm last I checked today, still go through with it?

I think so. I wouldn’t be surprised if the cup water is worse. You can do another water change though.

 

I usually just float the cup in the aquarium for half-an-hour, before adding some aquarium water and eventually scooping fish out of cup and adding to aquarium.

Also, can I get a pic of the tank?

 

Hmm. Stick him in a bucket, pitcher, container of some sort. Include his death cup water, then add twice as much tank water. Continue adding more tank water over the course of 20 or so minutes. I don’t think bettas need much acclimating but the change in temp and water quality can be drastic.

Betta is now in large cup

 

All I do is temperature acclimate by floating the cup then scoop it out with my hand or net and plop him in.

 

He's in!

Hmm. Stick him in a bucket, pitcher, container of some sort. Include his death cup water, then add twice as much tank water. Continue adding more tank water over the course of 20 or so minutes. I don’t think bettas need much acclimating but the change in temp and water quality can be drastic.


I think so. I wouldn’t be surprised if the cup water is worse. You can do another water change though.

He's a little stressed, going for the bottom, and gasping a little, but I turned the filter off for now until I can get a prefilter on the out take

 

I usually just float the cup in the aquarium for half-an-hour, before adding some aquarium water and eventually scooping fish out of cup and adding to aquarium.

Also, can I get a pic of the tank?

Hey, I have a bit of a problem, seems like my nitrite is up to 2-5ppm, the betta isn't hanging around the top or gasping in the water anymore, but My city had decided on changI changg up the water source, which now my tap has 1ppm-2ppm of nitrite off the bat. any alternatives that won't strip the slime coat off my finned friend?