I need some advice please!

[AlexsDaddy]

I use a big plastic cup to take my betta out of the tank and hold him in while I do the change. I wait till he comes to the surface to breath, then dip the cup in behind him, and that pulls him into the cup. Then I do the water change, and put him back in there trying to put the least ammount of old water back in as possible.

 

[AlexsDaddy]

My friend Amelia bought some of those 1 gallon tanks with the "undergravel" filters for her guys. Honestly, I don't see how they can be considered "filter's"... if yours is anything like hers.

All the "filter" consists of is a plastic grate (with holes in it), a tube, and an airstone. So if it is a "filter" what filters the waste? Where is the waste stored? How could that possibly keep the water clean?

The only thing I can think of..is it "filters" thru the holes and accumulates on the bottom of the tank, and the water really isn't being cleaned at all imo. And with it only being 1 gallon..it's quite difficult to use a gravel filter in that depth of water, most of the gravel vaccums work where you have to shake the vaccum end in the water to get it flowing..and those 1gal tanks are just to shallow.

I would buy one of those small sponge filter kits they sell. The air flow is adjustable and the filters are disposable...or you can wash them out in old tank water. The entire starter kit cost about $11 at Wal-mart and the refill cartridges are $4 for 2.

Her fishies HATED that tube with all those bubbles. There was no way to reduce the flow and it was so strong..it made the surface stay all bubbled up all the time. The fish looked very stressed and sickly (lost color and stay on the tank floor all the time). She put in the sponge filter and now they are all acting their usual perky selves.

Honestly, I would just get a 2.5 gal tank setup. Those come with a regular filter setup, can support a heater with no problems, and just seem a better deal then those 1 gal setups they sell, heck they're only about $8-10 more at Wal-mart.

SRC, just thought I would let you know about the basics of the undergravel filter since from your post it seems that you don't quite understand it. It isn't the plastic piece with the holes in it that is the filter media. What that plastic piece does is creat a void in the bottom of the tank to allow for water flow. The filter media for an under gravel filter is the gravel itself that is put on top of the plastic piece. How it works, is that when the air bubbles go up the tower, it also brings water up along with it. (If you have ever watched one, and the tower is above the water line, you will see water spilling over the top of the tower.) This creats water flow through the gravel, and it is the gravel that traps all the junk. That makes the gravel the filter media, and over cleaning the gravel might/will cause any benificial bacteria to die out thus causeing spikes in ammnoia, nitrItes, or nitrAtes. Most betta keepers don't use them because of feeding live foods. Sometimes the live foods can get sucked down into the gravel where the bettas can not get to them. Pellets float for enough time for bettas to eat their fill, so you if you keep an eye on your feeding, you don't have to worry about those getting down into the gravel where they can't get to them. You can reduce the flow of bubbles going up the tube either by a gang valve, or a knot in the air tube. Sorry if you already knew all this, but like I said, from your post, it seemed like you didn't quite understand them.

 

[f250fisherman]

I use a plastic cup too, but just hold the cup close to the tank as I pour out the water into a 5 gal bucket. When the betta starts to swim out with the water, I just hold the cup under the water and catch the betta. I've done this with all my fish. I start them as juvies, so they learn quick. A new betta to the fishroom will get a little excited, but since it gets a water change very often, it settles in soon. Eventually, they just lay still and let the water carry them out.

 

[SRC]

Yeah..I know how they work (I'm sure there were benefiting parties from that description though ) but I just don't like them. Since you shouldn't clean the gravel often..because you risk harming the good bacteria colony...then all that junk (poop, old food, ect) is still sitting in the tank..rotting away.

I just prefer a filtered setup..where I can rinse out the filter once it gets dirty. Much more simple imho (fewer water changes and cleaner water all around I feel)..but different strokes for different folks you know.

I know Amelia has 3 1 gal UGF tanks in her office, 2 have sponge filters and 1 does not, yet...the one without, after 2 days the water needs a 50% water change because it looks yellowish and smells horrible (not from over feeding because she is very careful in feeding and scooping out as much uneaten food as she can (the bubbles hide some of the food from the fish)..the other two go about 4-5 days before they need a 25% water change and the filter gets shook out in old tank water once a week.

I'm sure there are people who love them and swear by them..but I just have never been pleased with their performance lol.

 

[AlexsDaddy]

Yeah..I know how they work

) Sorry.....

Oh, I know IMO=In My Opion, but what does IMHO=?