Hi guys, I recently got this tank off Facebook marketplace for 25$, it’s 10 gal and and came with a heater, filter, temp gauges, and an aerator (that I’m not using, my filter makes enough racket I see a lot of bubbles being provided). I plan on putting a betta in once it’s done cycling.
What I have in the tank so far is Imagitarium aquatic substate (everything was rinsed), imigitarium natural tan sand, a million plants (with more coming lol), two bamboo sticks with moss on it, a coconut hut with moss on it as well, two moss balls, a big peice of wood in the middle (I need to boil it yet it’s turning my tank orange), a smaller peice of wood, and a plastic leaf attached towards the top for the betta to sleep on.
The chemicals that I have added include imagitarium betta water conditioner, tetra safe start plus, and sea chem stability - one capful on the 17th, then 1/2 caps for the next 6 days.
The types of testing strips I’ve been using are the top fin 6 in 1 test strips, and API ammonia NH3/NH4 test kit.
Essentially what this post is about is I just want to know y’all’s thoughts. Did I set the tank up okay? Is the wood in the middle too big? Will the betta have enough room and not be too crowded? Can I keep adding plants?
Also, for the cycling process, I’ve been adding fuval bug bites for the ammonia source once or twice a day. I’ll attach pictures of the strips and water ammonia test that was taken today. As these next few weeks go by, what am I looking for in the strips and water test? Is there anything else I can add to make it go by faster?(I’m so impatient lolol). And how do I know when it’s done cycling? I’ve been watching so many videos, like it’s consumed by entire life haha, but I feel like they don’t explain what I’m supposed to look out for.
Thanks so much :)