2 questions about cleaning water

[sarahw20000]

1. Can you use a gravel vucuum to clean glass pebbles?

2. In a small betta tank (1- 2.5g) how many water changes do you do and how often?

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

1. Can you use a gravel vucuum to clean glass pebbles?

I don't use glass pebbles in any of my tanks but I don't see why not.

2. In a small betta tank (1- 2.5g) how many water changes do you do and how often?

100% water change once a week should do it, don't forget to dechlorinate the water and match temperatures before reintroducing him to his tank. Also, if the tank looks like it's needs an extra cleaning, go ahead and do it.

 

[sarahw20000]

how do you mean 100%, wouldn't i have to take him out of his tank and put him in another while i emptied it?

or could i do 50% twice a week so he could stay in his tank?

 

[SPLiSH]

In answer to Question 1:

I have blue and clear decorative glass pebbles in my bettas' tank, they're just under an inch wide. I use a home made syphon for water changes. It's just made of some thin black tubing that you can get cheaply from most hardware stores. To make it I got three equal lengths of the tubing, about 3 foot long, and used duct tape to bind them together. I have to suck on the end to get the flow going, but it does a good job of getting crud off the bottom of my tank.

In answer to Question 2:

Yes, to do a full (100%) water change you would have to remove the betta to another container while you did it. I have my male betta in a 1.5 gallon tank and I do 50% twice weekly. I find that 100% weekly stresses him, as he is pretty nervy... but whatever works for you.

 

[sarahw20000]

I find that 100% weekly stresses him

Thanks, yeah thats what i thought.

I havn't actually got one yet but i'm trying to do loads of research first and i want to find a nice (big enough) glass vase. I'm also trying to think of a way to make an attractive lid for it?

 

[SPLiSH]

Good to hear you are researching before you bring the fish home.

This is only my opinion, but I believe the minimum tank size for a betta is 1 gallon, and make sure there's room for him or her to come up to breathe. I'm sure you already know this but just incase...

Attractive lid, eh? Well, one nice way is to get a lace or woven doily and drape it over the opening of the vase. It looks pretty and has holes in it for air to circulate.

 

[sarahw20000]

Hmm, i was thinking of something more modern looking, aiming at something that looked like it was meant to be a lid

ie. an object that has nothing to do with fish tanks but when you turn it upside down it suddenly becomes just the job! (unlikely i know, but i live in hope )

 

[OrkyBetta]

Well, if you have questions on lids, check this thread out for size http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=98289

 

[tacofrano]

how do you mean 100%, wouldn't i have to take him out of his tank and put him in another while i emptied it?

you could put him in a glass or somthing trhat is what i do

 

[Karah's_Mommy]

I use the cups that the betta came in from the petstore when I bought them. I scoop them into the cup at water change time and put the lid on the cup. Then I give the tank a thorough cleaning and the gravel as well. I then put the tank back together and fill with aged dechlorinated water that is the same temperature as the water was in the tank before. I float the betta in the cup inside the tank for 15-20 mins, then I release him into his tank by submerging the cup and letting him swim out. They are minimally stressed this way and the tank gets a thorough cleaning.