setting up a betta tank

[-cAtFiSh-]

i have a 2.9 gallon tank which i want to put a better in. how do i go about cycling the water and stuff as i am not planning on putting a filter in it?
sorry its probably been asked before but i really need some help getting started.
thanx!

 

[asmack]

I'm interested in knowing the answer to this as well. If the betta I'm getting next month doesn't like the filter I'm using, I might have to take it out. In this case, I'd also like to know how to cycle a betta tank without a filter.

 

[kev_kb]

Still a newbie, but as far as I know the tank won't ever fully cycle without a filter and you'll need to do water changes every couple of days or so.

 

[purple_drazi]

You don't need to worry about cycling the tank for a betta but what you do need is to make sure that it stays as clean as possible. Uneaten food is a source of bacterial outbreaks and ammonia and nitrites rise quickly when the water is just sitting there so if you don't have a filter you'll need to do a full (100%) water change weekly.

 

[turbotiber]

I have my betta in a bowl (5 liters) and I don't have a filter. (I know it's smaller compared to yours but this may help a bit). I do PWC every other day or every 3rd day (50%) and then about every 5th day or so I do a 100% water change. Just make sure you keep your tank really really clean.

If you have gravel make sure you clean it out with that same water. What i do take everthing out (plants, fish) and then churn the gravel with the same water so as to loosen all the particles and stuff but not killing that many good bacteria. Don't do what I did (LFS guy told me to do this) and rinse the gravel with tap water! Use the old water.

Yeap that's about it, just keep it really clean and you're on your way! B)

 

[WaterBearer121]

I have three different bettas in different bowls. I do one full water change per week. I too take everything out and rinse with Hot water. I also have one in a 1 gal tank and it just has an undergravel filter.

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

thank you so much for all the help!
just another question though. i also have a 55W heater which i was planning on putting in the tank. is 55W too big for such a small tank?