Question on cycling and plants

[[email protected]]

I have a 2 gallon tank with a filter which I keep a Betta and a clump
of Java moss in. What I usually do to take care of the water is change
a quater of the water every week and then do a complete water change
every 4 weeks. Change the filter medium every 2 weeks.

Well its been about 3 weeks since I changed his water completly, and I
just tested his amonia and nitrite levels. They didn't seemed very low
if not none at all. Is it possible that this tank has been cycled? I
don't have a test for the nitate levels so I"m not sure on those.

Is it possible that the plant is sucking up all the amonia and nitrites
so there is none of those, so its not really cycled but is acted like
one?

Well thanks for any help you can give.

-- Nathan

[carlrs]

wrote:
> I have a 2 gallon tank with a filter which I keep a Betta and a clump
> of Java moss in. What I usually do to take care of the water is change
> a quater of the water every week and then do a complete water change
> every 4 weeks. Change the filter medium every 2 weeks.
>
> Well its been about 3 weeks since I changed his water completly, and I
> just tested his amonia and nitrite levels. They didn't seemed very low
> if not none at all. Is it possible that this tank has been cycled? I
> don't have a test for the nitate levels so I"m not sure on those.
>
> Is it possible that the plant is sucking up all the amonia and nitrites
> so there is none of those, so its not really cycled but is acted like
> one?
>
> Well thanks for any help you can give.
>
> -- Nathan

It is possible that your tank has not fully cycled as Plants (such as
Hornwort) and algae can assimilate ammonia and ammonium directly for
the biosynthesis.
I would not completely change your filter medium, but rather rinse part
of the medium to preserve the aerobic bacteria for bio filtration.

It sounds like you have an otherwise good evironment for your Betta.

Here is more info about the Nitrogen Cycle:
http://aquarium-nitrogen-cycle.blogspot.com/

Carl
http://aquarium-info.blogspot.com/

[Marco Schwarz]

Hi..

Wouldn't call a 2g puddle a tank..! ;-)

In my mind the absolute minimum tank for a male fighting
fish were a well planted 10g tank but would really try to
give him a crowded_planted 20g tank..!

Fighting fish are "lakers", means they prefer the (crowded)
planted shallow water zone. In such an environment he might
possibly show some of his natural behaviour..!

Don't know any filter *slow* enough for filtering a 2g tank.
Attention: Betta is no moving water fish..

--
cu
Marco

[IDzine01]

It's a tough call. The only way to know if your tank is cycled is to
test for nitrate, which I realize you haven't got the test to do.
Essentially, the process would have showed ammonia spiking and falling
followed by nitrite spiking and falling and then finally a slow incline
of nitrates. So, if your tank has gone though the nitrogen cycled you
would be left with 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and measurable nitrates. Doing
full 100% water changes and fully changing the filter media could be
hampering your ability to cycle your tank. This coupled with the small
water volume can make the cycle difficult to maintain. Small aquariums
are always a bit more work in terms of monitoring water parameters
compared with their larger counterparts. Like you, I have several small
betta tanks and have dealt with similar problems.

Best of luck.

wrote:
> I have a 2 gallon tank with a filter which I keep a Betta and a clump
> of Java moss in. What I usually do to take care of the water is change
> a quater of the water every week and then do a complete water change
> every 4 weeks. Change the filter medium every 2 weeks.
>
> Well its been about 3 weeks since I changed his water completly, and I
> just tested his amonia and nitrite levels. They didn't seemed very low
> if not none at all. Is it possible that this tank has been cycled? I
> don't have a test for the nitate levels so I"m not sure on those.
>
> Is it possible that the plant is sucking up all the amonia and nitrites
> so there is none of those, so its not really cycled but is acted like
> one?
>
> Well thanks for any help you can give.
>
> -- Nathan

[swarvegorilla]

