Any other advice?

Question

Today I picked out a tank, added water, added gravel, and added a conditioner. I'm starting a Betta tank and I'm picking one out tomorrow. I'm going to get Hikari Bio-Gold and Freeze Dried blood worm for food. Not to mention some aquarium salt. Which I'll add tomorrow. I'm going to add Silk Plants tomorrow aswell.. I already have a soft net and a filter running in there. If It gets cold, I'll leave on the light. Once I get my fish I'm going to let if float to equalize the temperature. Then I'm going to add a little of my water to the tub it's in. Does that soudn like a good start? Please Critique.

2.5 Gallon tank by the way.

Answer 1

Let me just say this fish is going to think it has died and gone to heaven! You have a better Betta setup than 99% of the other Betta owners! Kudos!

Answer 2

Sounds like a good start! I have a few tweaks to suggest:

If you're slowly adding your water to the tub, floating fish to equilize temps is unnecessary. Just don't dump the dirty water from the bag into your nice clean aquariam. Transfer the fish using your soft net.

Before adding fish- let the tank cycle for at least 72 hours minimum to 5 days to begin to build up the beneficial bacteria in the gravel. A bacteria supplement can be helpful added at the beginning of the cycles. For more information on this, do a web search on "The Nitrogyn Cycle".

Be sure to leave space clear and uncluttered at the top of the tank for the Betta to get air. Unlike other fish- they 'breathe' this way as well.

You might want to add a small thermometer or temperature strip- Betta's like water around 75-78 degrees.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

It sounds like a start. Get a PH test kit and make sure it's correct for your betta. You'll want to get a vacuum too, so you can vacuum the gravel regularly. Also, an algea eater. Sometimes it's best to let a new tank run,without fish, for 4-6 weeks,even with conditioner to prevent alot of new-tank problems. Water conditioner is only part of it. It needs to filter through and begin an eco-system. Good Luck and have fun. I have 4 tanks and I love them all.

Answer 4

First of all, good choice on a tank size for your betta

But, you don't want to buy your betta right away, you want to let your tank cycle and establish bacteria in it before you do so

Get yourself a nitrite, nitrate and ammonia testkit, (the liquid ones are more accurate then the test strips) and keep a close on your parameters
add cycle or something similar to your tank as directed and let it cycle

your ammonia and nitrite are suppose to be at 0, and the nitrAte is suppose to be beneath 20ppm once your tank is established and ready for fish

If you really want to buy a betta right away, you will need to do 10-15% partial waterchanges with a gravel siphon every other day to bring your fish through the cycling process

It also put's a lot of stress on him as well

As for acclimating, you need a pH test kit
Test your tank water and the water where your betta came in
if the betta water is about 7.0 and yours is about 7.6 you need to acclimate him for 1 1/2 hours, which mean, you will add about 1/4 cup of water from your tank every 15 min

here is an article that discribes it a bit better
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/acclimating_you_new_fish.html

Also the light alone won't heat your water and prevent from water fluctations, it should always be at a constant temperature of 78-82 degrees for your betta
you will need a heater, unless you live in an area where the temperature doesn't fluctate more then 2 degrees over night




Hope that helps
Good luck



EB



Feel free to email me for further Q's

Answer 5

To me it sounds like you're going overboard.

I've kept community fresh water aquariums for many years, including Betas. Sure you can get very particular but a clean tank with ideal water and temperature, high quality staple food, the fish will do fine.

Salt ware of course is quite a bit more work, monitoring pH more closely and salinity, but the same rules apply.

Answer 6

bettas do not like big tanks, or currents. they like small spaces. you dont need to condition the water.they are hardy fish. so ask your fish supplier what is best.

Answer 7

sounds like you did your homework! good for you!