New Tank

[Embrace]

Hi,
I have got a new tank (28L).
I have been told that I would only be allowed 1 betta in this tank but after reading on the forum I am beginning to question it?

I have used some sponge from my current tank to cycle it. The sponge filter MAY (being the operative word) have to be turned off at night (light sleeping sister next room to me)
Any advice would be lovely.
Thanks

 

[Assaye]

You should only keep one male full stop. 28 litres is also far too small for a sorority of females.

You could keep a male/female betta and a few very small, quiet tank mates but that all depends on the fish and the temperament of the betta. I personally wouldn't do it. I've got ADFs with my betta in a 28 litre tank but as they take up very different areas of the tank there are no problems.

Zero point having a filter if you need to turn it off. It won't stay cycled. Run a heavily planted tank if you don't want a filter or just put up with the noise. I've got three fish tanks in my bedroom (used to have 5 ) and trust me, you get used to the noise.

 

[BethK]

Actually, if you have the tank planted well and only female bettas, you could have 4 in there.

I've experienced a female sorority in a 30 ltr, 5 infact and looked after the tank well with no hassle from the girls. If you are mixing with other creatures/fish, then no to a sorority.

 

[Embrace]

You should only keep one male full stop. 28 litres is also far too small for a sorority of females.

You could keep a male/female betta and a few very small, quiet tank mates but that all depends on the fish and the temperament of the betta. I personally wouldn't do it. I've got ADFs with my betta in a 28 litre tank but as they take up very different areas of the tank there are no problems.

Zero point having a filter if you need to turn it off. It won't stay cycled. Run a heavily planted tank if you don't want a filter or just put up with the noise. I've got three fish tanks in my bedroom (used to have 5 ) and trust me, you get used to the noise.

Thanks for the reply.
It is not me that wants to turn the tank off. It is my family and as I am living under their roof I have to live by their rules. I wish I could keep the filter on.

What temperature should bettas be kept at?

 

[Embrace]

Actually, if you have the tank planted well and only female bettas, you could have 4 in there.

I've experienced a female sorority in a 30 ltr, 5 infact and looked after the tank well with no hassle from the girls. If you are mixing with other creatures/fish, then no to a sorority.

Hi,
Thanks for that... When I replied to the 1st comment, yours had disappeared?

It is going to be quite heavily planted. I wont keep them with any other fish either... So your saying I could get 4?

 

[BethK]

Actually, if you have the tank planted well and only female bettas, you could have 4 in there.

I've experienced a female sorority in a 30 ltr, 5 infact and looked after the tank well with no hassle from the girls. If you are mixing with other creatures/fish, then no to a sorority.

Hi,
Thanks for that... When I replied to the 1st comment, yours had disappeared?

It is going to be quite heavily planted. I wont keep them with any other fish either... So your saying I could get 4?

Yes, as long as you keep an eye on water stats, you really do need a filter, doesn't cost that much to run on a 28ltr. People debate the temp for bettas, usually between 22c (very min) and 28c, mine are kept between 26-27c, dependent on the heat of the day.

I would say to get an air stone but they aren't the quietest things about,filters are quieter. If they won't let you run the filter 24/7, try keeping it on for 2 hrs in the morn and 2 in the afternoon, as long as the water is getting some aggravation, the oxygen levels should be okish.

If you can not cycle your tank, see if your lfs has any mature media. They usually change media around every few months, ask them if you can have one of those media sponges.

 

[Assaye]

Actually, if you have the tank planted well and only female bettas, you could have 4 in there.

I've experienced a female sorority in a 30 ltr, 5 infact and looked after the tank well with no hassle from the girls. If you are mixing with other creatures/fish, then no to a sorority.

We're just going to have to disagree on that one. I think you'd need to have kept numerous groups of girls for several years before responsibly advocating smaller tanks for sororities. I know of enough people who have had total blood baths on their hands even in bigger tanks. I would definitely not recommend a beginner keeps females together in such a small tank as if something goes wrong it is harder for them to handle.

You should only keep one male full stop. 28 litres is also far too small for a sorority of females.

You could keep a male/female betta and a few very small, quiet tank mates but that all depends on the fish and the temperament of the betta. I personally wouldn't do it. I've got ADFs with my betta in a 28 litre tank but as they take up very different areas of the tank there are no problems.

Zero point having a filter if you need to turn it off. It won't stay cycled. Run a heavily planted tank if you don't want a filter or just put up with the noise. I've got three fish tanks in my bedroom (used to have 5 ) and trust me, you get used to the noise.

Thanks for the reply.
It is not me that wants to turn the tank off. It is my family and as I am living under their roof I have to live by their rules. I wish I could keep the filter on.

What temperature should bettas be kept at?

As I said, no point having a filter if it gets turned of for several hours a day. Just don't have a filter but do consider whether you should be keeping pets if your family insist that you can't do certain important things with them. If you go without a filter you'll need to either have a tank stuffed full of live plants to keep the ammonia down or you'll need to do water changes every day, which means you don't get time off for holidays and weekend breaks. Either way, you should get a liquid testing kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. I'd also recommend pH has if your water has a pH over 8 I wouldn't get bettas as they are low pH fish.