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> I have a 2 gallon tank with a filter which I keep a Betta and a clump
> of Java moss in. What I usually do to take care of the water is change
> a quater of the water every week and then do a complete water change
> every 4 weeks. Change the filter medium every 2 weeks.
>
> Well its been about 3 weeks since I changed his water completly, and I
> just tested his amonia and nitrite levels. They didn't seemed very low
> if not none at all. Is it possible that this tank has been cycled? I
> don't have a test for the nitate levels so I"m not sure on those.
>
> Is it possible that the plant is sucking up all the amonia and nitrites
> so there is none of those, so its not really cycled but is acted like
> one?
>
> Well thanks for any help you can give.
>
> -- Nathan
>

keep changing a 1/4 of the water each week
forget about the complete clean outs
get filter sponge that can just be squeezed out in water drawn from the
aquarium, this removes the old bacteria colonys (mulm) while leaving enough
bacteria to create a vigorous new colony on the sponge.
remember process fish waste into less toxic substances (nitrate) with your
living sponge and then dilute that nitrate with partial water changes before
it reaches toxic levels for that species (if in doubt 40ppm).
If what your doing is working tho, and your fish is healthy and happy.
Stuff everyone else, me included and keep up what your doing.
more than one way to keep fish
:)
The plants could very well be removing ammonia and nitrates and hell maybe
even nitrites from the water
and if thats so
thats great!!
Not many people can achieve that status quo in fish tanks, with plants
removing enuf nutrients to make water changes almost redundant
I would keep testing and recording
partial water changes will bring in needed trace elements and help keep
plant growth ahead of algae growth however, they are also a good idea for
small tanks, even planted ones until they have matured over a few months.
I kept a paradise fish in a 10L tank for 6 months with no water changes and
lots of plants. I topped it up with RO water a few times but never took any
water out.
During that time my nitrates stayed under 10ppm and although I had a few
problems with nitrite at one stage the fish came out the other end no worse
for wear.
stupidly tough fish the labrynths, and they do well in planted bio types.
if you truely wanna remove nutrients from your water, duckweed is the ****
hey
truely unbeatable and used in pig farms to treat liquid waste
another super nutrient remover is taro, but ya have to get it small to use
for a betta!
that stuff stores the nitrate in it's bit fat fleshy tuber!
For a laugh you can start a potato on a skewer in a cup, once the roots are
going move it accross to the tank.
you do this because at first the potato/sweet potato/lettuce/choko etc makes
the water cloudy as it forms roots.
A window to guide the vine too works well here.
as the plant grows it will suck nitrates and stuff from the water.
If your up for a challenge try monsterio delicio...... not for the faint
hearted although many smaller philodendrums can work too.



as to filters.......
small air powered sponge filters work well, turned right down to avoid
busting up bubble nests, as do undergravels.
another goochy filter can be made out of an airstone shoved in a media
filled salt 'n pepper shaker.
look around, mini filters are easy to build from household recycling rubbish
:)
waterfalls also produce min disturbance
I have been playing around making mini fbf for betta's out of plastic pen
cases.
sounds silly I know but even at these tiny amounts it has a huge surface
area.
tiny powerheads going thru airline tubing and powering a pen thick tube
taped to the outside of the bowl.
one day I'll get them pretty and functional
but for now good for a laugh

[NickC]

carlrs wrote on 27 Oct 2006:

>
> It is possible that your tank has not fully cycled as Plants (such
> as Hornwort) and algae can assimilate ammonia and ammonium
> directly for the biosynthesis.

Uh oh. I have just started to cycle a new 6 gal aquarium (using a bit
of dead fish) and had already planted it with three plants.

After three days, I detect a very small amount of nitrites (0.1); I
don't have an ammonia tester as most of the shops around here told me
not to bother with one.

Rather than throw out $10 worth of plants, will the cycling still
eventually occur if I leave it as is?

Thanks,

--
Nick

[[email protected]]

If you're maintaining conditions that allow for plant growth, don't
worry about it. Your only issue would be if the plants become
unhealthy and stopped consuming the ammonia in the system. If you
remove plants, establish your biological filter bed, then add the
plants back, you'll end up with the same thing you'd have if you just
left the plants in -- assuming you have conditions conducive to the
growth of nitrifiying baceteria, your filter bed will compensate for
whatever your plants aren't consuming.

I.e. if your plants are healthy and your ammonia/nitrite levels are
fine, then don't worry about it.

[megasycophant]

If you're maintaining conditions that allow for plant growth, don't
worry about it. Your only issue would be if the plants become
unhealthy and stopped consuming the ammonia in the system. If you
remove plants, establish your biological filter bed, then add the
plants back, you'll end up with the same thing you'd have if you just
left the plants in -- assuming you have conditions conducive to the
growth of nitrifiying baceteria, your filter bed will compensate for
whatever your plants aren't consuming.

I.e. if your plants are healthy and your ammonia/nitrite levels are
fine, then don't worry about it.