Or
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1oth51f
Posted by ChickeyNuggetLover
Or
https://www.reddit.com/gallery/1oth51f
Posted by ChickeyNuggetLover
6 Comments
How long have you been cycling?
All zeroes could mean cycled OR no cycle at all. In my experience you want to see some nitrates as evidence of a functioning cycle. Add a solid pinch of fish food and test again … I donno, several hours later and look for nitrites (yes, nitrITES). Then test again several more hours later to see if everything is back to 0, or even a bit of nitrates. Then I’d feel confident adding fish.
You have no nitrate meaning your tank isn’t cycled, not ready for betta.
When you have been testing the water have you ever measured any ammonia or nitrite or has it always been 0?
Do the high range pH test.
Is the tank heavily planted?
Have you added an ammonia source while cycling? If not, you may not have any bacteria since there was no ammonia to feed them. In Which case you’d still be reading all 0. Since there’s no ammonia in the system. If you’ve added an ammonia source (food, pure ammonia) then you may be cycled. You can challenge it with a hefty pinch of food, or 2-4 ppm of pure ammonia and see if it all processes into nitrates in 24h. If you have heavy plants then the nitrates should be about 5-10 ppm, but may be 0 if they’re using up the nitrate.
Also, that pH is not accurate. It could be 7.6 or anything above. You need to test the high pH to know for sure. And probably need to lower it with some tannins, for a betta.
Can you go through and answer the mod questions so you get accurate advice?
Have you added an ammonia source while cycling? If not, you may not have any bacteria since there was no ammonia to feed them. In Which case you’d still be reading all 0. Since there’s no ammonia in the system. If you’ve added an ammonia source (food, pure ammonia) then you may be cycled. You can challenge it with a hefty pinch of food, or 2-4 ppm of pure ammonia and see if it all processes into nitrates in 24h. If you ah e heavy plants then the nitrates should be about 5-10 ppm
Also, that pH is not accurate. It could be 7.6 or anything above. You need to test the high pH to know for sure. And probably need to lower it with some tannins, for a betta.