If you want to keep multiple fish in a small tank you're playing with fire if you don't have a filter that is on 24/7. IMO filter-less community tanks (or any tank with multiple fish) should be a large tank that is set up very, very carefully according to the walstad style unless you are experienced with filter less tanks or have only got one fish. You need excellent lighting and just the right kinds of plants. In a small tank you're taking a big risk as a beginner.

Temperature wise - 26-28C. I use 27C.

 

[Embrace]

Actually, if you have the tank planted well and only female bettas, you could have 4 in there.

I've experienced a female sorority in a 30 ltr, 5 infact and looked after the tank well with no hassle from the girls. If you are mixing with other creatures/fish, then no to a sorority.

We're just going to have to disagree on that one. I think you'd need to have kept numerous groups of girls for several years before responsibly advocating smaller tanks for sororities.

You should only keep one male full stop. 28 litres is also far too small for a sorority of females.

You could keep a male/female betta and a few very small, quiet tank mates but that all depends on the fish and the temperament of the betta. I personally wouldn't do it. I've got ADFs with my betta in a 28 litre tank but as they take up very different areas of the tank there are no problems.

Zero point having a filter if you need to turn it off. It won't stay cycled. Run a heavily planted tank if you don't want a filter or just put up with the noise. I've got three fish tanks in my bedroom (used to have 5 ) and trust me, you get used to the noise.

Thanks for the reply.
It is not me that wants to turn the tank off. It is my family and as I am living under their roof I have to live by their rules. I wish I could keep the filter on.

What temperature should bettas be kept at?

As I said, no point having a filter if it gets turned of for several hours a day. Just don't have a filter but do consider whether you should be keeping pets if your family insist that you can't do certain important things with them. If you go without a filter you'll need to either have a tank stuffed full of live plants to keep the ammonia down or you'll need to do water changes every day, which means you don't get time off for holidays and weekend breaks. Either way, you should get a liquid testing kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. I'd also recommend pH has if your water has a pH over 8 I wouldn't get bettas as they are low pH fish.

Temperature wise - 26-28C. I use 27C.

I have got all the testing kit as I also have my 60L tropical tank. Well Ill leave the filter in there since I have bought it now and surly a filter on for 14 hours a day is better than no filtration at all?

I have just ordered the plants and I am waiting for someone on the forum to get back to me as well. How many W.C should I do a week and how much (%)?

 

[ellena]

Why don't you get a quiet filter? I have a betta tank right next to my bed and have had sleepless nights with noisy filters (just to show I'm not a really heavy sleeper) I have one now though which is very quiet and I can sleep next to it, let alone someone in the next room!
I agree that one male would be perfect for that tank, maybe introducing some shrimp/adfs once it's settled in.

 

[Embrace]

Sadly my parents go by 'Bedrooms should be quiet places for sleeping in'

 

[Assaye]

Sadly my parents go by 'Bedrooms should be quiet places for sleeping in'

So they'd object to a silent filter on the principle that it will be noisy?

OK . . .

 

[silverrabbit]

It might be better to divide the tank and keep 2 males rather than a group of girls. I have tried a smaller tank sorority and it FAILED miserably. The smaller number of girls left me with constant bickering and a death, and it just depressed me in the end.

Small filters for that size tank are pretty much completely quiet, you'd prob get more background noise from electrical appliances in your room

 

[Embrace]

Sadly my parents go by 'Bedrooms should be quiet places for sleeping in'

So they'd object to a silent filter on the principle that it will be noisy?

OK . . .

Well after experimenting buying 'Silent' filters which turn out to be noisy, they have every right to not believe it.
Thanks for the dividing advice as well silver rabbit.
I think I'll just get 1 male.

 

[Flute]

I'm a really light sleeper myself and have two tanks in my bedroom. One is a superfish 26 litre (Think that's it's size), and as long as the spray bar isn't above water level then you can't hear it and I sleep fine

 

[Assaye]

Sadly my parents go by 'Bedrooms should be quiet places for sleeping in'

So they'd object to a silent filter on the principle that it will be noisy?

OK . . .

Well after experimenting buying 'Silent' filters which turn out to be noisy, they have every right to not believe it.
Thanks for the dividing advice as well silver rabbit.
I think I'll just get 1 male.

Unless you can find a silent filter that passes inspection by your family, be prepared for 80-90% water changes daily

Clean the tank out 100% a couple of times a week as well, just to get rid of any traces of ammonia.

You *might* find if you only keep the filter off for a maximum of 6-8 hours that it retains enough bacteria to keep the ammonia and nitrites down but I think we need to work from the assumption that your tank won't cycle in the first place with a filter that is only part time.

Could you maybe cycle the filter in a bucket in the kitchen/utility room and then add it to the tank? Or maybe not have the tank in your bedroom at all?