Fuzz in tank

[twinsmom]

I have searched a years worth of posts on the entire forum, and couldn't find any answers, so I thought if I posted this, I would get help. In my 1.5 gal. Betta tank, I have one male. On the bottom of the tank, I have gravel. I keep developing white fuzz on the gravel. The betta is alright, he eats and swims, and occasionally flares at the other male across from him. He had some raggedy fins when I got him, so I am using Splendid Betta: Betta Fix remedy. I also use Betta bowl Essentials from Kent everytime I do a water change. Since I began using the Betta Fix, it said to treat for 7 days, and then do a water change. So I have not changed the water, and he gets his last dose tomorrow. I have had the fuzz before. It comes out with a water change. I thought it may have been from the plants i had growing in the tank, so i pulled them out. Still happening. Does anyone have a clue what this may be? I was also wondering if anyone has some good betta web sites, since I am still new to everything betta.
Thank you everyone

 

[red-devil0602]

could be rotting food from over feeding or food dropping to the bottom before he has chance to eat it, i know bettas can eat of the bottom but some of mine don't like to so i use a turkey baster to suck up any food that s been there for longer than 30 mins

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

The fuzz is fungus, most commanly caused by overfeeding and/or lack of gravel cleaning- take out the gravel and rinse it in some boiling water to killof the growth and try to clean it more often with a gravel vac or via stirring it up with your hands and then doing a water change

 

[twinsmom]

I do rinse the gravel with every water change, but as far as over feeding, he is ver slow and misses the pellets most of the time so alot of them fall into the gravel. I try to get out what I can, but I usually can't find all of them since they are so tiny and the gravel is larger. Is there a better substrate I can put in the bottom, so it makes it easier to get the pellets out, as well as other dirt (ie: fish poop) in between water changes?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Sand is a very good substrate for keeping tanks clean as it is too fine for the food/waste to settle inbetween, just stir it up once every 5days and do a water change afterwards and that'll keep it clean . You can either buy aquarium sand from your lfs and there are many colors available other than just natural colors although avoid getting crushed coral sand as this changes ph, or you can thoroughly wash out some childrens playsand and use that .

 

[twinsmom]

Sand is a very good substrate for keeping tanks clean as it is too fine for the food/waste to settle inbetween, just stir it up once every 5days and do a water change afterwards and that'll keep it clean . You can either buy aquarium sand from your lfs and there are many colors available other than just natural colors although avoid getting crushed coral sand as this changes ph, or you can thoroughly wash out some childrens playsand and use that .

Thank you Tokis, I will definitely do that. I also read that the gravel may be a little to rough for their delicate bodies. Don't want to hurt them As far as plants, are some better than others for betta's? Can you use plants with sand? If not I could always get silks instead.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Thank you Tokis, I will definitely do that. I also read that the gravel may be a little to rough for their delicate bodies. Don't want to hurt them As far as plants, are some better than others for betta's? Can you use plants with sand? If not I could always get silks instead. [/quote]
If the tank doesn't have any lighting, plants may not be a good idea for the tank- the majority of plants are fine for bettas although they don't like the fine/densely leaved ones that much because they can't swim inbetween them and they take up lots of tank space this happens, but realy its down to what you prefer . Silk plants don't need any maintanence and won't be affected by whatever goes on in the tank, but then again i personally think real plants look better although you may need to trim them down every now and then but thats about it.

 

[twinsmom]

Thank you again Tokis One more question, is there a live plant that I could put with just some natrual light from the window, or do I have to have a plant light?

 

[OrkyBetta]

Hmm, natural light will cause a lot of algae growth. Some lfs's sell tiny lights for the tops of little bowls and such. Cabomba is supposed to be good stuff.

 

[twinsmom]

Hmm, natural light will cause a lot of algae growth. Some lfs's sell tiny lights for the tops of little bowls and such. Cabomba is supposed to be good stuff.

Oh, i did not even think of that, especially since he is sitting across from the window. I will try to find a tiny plant light. I will also look for that type of plant. Thnak you