new 10g.... how long to....

[Darkstar824]

i recently (as of yesterday) got a new 10g to put under my other 10g. it is going on a fish stand of course. anyway, i am putting dividers in it and divide 3 ways and will put 3 of my bettas in there. i dont have the luxury of getting them each their own 5 or 10g so a divided 10 will have to suffice. but question is.... how long to let this tank cycle before adding the bettas? a month or few weeks? or longer? the dividers i am using are this "plastic craft mesh" i found at a craft store and was recommended to use for bettas instead of the ones in the pet store. and they should be safe to use. what do you all think??

[Futureboy]

cycle times vary for each tank but as soon as thats done its good to go.

have you read up about fishless cycling?

[Darkstar824]

eerrrrr... um not exactly. (cringe) but i do know that i would let tanks cycle without any fish in them for however long depending on tank size. i also use Stress Zyme to help speed up the process.

[sailor]

Do you plan on filtering the tank. If so put the filter you intend to use on the new tank on the tank you have established now. Let it run for a couple of weeks, this will help seed the new filter with the bacteria you require. After letting it run for a couple of weeks take 50% of the water in your established tank and put it in your new tank. Top it up with declorinated water then take your new filter off your old 10 gal and you should be pretty well set to go. Just don't add all three betta's at once, maybe one per week and feed very sparingly for the first few days. Watch your levels of ammonia, nitrates, nitrites but it should be good if your new filter was seeded successfully. If I have forgotten or missed anything I'm sure the other members will step in.

Good luck

Sailor

[Darkstar824]

thank you-very good info. i dont know if i can follow all that to a tee but i will see what i can do. thanks.

[Colin]

Sound advice, nuff said.
Nice one Sailor :thumb:

Ammonia =0
Nitrite =0
Nitrate=<40 but best <20
Your looking at 2 weeks min, any less and your rushing it and that could lead to problems.