DrTim's Aquatics Freshwater Waste-Away Time Release Gel – Natural Fish Tank & Aquarium Leave-In Gel Waste Management Solution for Dissolving & Cleaning Organic Sludge & Waste - 2 Pack - Treats 100 gal

I was an idiot, and impulsively got a 5 gallon tank with a betta. Didn’t research much, and therefore didn’t know that I needed to cycle the tank. I’ve been struggling for over a month to get ammonia and nitrite levels under control. Did a water change and added this gel. I put it right next to my filter, waited 24 hours, and tested the water. Now the parameters are all reading safe! My Betta has even made a little bubble nest. I’m so relieved.

Will take a week with a new tank, it may get cloudy due to bacteria building up to make the ammonia (fish waste) into nitrites into nitrates so the plants can use as food. Do not over load your tank with fish at this point. Or…..you really must do daily water changes if the levels of nitrites or nitrates get too high as the bacteria can’t keep up at this point. This is the nitrogen cycle which feeds the plants. Always have a planted aquarium as they work together to make a healthy aquarium. The fish make co2 when they breathe like us, the plants take in co2 and make oxygen. It’s an healthy symbiotic cycle. Even if it’s just floating plants as water lettuce which comes in 3 sizes or frog bit etc. this product will not hurt any of the swimming creatures or snails. They last a long time. Do water changes as well daily or every other day while this bacteria build up. If no nitrites or nitrates on the testers then do water changes as needed, it just provides the bacteria to keep the cycle going. Just remember it takes a week or less for this cycle to be completed, after that your water should not be cloudy. Hope this helps and get more people into having successful tanks. Avoid plastic plants use real instead or keep them to a minimum so real plants can help the cycle, less work in the long run for you. 😀

This product is great. Once inside the aquarium it helps keep water clear, free of algae and organic waste.

Turned tank a greenish color within 2-3 days