I want to cycle a 20 gallon tank to get it ready for some fish, but right now i have 5 female bettas in it. They get along and are doing great, but i have a Penguin 330 in the tank, and it is too much water flow for the bettas. When the filter is on, they all stay on the side of the tank where there isn't as much flow, but when it's off they swim around and play. I know the purpose of cycling a tank is to get the filter ready, but is it possible to leave the fish in, and occasionally turn on the filter? will it still cycle the tank for the other fish i plan on getting?
when i get new fish for this tank, the Bettas are going back into the 10 gallon that i already have prepared for them.
2007-03-20 11:39:33 · 6 answers · asked by Andii 3 in Pets ➔ Fish
I wouldn't recommend that you do it. In theory, cycling could be done either way, depending on the tank conditions, but the microorganisms responsible will be different and you'll get FAR different products and efficiency with your final results.
With a filter, you'll develop populations of three aerobic (oxygen-using) bacteria -Nitrosomonas, Nitrospira, and Nitrosopira. These all require oxygen to live. The first converts the ammonia to nitrite, the last two convert the nitrite to nitrate.
Without a filter, you'll get other, anaerobic (not using oxygen) bacteria only, because you won't be circulating oxygen to the bottom of your tank. These convert the ammonia to nitrogen gas (N2) which bubbles out of the tank.
Although both will get rid of the ammonia, they use different pathways. Unfortunately, as soon as you turn on the filter to add fish, you introduce oxygen, which the anaerobic bacteria can't tolerate. They die, unless you have a very deep sand (not gravel) substrate. But, because you only have them in a deep environment, there are no aerobic bacteria at the surface where most of your water (and ammonia) will be. So you'll still have ammonia and nitrite being produced and none of the proper bacteria to convert it. This would be the same as NOT cycling your tank at all!
The links below describe the bacteria and processes. The first has additional info on proper tank cleaning to maintain your bacterial population.
http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/silent_killer.htm
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm
http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Nitrosomonas
http://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Nitrospira
2007-03-20 15:39:37 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No. Almost all of the beneficial bacteria colonize on te filter media. There needs to be water flow to pull the ammonia through the filter and the bacteria to feed it. Without a food supply, provided by water through the filter, the bacteria colony will never develop or will die off quickly. I assume your current tank is cycled since you have bettas in it but it may not be if you aren't running the filter enough. If it is, you can use some of the filter media from that tank to seed the filter.
My suggestion would be to go ahead and move the bettas to the 10 gallon along with a new filter better suited for their needs (something rated for about 50 gph). Then split the filter media between the Penguin 330 and the new filter so they both have a started bacteria colony. The cycle should be relatively short.
All that assumes that you have beneficial bacteria on the current filter. If not, then you will basically have to start from scratch but in any case, I would move the betta on over to the 10 gallon tank. Below is a link to a good fishless cycling thread.
2007-03-20 11:52:07 · answer #2 · answered by rdd1952 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Yes you can. Even 3 gallon tanks for betas that do not have filters still go thru the cycling process.
Your beneficial bacteria remains in the lower strada of your tank, (The gravel) not in the water filter.
Your main concern will be the spikes of ammonia and nitrates. These you will have to keep an eye on. 20-25% water changes are still a must during the cycling period. Since you have 5 fish in your tank, the dissolved oxygen levels may quickly fall. Turning on the filter for an hour or so is a good way to replace the DO2 they need.
2007-03-20 12:35:42 · answer #3 · answered by danielle Z 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
You could just put the betta fish in the 10 gallon and do some fishless cycling. Try this link:
http://malawicichlids.com/mw01017.htm
Hope this helps.
2007-03-20 11:44:24 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You really can't cycle a tank without turning the filter on. If your filter has the provision, you can turn the flow rate down.
2007-03-20 11:42:54 · answer #5 · answered by something_fishy 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
If your just putting betas in the tank then your dont need to cycle the tank just make sure u put day old tapwater in the tank to refill because tapwater needs to sit for 24 hours to get the clorine out. if your putting other fish in like guppies you need a heater and a proper filter to aerate the water. for some reason betas dont need aerated water
2007-03-20 11:47:21 · answer #6 · answered by haryeti 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