How often should I change water?

[jkun17]

I used to keep my bettas in a partitioned tank but after an incident when they broke through the partition, I decided to keep them in bowls instead. I've got 6 bettas in 1 gallon bowls and I was wondering how often I should change their water.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

Once every three days would be ok. 10-25% water change. That way you have no buildup of nitrates (if the bowls cycle that far and you are sure that the fish are getting new, oxygenated water (yes, yes, they don't need it, but it certainly doesn't hurt).

 

[dixaisy930]

You should probably do them pretty often, since I'm assuming there's not type of filtration since it's a bowl. I would suck up any visable poop or uneaten food every day or atleast every other day. And large water changes a couple times a week would probably also be a good idea.

 

[jkun17]

Is there any special kind of tablet that I can buy to oxygenate my water?

I used to buy botteled water from the Supermarket until I realized that having money in my wallet was a good thing and just bought a conditioner

I'm assuming that since the're all in bowls now I should be seeing a lot of bubble nests soon. I think it's their way of flirting with me

I'm also considering buying .5 gallon bowls just for some variation in how I arrange them. Also, how often should I change the .5 gallon ones? Would it be wise to put an elodea in each bowl?

I just found this awesome new store with what they call "fancy bettas" which are so much more cool than the standard veil-tail I find at petco and the chains like that. It's a half hour drive away but it is well worth it. Today I bought a white betta, a plakat and a crown-fin. It's a good variation from my other three veil-tails.

I've got it set up such that there are large marbles on the floor of the bowl to make it a little easier to pick up fish waste.

Just out of curiosity, should I be putting cycle or any kind of addatives into the bowls?

I'm planning on going back and buying a few more (I think I'm finally addicted) and getting them around a good number. Six isn't a particularly great number, but 9 is the most lucky so I'm probably going to get another trio.

 

[Sorrell]

You don't need to get anything to oxygenate your water. I am a big fan of the turkey baster. I suck out waste and uneaten food daily and then so water changes twice a week.

I wouldn't go with any less then 1 gallon bowls/tanks

Don't worry about adding cycle or anything, with regular water changes, your tanks won't cycle, but the fish will stay healthy

 

[jkun17]

I just remembered this. I was at Cost-plus today buying tea with my mother. I saw these really strange looking glass bottles there and I was incredibly intregued. They have ones that look like the Eiffel Tower and Big Ben and all these strange shapes and designs. I was wondering if it would stress my betta to be put in a container such as those. I think it would be a great way to add extra variation to my betta shelf and it would just look cool ... my only worry is that my Betta won't think so.

 

[zelandonia]

Isn't it necessary only to do water changes because ammonia and nitrite will build up in the tank? I have tested the parameters in my 1.2 gallon containers every day and find that after one week there is still no ammonia or nitrite present. I change my betta containers once a week. It seems as if this is not enough according to previous responses. Are there other reasons to change the water than just ammonia and nitrite?

z.

Edit: I don't mean to hijack, I just want to join in

 

[f250fisherman]

It depends alot on what and how often you feed. I feed a lot of frozen foods, so the ammonia shows up on day 4. Not much, but you can tell it is reading it. If using a gal tank, I would do 100% water changes at least twice a week. I do them every 2-3 days.
The cleaner the water, the less chance of having sick bettas.

 

[bettacrazy]

this might sound really strange.... but i find that with my oldest boy, his bubble nests quantity increases as the week goes by. in a sense, i think he likes his water dirty (don't know why, but rest asure that i do 100% water change every week regardless of his bubble nests!!). i know this doesn't really apply in this thread, but i do want to know if i'm the only one out there that has a betta that likes dirty water....

 

[shrks1fan]

I have to do my 1 gallon tanks every 3rd day or ammonia really starts to show up, that's 95-100% every 3rd day.

Linda

 

[White Whale]

An equivalent of 1 gallon per week water change.

 

[squeeker]

Mine are the same way, Bettacrazy... they don't start building their nests until day 4!

 

[f250fisherman]

Usually by day 4..there is a light film on the water. This helps keep the bubbles from busting. I would guess the betta likes it at day 1 too, but his saliva is not secreting enough stickums to hold the bubbles. Ever notice how a male in a spawing tank will work on his nest for 2-3 days, and still not have a nest? Same thing.

 

[Kittycat]

Like f250, I change 100% twice a week. I just find the bottom too dirty by day 3 or 4 to keep it that way the rest of the week. I feed once or twice a day.

As for bubbles, if someone built a big nest, I just transfer the bubbles to the new, clean water.