Here's the scenario:
You go to your local fish store and buy all the supplies you need for a betta. You argue with yourself over what food you should get him, what decorations would look better with different color bettas, and finally which betta to choose. (Dont forget the HEATER!!!). You leave the store excited and quickly go home to prepare the bettas new home.You set everything up, make sure the plants stay put and then put in the betta. You then sit mesmerized for about an hour or so. Everything seems fine, but then in the next few days disaster will strike with the name of New Tank Syndrome. Dun, dun, duh!!!!Are You Making This Up?
No Im not! How dare you question my authority?! On a serious note, New Tank Syndrome is real and is a major cause of death in new tank set-ups not only for bettas, but for all types of aquariums. New Tank Syndrome is when a newly established tank has not completed the nitrogen cycle meaning that its going to go through a cycle of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate spikes until the chemicals become balanced. Putting your betta, or any other fish, through this cycle will stress them out and may possibly kill them.Nitrogen Cycle: In-depth
Steps of the nitrogen cycle in an established tank
- Whenever you feed your betta, ammonium will appear in the form of waste. Ammonium is highly toxic to fish.
- The ammonium will then be consumed and converted by Nitrosomas bacteria into nitrites. Relax, they are beneficial bacteria and you wont get sick. Nitrites, although less toxic than ammonium, can still stress your betta out.
- Then, the nitrites will be consumed and converted by Nitrospira bacteria into nitrates, which is not very toxic and can only cause harm if there are a lot of nitrates.
- In a tank without any live plants, the only way nitrates can be removed is through water changes. However, live plants absorb nitrates and thus removing it from your aquarium.