Betta advice

[houndour]

I've been thinking of getting a betta for aggggess now. And now that my main fish tank seems to be running smoothly I'm seriously considering my betta tank. I do have a hex tank, but I havent been able to find anywhere to put it, so I'll probably buy a new 5 gallon bowl or tank.

I'm really strapped for time, as a lot is spent on my main tank (which is planted) and I also have bunnies to look after and fuss! So I really want to make sure I'm not going to end up neglecting anybody by getting a betta.

So, how much time do you think you spend on maintenance on a 5 gallon bowl a week?

Also I've read that you should do a FULL water change. Doesn't this go against the whole cycling thing? Do you not cycle betta tanks?

Do bettas not need a filter? What about a heater? I've seen betta tanks with and without both. What would you guys recommend?

Thanks,
Sam

 

[eudielynn]

First of all, a 5 gallon is a great size for a betta, he will love all the room. You can cycle a betta tank, but most of us do 100% water changes at least once a week. If you do cycle you will need a filter. The heater depends on the room temperature where you are keeping your betta. If the room is fairly warm and the water will stay at or above the mid 70's without it, you won't need one.

I have four bettas. One is in a cycled community tank, the others are in 1 gal and 2 1/2 gal tanks. I do water changes on them twice weekly. The water changes on the one gallons, I do both tanks in my 15 minute break at work. The 2 1/2 gallon is at home and it takes me about 10 minutes to do a 100% water change.

A 5 gal that is uncycled could probably go with one change a week since it is larger and water quality will stay better longer. You should be able to do a 100% change in about 15 minutes tops once you get used to doing them.

I don't recommend filters for bettas. My one boy in the community tank is constantly thrown around by the current. I have air stones turned to the lowest bubble rate possible in my 1 gal tanks, but those aren't really necessary. They just keep any film from forming over the top of the water. I do have a small box filter in the 2 1/2 gal tank but only because I have a snail in that one and I keep it on it's lowest setting.

HTH

 

[houndour]

how do you do a 100% water change? I'm being lazy! I'll look for posts, but I'd be interested how you do it?

I think I'd use a heater then. Scrap the filter. And if you guys say it's fine 100% water changes. I'd do it twice a week if necessary.

 

[Bloo]

Personally I think a very light box type filter for a 5 gallon would be great. Nothing that pumps out water strongly.
I also am against full water changes as that goes against everything that cycling is about. I think it creates an unstable environment with constant fluctuation of nitrates, nitrites and ammonia. And in my opinion leads to ill health in the long term.
However that said, many people do it that way, seemingly with little problem.
Though I'd love to know how many of them stay disease free

And heater most certainly in a 5 gallon.

 

[houndour]

ok, so if I had a cycled 5 gallon with a filter that provided very little water flow then how often and how much water change am I looking at? twice a week? 25%?

 

[Bloo]

in my opinion, 25% once a week should be absolutely fine - with a cycled & established tank.

Be prepared to get lots of individual advice

 

[houndour]

in my opinion, 25% once a week should be absolutely fine - with a cycled & established tank.

Be prepared to get lots of individual advice

Well I would agree with this as its what I do on my 19G. Although the tank is small, it'll only be housing a betta. I feel a trip to pets at home is in need tonight (I know pets at home is crap...but they are the cheapest for fish equipment compared to my 2 LFS).

 

[eudielynn]

I also am against full water changes as that goes against everything that cycling is about.

I said he could cycle but most of us do full water changes. I would never do a full water change on a cycled tank, but since most bettas hate current and will hide from it, 100% water changes are my choice rather than cycling to keep my bettas as stress free as possible. You should not do both.

Again, be prepared for many different views.

 

[houndour]

arrgghh! Decisions decisions. Anybody else got an opinion?

I'm a she by the way

Could you still tell me how you do 100% water changes?

 

[eudielynn]

Sorry about that, mam.

I take my guys out of their tanks and put them into the cups they came in from the LFS, (with the lid on, bettas can and will jump). Then I dump the water out of the tank, rinse of decorations and plants with declorinated water, rinse bottom substrate with declorinated water, swishing stones or gravel around to loosen any debris that has gotten down between them. I have a 3 gal bucket that is not used for anything but water changes where I prepare the new water. I put stress coat, aquarium salt and blackwater extract into the bucket of water, I let the water stand until it gets to room temp and then pour it in the tank after I've replaced the decorations.

 

[OrkyBetta]

100% water changes are actually just fine for bettas. Filters can do more harm than good, tearing their delicate finnage, making the betta stressed, and a stressed, ragged betta is no fun. Bettas can live perfectly healthy and happy to their full lifespan of 2-5 years in these conditions.

I don't use nets if I don't have to. What I do is scoop out the betta when he comes to the top for air in the cup I got him from at the lfs. I dump out some water so the aren't in very much (just enough to cover them, as you are trying to CLEAN the water, not pour back ib stuff from the last change.) In a little ammount of water, they can't jump, but I usually put lids over the top anyways. Then I dump the water out into a bucket (I always dump in a bucket, instead of the sink or toilet, so if anything falls out of the tank, I can get it back.) I use regular tap water to fill the tank up a few inches, swish the gravel around, dump out the water, repeat a few times. With a paper towel i get the grunge off the sides, rinse deco's in tap water. Then I fill it up with water I had in old milk jugs overnight (to make it nice and room temperature) and add a couple drops of dechlor, to get any chlorine out from the rinsing you did. Since the water is the same temp, you can carefully pour the betta back in. Job done!

 

[houndour]

oh my goodness. you guys don't make it easy to make decisions.

I can totally understand where your 2 points of view are coming from. I just can't keep the whole cycling thing out of head though. But I just can't imagine any filter being 'low' enough not to produce a strong current.

 

[OrkyBetta]

Well, in the end it is completely your choice. Cycling is a great idea, but 100% changes aren't hamful. If you really want a filter, get a HOB and rig up one of those bottle 'current killers' I think it is pinned somewhere around here.

 

[Bloo]

I would still love to know how often you guys (who do 100% changes) have to treat fish with fungus and fin rot, velvet and ich etc. etc.
An awful lot by the looks of it
Every second thread (just about) on this betta forum is about sick fish. Fine yes, it's because so many of them come from appalling conditions - however there seem to be many long-term residents with exactly the same problems.

 

[Bloo]

oh my goodness. you guys don't make it easy to make decisions.

I can totally understand where your 2 points of view are coming from. I just can't keep the whole cycling thing out of head though. But I just can't imagine any filter being 'low' enough not to produce a strong current.

go and actually take a look at your lfs. There should be loads of box or sponge type filters with a very low "output" but that do a very good job. They tend to be very cheap too - around £4 or so.