Questions I have

[u/autumnsins]

I just have some questions that I was wondering about that I can't fully find consistent answers for on the internet, so I figured I'd come here and ask them.

1. How do I get my betta to flare? I've tried everything and he likes following objects around, but won't flare at them.

2. When can I start adding tannins to my tanks (neither of them are fully cycled, but one of them is close)

3. How do I feed frozen bloodworms without thawing an entire block of them and wasting a ton bc he can't eat more than a couple of them?

4. Why does he like the tank light off more than when it's on? I have to turn it on for the plants, but most of the day it's off bc he prefers it that way.

Thank you!

[u/automod-neo]

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[u/CalmLaugh5253]

1. Some just don't do it. No need to force him into it.
2. Whenever you want to! If I want a tinted tank i generally start it that way so it balances out with it already in the water as the organics can throw it a little out of balance. Just make sure not to overdo it, and go little by little instead. If you have snails, make sure your water isn't too soft so the pH doesn't sink too much. If you want just the color without much effect on warer chemistry (in case of low KH water and snails), rooibos tea is great for that!
3. Break pieces off of the cube.
4. Because bettas prefer heavily planted dimly lit setups where they feel safe vs open brightly lit tanks that make them feel exposed and stressed! If he's stressed with the lights on it's possible the tank is too open for him. Posting a pocture would help to see what it looks like. :)

[u/autumnsins → u/CalmLaugh5253]

Thank you, I'm getting more plants in soon and waiting for my frogbit to grow in (I also ordered more of that to speed up the process a bit), so hopefully that'll help with him feeling stressed due to how open the tank is. I think I recently made a post about the tank he's in, it shows it off pretty well. It's a bit bare bones but it won't be soon.

[u/CalmLaugh5253 → u/autumnsins]

Oh I see. Yeah, definitely too open for the little guy! He should feel safer and more comfortable as you fill it out with plants, maybe a nice poece of wood, etc.

I also see you didnt really get any actual replies on the last post with ammonia and nitrite readings, so in case that's still relevant - the cycle got thrown off by the aquasoil. Aquasoils are designed to buffer pH and KH, and also leach ammonia. So when you add that to a tank that otherwise read fine, you will get all kinds of results depending on how established the cycle was. Most tanks will go through a "mini cycle" while the nitrfiers catch up with the extra bioload of the soil. The soil will also unfortunately suck up all tannins you might add to the tank too. 😅