Question about tank cleaning

[BettaMomma]

Okay, so a few of you have told me that you just take out like 85 - 90% of your water and do water changes.

To date, I have always taken the fish out, dumped all the water, rinsed the rocks in hot water and wiped down the insides of the tank.
Last week, after everyone's advice on not doing it that way, but rather just changing out "most" of the water, I did that....
and now I have noticed that there is some white buildup at the top of the water line and on the inside of the glass - looks like it might just be some yucky scummy stuff or whatever.

BUT.. my question is...
if you all only ever do these partial (but almost all the way) water changes, how do you get stuff clean - like get all the crap off of stuff in there, including the inside of the glass??

 

[Kiarra]

I do full (we're talking 100% new water, scrubbed tanks) water changes on almost all of my tanks. However, the ones that don't get full water changes have their decor occasionally removed for cleaning, and I use a sponge or paper towel to scrub the tank when the water level is low, so that the water doesn't spill over when I insert my hand. I usually will just clean the parts that aren't underwater, but every couple weeks, I will get in and clean even the underwater part.

 

[ravekiss]

I usually do the same thing you do...I take the fish out, empty all the water. Wash the gravel and sponge down the little cave and tree I have in there (no soap), put the decor back and fill with the same temp water from the tap. I give it a few minutes to clear up..add conditioner and finally the fish.

 

[BettaMomma]

Okay SO....
that's exactly how I used to do my water changes.
i always had sparkly clean tanks.
Now I have one gunky goopy tank and Jasper has finrot starting up.
UUGH

I think I might go back to the 100% water changes. but NOWHERE near any sinks. LOL
Glad to hear that others are doing that.

 

[reddeerhobbiest]

BettaMomma,

Having fish is kinda like being pregnant, everybody has some advice for you.
And in both situations you store the advice away, for when you need it. Now back to the topic, ive had this delema. i found that with the smaller size tanks (3 gallon and under) that dont have good filtration (like a betta home) it is better to do a complete water change. it just makes sense, that if your striving for a clean home, you would CLEAN it. I had a betta in a five gallon tank with good filtration, and i only did partial water changes weekly. (maybe 25%) But i would also vaccume the bottom off. just like it depends on you and your betta if its easier to take them out of the tank for water changes. i have one guy that freaks out when i try to catch him, so i bought a $3 gas syphon and suck his tank clean that way. my other two guys hate the syphon, but dont mind if i catch them in a cup. you just have to do what is easier on you and your boy. i also think that its good to keep those rocks clean. alot of bettas pick up fin rot and fungus from the bacteria on the bottom.

 

[BettaMomma]

Yeah, I'm definitely going to keep going with the 100% changes.
Nobody I have (except Lucky who jumps to get away) have THAT much of a problem with getting put into the little cup. They're all starting to realize that getting into the cup means nice clean water and a treat for them.

Thanks for the advice

 

[ravekiss]

Okay SO....
that's exactly how I used to do my water changes.
i always had sparkly clean tanks.
Now I have one gunky goopy tank and Jasper has finrot starting up.
UUGH

I think I might go back to the 100% water changes. but NOWHERE near any sinks. LOL
Glad to hear that others are doing that.

I usually net the fish on my table and leave them there, then move to the sink with the tank....never had a jump in the sinker!

 

[RandomWiktor]

Bettamomma - whatever was working for your guys, DO IT. I can only do partial water changes because the water here is so poor what the fish get knocked for a loop whenever I do a 100%. But if you have good water, and doing those big water changes benefitted the fish, absolutely go right on ahead with it.

 

[BettaMomma]

I will keep up with the 100% changes I think.
I do think though that the issue was that I wasn't doing them often enough.
the 1Gallons are going to get daily changes for a while, and the 2.5G are going to get them every 3 days.

We'll see!

 

[SRC]

If your tank isn't cycled you should do 100% WCs and rinse the gunk out of your gravel...if you have cycled tanks is when you leave the gravel alone and only change part of the water.

 

[veen]

get a tank cleaner. if you have a glass aquarium you can buy a tiny magnet that can clean the walls. if you have an acrylic or plastic tank you'll probably have to get a tank brush. both are really cheap and cut down on 100% tank cleaning. plus, from what i've heard from very experienced fish keepers, doing 100% tank cleaning often is not a good idea because it can kill of the good bacteria that live on gravel, etc. if you had filters the good bacteria could propagate in there but since you don't have filters, the good bacteria has to propagate somewhere else like gravel.

here's a link to the brushes:
http/www.petsmart.com/global/product_det...D=1112137645671

and here's a link to the magnets:
http/www.petsmart.com/global/product_det...D=1112137898603

 

[BettaMomma]

the discussion of needing to let the good bacteria build up in the gravel is why this whole mess started.

I think i'll go back to what I was doing before and see how it goes.

 

[wuvmybetta]

I agree, go back to the 100%'ers. Sometimes it's just better. I know for a fact that it takes forever to cycle tiny tanks....forevah!! But once they're cycled,it's all good. My veil tanks have gravel and are cycled. I still take out the fish and quickly swish the gravel with clean water though.
But, my fishroom tanks, 2.5 & 1 gallons are kept bare bottomed with 100% "scrub down" changes, and I honestly see no difference in the two. So do what works best for you and your fish.

 

[BettaMomma]

Just gave Jasper a 100% water change and we only had about 2 minutes of stress bars - he was a very good boy and swam right into the cup when I put it into the tank. He's getting very comfy w/the changes.

I'm PETRIFIED to do a water change on Lucky.
that's on tap for first thing tomorrow.
I'm going to have to have a couple people hanging around with catch buckets in case he decides to jump.

lol