Water Changing In 1 Gallon Tanks

[Taridan]

Hi all I was wondering how YOU change the water in your 1 gallon or 2 gallon tanks... I've found the end of the water hose to be too large to comfortably suck up stuff, so I tried taking the wide end off and just using the hose and the gravel kept getting stuck to it... would it be easier to just take the fish out and do 100% water changes? I didn't want to traumatize my guys... What I ended up doing this time was stirring all the junk up with the hose, then using a coffee cup to scoop out half of the water, thus, halving the waste in the water... but I didn't get -all- the waste... *Leh Sigh* So if any of you have any tips / wanna tell me how -you- go about changing small water tanks, I'd appreciate it. And yes, I know, this seems like a bit of a silly topic... I mean, how hard can it be to change water, right? 6 I never had to worry about stuff like this with my 10 gallon.

 

[Animation]

Hey,
I take the fish out and put them in butter boxes then do 100% water change.
I don't keep gravel in with them as i find because it is such a small surface area all the poop gets stuck in it. Less hassel without and it's not really needed.
James

 

[fuman_chica]

I always did 100% water changes too. it is much easier than trying to fit a gravel vac in a tiny tank.

Edit: I actually kept the cup (which was good sized for a betta "cup") that I got mine in and I put him in that when I do water changes.

 

[lisie]

The only one gallon tank I have is my betta hospital tank, but when I'm changing the water in that, I just scoop out the betta with a disposable plastic cup and leave just 2ish inches of old water in there with him... then dump the old tank water, refill with clean water, and dump betta and 2 inches of old water back in tank.

 

[TammyLiz]

The only one gallon tank I have is my betta hospital tank, but when I'm changing the water in that, I just scoop out the betta with a disposable plastic cup and leave just 2ish inches of old water in there with him... then dump the old tank water, refill with clean water, and dump betta and 2 inches of old water back in tank.

This is what works best for me, too. Make sure you use a cup and not a net because a net can tear their fins and makes them more likely to get fin rot.

EDIT: As far as getting the water out and leaving the gravel in, you can stir the gravel up, pour the water out of the tank, refill, and put your betta back in. You could even rinse the gravel with some dechlorinated water and pour that out, too, if you wanted to. I say dechlorinated because I do think that some nitrifying bacteria lives in the gravel of a bettas bowl even if its not technically 'cycled', but the chlorine would kill that.

 

[JBN]

I have two 1 gallon jars next to each other. Everytime I do water changes, I just scoop the betta into the clean jar and rinse the old one and refill with water. The process is repeated at each water change.

 

[Taridan]

Yeah, the gravel vac didn't really work all that well. lmao. So, next time I shall try a 100% change... I've kept all the cups the Betta's came in for in case of emergencies I could put them back in there temporarily, so I'll give that a try in a 2-3 days.

 

[Nevergone815]

i personally scoop out the bettas with a cup and completely change and rinse the gravel. i didn't think about the beneficial bacteria starting to grow and "cycling" the tank. i'll use declorinated next time too. but so i don't put the "old, dirty" water back into my fresh clean water, i use a net. i gently pour the betta into the net and gently place him into the tank. i have NEVER *knocks on wood* torn a bettas fins this way, but i am really careful in doing so. but each to their own.

 

[liz2]

I never thought of not using a net! What a bad mum I am. I always scoop my fantail out with a big plastic tub. I shall use a cup in future for the bettas.

I stopped using gravel in my 1 gal tanks but I have a scratched spare tank so I fill that with water and leave it to stand then just do 100% water change. I dont think it stresses the bettas they like it. I do it on a rotation daily basis and they all watch to see whose turn it is going to be! "Come on down Mr. B it is your lucky day! " You can also see if they are not eating by not using gravel.

 

[splashluff]

I just have a bunch of cups that I fill with clean, aged water. When my Bettas come to the surface, I scoop them up in my hand and put them into a cup. I find it easier than dunking an awkard cup in there, and much gentler than a net, because there is still water in my palm so they don't experience the shock of being completely out of water. I'm quick, so they don't get stressed!

 

[Nevergone815]

I just have a bunch of cups that I fill with clean, aged water. When my Bettas come to the surface, I scoop them up in my hand and put them into a cup. I find it easier than dunking an awkard cup in there, and much gentler than a net, because there is still water in my palm so they don't experience the shock of being completely out of water. I'm quick, so they don't get stressed!

i use this method as well sometimes.

 

[Betta_Lovex3]

I scoop my guys/girl in cups, and then change the gravel and add new water + water conditioner.

 

[catxx]

i'm another scooper!
i use those "really useful boxes" you get in stationary places
i only net if i really really have to, and thats rare
for my unfiltered 3 gallon i change about 70-80% of the water, and use a gravel vac to just syphon it all into a bucket

 

[Booboo puppy]

I use the gravel vacuum in my two remaining 1 gallon tanks. There seems to be room to maneuver it. I leave a little water for the betta and then add the new water right away. The one time I tried to move a betta, he became extremely agitated. I decided it wasn't worth it.

 

[grahamsokel]

I just sccop them out put them into a spare tank i always have setup and then do 100% waterchange