nitrites don't show up

**Honey Badger 1** · 01-14-2013, 07:06 AM

If you are doing a fish-less cycle, ammonia should not be spiking. You put ammonia to a certain level in the tank and leave it alone until it goes away then add more. Nitrite will spike, nitrate will spike, but ammonia should stay at the level you put in there then start to drop. Are you adding more ammonia before the level drops to 0?

**imma24** · 01-14-2013, 01:00 PM

+1 - the ammonia should stay at whatever level you put in there until it drops to 0 - then you add more. Are put you putting anything else into the tank besides ammonia? Just curious if you are you doing anything to your filter media.

**Lady Hobbs** · 01-14-2013, 06:37 PM

You are adding enough ammonia in that 1.5 gallon tank that would be the recommended dosing for 30 gallons. IMO, you are way overdosing.

**Lady Hobbs** · 01-14-2013, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by andreahp

+1 with 850R - an ammonia reading of 2-3ppm is more for 10-30 gal, not 1.5 - the amount of ammonia you put in corresponds with the amount of bacteria you need to grow in the filter.

Sorry Andrea......Just saw your post here. Didn't mean to be a copycat. I certainly agree with you. I didn't even cycle my tank when I added shrimp. Bioload is about 0 for them.

**imma24** · 01-14-2013, 10:49 PM

OK - if Lady Hobbs didn't even bother cycling a shrimp tank, you might just want to remove all the ammonia currently in the tank by emptying it, refill with fresh water and add your shrimp - save you lots of time & frustration ; )

**vafa** · 01-14-2013, 11:19 PM

How much bio load does a Betta have
This question is for another tank btw
And I think the ammonia spiked because all my flakes release all the ammonia it had at once

**Lady Hobbs** · 01-15-2013, 07:56 AM

A Betta has the same bioload as any other fish of the same size but a 1.5 gallon is too small for a Betta.

**vafa** · 01-16-2013, 12:50 AM

i have a 2 gallon stored in my storage so i am really tempted to try a betta tank
i know 2.5 minimum but what if i get a strong filter like a tetra whisper 10i (90 gph)

**imma24** · 01-16-2013, 01:24 AM

Sorry but generally the smallest tank recommended for a betta is a 5gal - those fish aren't small and they need room to swim!

Ah, so you were cyling that 1.5 with flakes? Again, as LH mentioned, you could just drain what's in there, add more dechlorinated water and put shrimp right in there!

**KevinVA** · 01-16-2013, 01:26 AM

2gal is really small... IMO the smallest tank a Betta should have is a 5gal... but if you have the room, make it a 10. He'll utilize the entire tank and will love you for it. Why people wouldn't want to take advantage of having a beautiful fish like that in a bigger tank is beyond me.