Jebbyfishman
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Nov 24, 2023
- Messages
- 22
Hi this is my first post. I have a 2.5 gallon tank with heater (80 degrees), bubbler, light, and betta filter. I put 2 cartridges in the filter and the water flows well, hoping in the future I can change one at a time to not lose a lot of beneficial bacteria. I read that’s where a lot of them live. Gravel substrate and fake plants/plastic decorations. I used to have a guppy in the tank 3 months ago that passed after a year and have been trying to get the tank ready again either for a betta or some snails and shrimp since I think having a tank this small is very hard for fish and for me to keep the water clean enough for them.
I have been trying to fishless cycle by doing water changes and using conditioner and quick start and had been consistently at
Ammonia 1
Nitrite 0.5
PH 6.5-7
Nitrate 0
I was discouraged that fishless my water parameters were not good enough yet. Then I read I need to ramp the ammonia up more than that by adding food which I did a week ago. And the beneficial bacteria will build up.
11/20
Ammonia 2
Nitrite 0.75
Ph 6
Nitrate 0
11/22
Ammonia 4
Nitrite 0.75
PH 6.5-7
Nitrate 0
11/24
Ammonia 4
Nitrite 0.75
Ph 8.5
Nitrate 0
Is it bad my ph is all over the place? Is my ammonia too high? Do I need to add plants if I do get shrimp or a betta? Do I need to suck it up and get a bigger tank?
Thanks so much for the help and advice!!
I have been trying to fishless cycle by doing water changes and using conditioner and quick start and had been consistently at
Ammonia 1
Nitrite 0.5
PH 6.5-7
Nitrate 0
I was discouraged that fishless my water parameters were not good enough yet. Then I read I need to ramp the ammonia up more than that by adding food which I did a week ago. And the beneficial bacteria will build up.
11/20
Ammonia 2
Nitrite 0.75
Ph 6
Nitrate 0
11/22
Ammonia 4
Nitrite 0.75
PH 6.5-7
Nitrate 0
11/24
Ammonia 4
Nitrite 0.75
Ph 8.5
Nitrate 0
Is it bad my ph is all over the place? Is my ammonia too high? Do I need to add plants if I do get shrimp or a betta? Do I need to suck it up and get a bigger tank?
Thanks so much for the help and advice!!