Cycling a 2.5g

[s72450]

I recently lost my female betta that I housed in a 2.5g and I'd like to take some time out now and redo the tank and in doing so I want to cycle it and hopefully in the future get another male betta to go in there, I tend to have better luck with them it seems.

So I'm going to use the original filter media, but I am curious how much amonia to put in the first time. I'm having trouble with my 10g right now cause even 1ml of the stuff sometimes sends me over the line on levels. So anyone who has done this know a good method of judging how much to use?

[gm72]

Put in about 5 drops and test, it should give you a good idea of how far you will need to go.

[s72450]

Thanks, I'll try this in a bit.

[terrapin24h]

using a piece of std airline, 5 drops of ammonia takes my 10gal to about 1.5. For the 2.5g i'd do 1 or 2 drops max. To cycle it take some gravel from your cycled tank and put it in the bowl. Incidentally, to get my tank to 4 i had to add 11 drops using the above method.

--chris

[s72450]

Perhaps this is my problem all along since I've not been using drops, but rather just adding in 1ml to my 10gallon and it jumps up to 8ppm on the scale. I hate the scale, it's honestly hard to judge the color.

[terrapin24h]

i think even at 1mL you are prob adding too much for the water amount you have. I cant see 10 of the drops im adding being 1ml. Do a 50% wc and then add just a couple drops and check your level.

--chris