cory fish in small tank

Question
QUESTION: Hi, I resently asked someone else on this website my question, and didnt get a response, so I am trying somebody else.

I have a 2.5 gal tank, that originally had a female betta and a peppered cory....long story short, betta jumped out, and my mom got me two new cory cats. A juli and a panda. So I currently have 3 small cory cats.
I am using a tetra whisperer 3i with replaceable carbon inserts. I was originally changing all the water, rinsing the rocks, and decorations every week back when I had the betta, but now I am very confused. I have had the tank maybe 2 months at best.

My confusion started when my mom gave me the new fish. They werent eating at first, or rather eating very slowly. I would try dropping one sinking pellet for all three of them and it would still be thier after an hour, with only a couple nibbles. After watching thier eating behavior not improve at all for a couple more days I decided to try something new. I started giving them frozen bloodworms. It seemed to help a little bit. Is thier anything else I should try feeding them?

They are still not being very active, so I had started doing some reading about it, and found out about tank cycling. I never worried about it before with the betta, but now I am. Should I try to cycle my tank or keep doing whole water changes? do I need to be rinsing the gravel if i do whole water changes? while reading up about tank cycling, I read that amonia gets dangerously high and than bacteria forms on the gravel to break it down. So I'm wondering if i am doing the right thing.
then nitrate comes into play and then nitrate, and then a water change and your all set.
I'm not sure that if I did a tank cycle that my equipment would help. The filter is supposed to get bacteria too, but I probably dont have the right filter seeing as how i only have replaceable carbon filter inserts. I tried putting poly fiber stuff ( use to stuff pillows) in the filter as well to maybe catch bacteria and continue changing the inserts but not the poly fiber , but the amonia levels started rising really quick when I did that. I'm not sure if it was becuse the tank was starting to cycle or if it was because the filter just wasnt working right?

I really need a direction to take. Cycle or not to Cycle?
If I cycle, do I need a different filter? or is the poly fiber ok? I've done a lot of research about the cycling process, and the filter is the only part that I can really see being my big problem if a small tank will even cycle? Do I need to get a bigger tank if I have to cycle? I am a newbie, so I'm just very lost.

If I dont cycle, do I need to be rinsing the gravel?
I only going to be feeding the fish the frozen bloodworms, b/c now they dont even touch the sinking pellets. What else should I try feeding them?

Any direction would be greatly appreciated. thank you.

ANSWER: Yes, you must cycle your tank. And you must clean your gravel using a gravel vac.

However, that is not the reason they are shy. Cories are schooling fish, and need to be kept in groups of at least 6-8, or they will not be active. To achieve this size school, you will need at least a 20 gallon tank. In any tank under 20 gallons your cories will not live a full lifespan and will never be as active as they can be.

If you can, get a bigger tank. Even just 10 gallons would be better, but aim for 20 or 30 gallons. When you get the tank or decide on the tank you want I will help you set it up and walk you through everything as it comes up.

-Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well my mom wouodnt let me get anything bigger than a 5.5 gallon, but at least thats a little bit bigger. I have an AquaClear filter on it that does the bio-chemical-andmechanical filter process. I filled it with dechlorinated water, and was eager to do a fishless cycle.

I added pure ammonia with no scents, or additives. Its around 4ppm, and I havent added anymore.I will add more once it starts dropping but it hasnt dropped at all. I started maybe 5 days ago, and havent seen any change.

I know heaters and air pumps help, but everything I've read says they arent essential, they just help speed it up. Its not that I dont own them, they are just being used in the small tank with the cories. I dont want to buy more equipment, especially since I can use the ones I have.

My question is, when should I expect the ammonia levels to drop? the nitrite hasnt started rising, should I asssume something is wrong? I'm trying my hardest to be very patient....but I am so eager to help out my little cories.

ANSWER: Everything you're doing is good. But you should put ina  filter.

Filters are not nessesary but your cycle will be pointless without one, because as soon as you do your first water change on the filter-less cycled tank, it will recycle. You need something that can hold a cycle through. Filter.

Your ammonia should drop much faster with a filter. Without one it should take about a month to cycle.

-Nick

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: That's just it! I do have a filter. An Aquaclear with chemical mechanical and biological filter process...I do not have a heater or air pump.

I lowered the ammonia to 3ppm last night to see if it would help....nothing. still 3ppm. and NO nitrite at all. Its been a week now, and I dont know what the problem could be!

Answer
Sorry, misread the question.

It's ok, just keep waiting. Without a heater it may take longer.

If there is still nothing in 2 weeks, add a half teaspoon of dark brown sugar. It feeds the nitrifying bacteria. A rarely employed cycling technique, the main reason for this is that it can make a tank very dirty very quickly if over used, so be careful.