2.5 Gal.Tank.Some Questions??

Question

i used to have hermit crabs in this:

http://www.petco.com/product/13532/All-Glass-Hermie-s-Crab-Cove-Deluxe-Hermit-Crab-Kit.aspx#details

i have a betta fish now.can i put the betta in this if totally sterilize it?its only been used once to house my hermit crabs.it has the same top as the 2.5 gallon fish mini bow and it has a space for a filter in it.can i use it to house my fish now?thanks alot!!!

Answer 1

I agree with copperhead, use hot water, but not boiling. Aquariums are not designed to handle hot liquids and can discolor, warp, or just melt. You should get a few small live plants like anacharis or cabomba, and your betta will love you for it.

Answer 2

Yes, that looks like a great tank to keep a betta in.

I am paranoid about putting fish into containers that aren't completely clean, so before I add a fish to any tank I always do a complete sterilisation. Here is how I do it.

1. Rinse out the tank and all ornaments with tap water.
2. Place the ornaments in the tank and fill it with hot water, adding about a teaspoonful of aquarium salt per gallon. Leave for a couple of hours.
3. Fill the tank with a mixture of one part vinegar to three parts water. Leave it overnight.
4. Rinse it out with tap water, then sun it for two days.

This is an absolutely no-fail solution to sterilising your tank, unless its previous occupant has had tuberculosis. Do not use bleach or soap to clean your tank - it is difficult to wash all of it out completely, might leach into the tank walls and even tiny amounts of it can kill a fish instantly. Vinegar is an aqueous solution and should wash out with ease; furthermore, it is non-toxic to fish and at the most, if not rinsed out, will merely raise the pH of your water by a very, very, slight amount.

Putting a filter and a heater in there would also be a must for using it as a betta home. A filter won't stress your betta out - it will be beneficial - as long as the water current isn't too strong. A sponge filter or an undergravel filter would be best, but anything with little water current will be fine.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I would soak it with HOT water and a LOT of salt, plus maybe add some Melafix, since both salt and Melafix are antibacterial agents. Bettatalk.com suggests Chlorox, followed by extensive rinsing, for tanks that once housed sick fish, but I'd be afraid to use bleach because the chlorine, if any were to somehow remain in the scrapes in the plastic, could be enough to be toxic to your betta. I'd soak my tank for at least several hours, then rinse it thoroughly several times, and then set it in the sun to dry, as the sun can also kill any lingering germs.

Answer 4

yes, you can put your betta in it.
if it has sat dry for some time, fill it w/a mix of about 9 parts water to 1 part plain chlorine bleach and let it sit overnight.
the chlorine will evaporate out.
then dump the water and rinse it out 2-3 times to remove any grime. you may want/need to softly scrub the sides also.
after that, fill it up, let it sit for a day (or treat w/dechlor/start right/etc) and add the fish.
if you put in a betta and a cory catfish, that will be about all that tank can handle.

Answer 5

You should be able to use it, but a betta will also need a heater, and a filter or airstone is also a good idea.

I would use hot (but not boiling) water to clean, but no chemicals - boiling water may damage the plastic if it expands too quickly from the heat.

Answer 6

Use hot water, since boiling water could damage the glass and the separate the silicon if the temperature changes too fast. get a new unused sponge and clean the tank with hot to warm water never use any soap or chemicals.

Answer 7

Yes, Rince it out with hot water then add gravel and a small sponge filter, then you have new betta home, He will love the new tank, Dont add any other fish with him,

Good luck

~ GG

Answer 8

just use really hot tap water or a pot of boiled water to sterilize it -- no need to use chemcials. i keep bettas in the same tank (6 of them) with no filter and change water weekly or at least every other week if i am super lazy. i find most filters in that small a place just stress the betta.

Answer 9

ya you could it looks just like a fish tank that was changed into a hermit crab home or just a fish tank that was called a hermit crab home

Answer 10

Yes your Beta would be a happy in this tank but make sure that you install a filter and do not use chemicals to sterilize it. Instead use boiling water or a fish safe cleaner from your local pet store!