Cycling My Fluval Edge

My bottle said to use it once, immediately go out and buy fish (which I'm obviously not going to do ha!), and then use it too whenever you do a water change / add new water. Is that the same as yours Resa? I was expecting it to be a three day dose thing too :s It's worth a try Chrisp, it at least feels like you're doing something ha

Adding ammonia from a bottle is exactly the same as getting fish as far as the bacteria are concerned. I would add more Safe Start at a few water changes once you have fish just to make sure - you have the bottle so may as well use it. But long term there's no point. If there are enough bacteria in the filter to care of all the waste from the fish in the tank adding more isn't going to improve anything. So long as you don't do something silly like forgetting to add dechlorinator or washing the filter media in plain tapwater 


Chris - the only way to find out is to use it and see what happens 

Hi Guys!

Sorry about the delay in answering today, our bloody broadband is so-oo slow normally but today it has been up and down all day.....driving us crazy!  Anyway, quick replies before the donkey falls over again
Jesnon, yes sorry, my brain does it's own thing lately, on checking with hubby (as I don't have the bottle still) he said I am obviously on mushrooms because the safe start was tip it all in straight away...then get fish!  I was getting confused with the Nutrafin Cycle which came with the tank.  That was the one that was the three day dosing instructions.  The safe start worked out that we needed 50mls for our size tank, but we could only get 30ml bottles, so we just threw two of them in!  I figured it didn't matter and as I wasn't getting any fishy friends until I had had a clear run of double zeros I thought I would just see what happened.
So guys, I wish you luck and hope it works for you and Sue, keep up the good work (without cheating).  At least you have got some fishies to watch

resa

Bettas are fine with anything smooth on the bottom - smooth so not to risk their fins catching or getting cut. That's the only rule really for anything in a betta's tank. Gravel is fine, I once had large pebbles but took them out when I got the frogs (risk of them getting their legs trapped). Sand is good too - that's what'll be in mine because I have a lot left from the bags I used for my other tanks. I swapped the bigger tanks to sand a couple of years ago.

If you decide on just a betta, 2ppm would be fine - that's what I'll aim for once my cycle finally gets under way. For endlers and shrimp, maybe a tad more, perhaps 3ppm. The thing with small tanks like your Edge and my 25 litre is that they should be understocked, so we won't need the full 5ppm-worth of bacteria.

Thanks Sue, does that mean the bogwood would be OK or might it snag their fins? 2ppm - 3ppm isn't too bad, hopefully my bacteria are doing well!

Haha Resa good luck - try to resist the temptation!!

8 should be fine. Males are only tiny. I have about that number in my 125 - the reason I say 'about' is because it's almost impossible to see them all at once to count. On the whole they do stick together as a group, though there's always the odd one or two off wandering.


Bettas and bogwood depends on the actual piece of wood. Some is rough, other bits are smooth. Did you know you can get java fern on coconut shells? Half shells with a semicircle cut in the edge are often used for caves and they are smooth enough. Just an idea.......

Great - thanks Sue! I think I'm leaning more towards endlers at the minute, but I might be tempted to change a few things in my tank for a pretty enough betta!

I'm intrigued too Resa - any new additions to your tank?!

Oh...forgot to say...got the pressies I needed, then went in to TWO fishy shops.  I tried to fight it...I really did!  What beautiful fishies they had though, so-oo...I had to get 6 little pandas and a puffer.
Definitely going back to my thread now...see you there

This is my partners readings... I guess I need a water change but cant until tomorrow. Can he dose ammonia in the evening or shall he leave it?

With a high NitrAte reading and more NitrIte to be eaten, I would leave it until after a water change.  You'll need a big one too, well over 50% to get the NitrAte down again.  The Ammonia eaters will be ok without any food until then.

Oops...sorry Sue, I felt the darkness engulf me, and I couldn't help myself   I think it was probably the stress of seeing my little pandas I want so-ooo much and walking away from them....I swear I heard them calling me back!

Resa