Was given a tank + betta by a coworker and need help

[bawsko]

A coworker is leaving and he gave me his fish tank. It is a 5 gallon Regent PL-TE 5HX and the light/pump is built into the hood. He has some gravel in it, a tree looking rock, a betta, and a really small fish he said is supposed to help keep the tank clean. I can't find the little critter though and not sure what kind of fish it is.

The tank is extremely filthy. There is algae all over the place and the filter desperately needs to be changed. There's even algae growing on the algae on the rock. Some orange looking stuff that is all over the green algae.

He gave me some typical betta food from Wal-Mart (Aqua Culture Betta Pellet Food) and some chemical called "Algae Destroyer Advanced" a net and his wish for good luck.

So that all brings me to some questions:

What is the best way to go about cleaning this tank? It's got algae floating everywhere and it's coated all over the glass. I need to clean it otherwise I fear the fish won't make it too long.

How do I figure what kind of filter I need? I haven't had a fish tank in over 10 years. I have a horrible memory so I can't recall too much about it all. The filter does need to be changed badly though, it is also covered in filth and algae.

Once cleaned, how can I prevent this from happening again? I'm not exactly sure what kind of light it has (there's a picture below) but I believe the previous owner just left it on 24/7. There is a large fluorescent light hanging above my desk that I cannot turn off. It's a typical 2 tube fixture with both lights brightly lit. I can get a timer to turn the hood light off at certain times but the one attached to the ceiling I have no control over. Should I get something to cover the tank when I'm not at work to prevent the light from getting in?

What kind of PH kit do I need to buy so I can test the water and make sure everything is alright with the Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates? Can I get 1 kit that works on both freshwater and salt water tanks?

How well will the little guy hold up on weekends when I'm not here? I'm sure it's used to it since that's how it's lived for a while but I'm not sure what needs to be done when I leave Fridays.

How often do I feed it? Is the food he gave me good enough or should I find something else?

I know the answers are all over this forum but the "gift" came as a surprise to me and I was hit without any research. I've been researching a Nano-Reef for home but none of that knowledge really helps with a small fresh water tank. Normally I would search all these things and get my own answers but I do not have time while working and I want to get things cleaned up before the weekend (I can stay late today or tomorrow to do it if necessary)

A few other questions I can probably answer myself but felt I might as well include them here....

What kinds of fish play well with Bettas? I would like to add at least one or two more fish to the tank. I know 5 gallons is small so I would add small fish, probably some tetra or guppies.

Can I add live plants? Would that increase the algae problem or help in any way? I'd like to make this look a bit nicer as it's a bit empty right now. I guess plastic plants would work just as well.

He did not give me a heater. The temperature says 78º. I live in the New Orleans area so it doesn't really get cold. He said he didn't have a heater through winter and the fish was fine. I wanted to find out if that was true though.

Here are the pictures I took with my phone (sorry for the poor quality)

I appreciate any help you guys can give me. Again I'm really sorry about the bombardment of questions and honestly I don't expect many answers. I just don't want this poor fish to die so I'm reaching out with hope. Thanks.

 

[JenniferLynn]

Wow good for this little guy you came along. You need an algae scrubber and to do some water changes to get things cleaned up. I know it’s tempting to do the all over super clean but that could be a shock to the fish. Make sure you have some tap water treatment to make the new water safe for your fish. A live plant would help with the algae if you wanted to go that route because they compete for the same things out of the water. After you get the tank clean and keep up with maintenance you shouldn’t see it like it is again. I wouldn’t add another fish to the tank. Betta’s are solo fish for the most part and if there were other fish around it would need to be in a much larger tank. API has a good liquid test kit you can find online or in most pet stores. I’d go with the timer for the light over the weekend and just to make life easier in general. I know someone else will be along with more answers soon

 

[Squeakfish]

A coworker is leaving and he gave me his fish tank. It is a 5 gallon Regent PL-TE 5HX and the light/pump is built into the hood. He has some gravel in it, a tree looking rock, a betta, and a really small fish he said is supposed to help keep the tank clean. I can't find the little critter though and not sure what kind of fish it is.

The tank is extremely filthy. There is algae all over the place and the filter desperately needs to be changed. There's even algae growing on the algae on the rock. Some orange looking stuff that is all over the green algae.

He gave me some typical betta food from Wal-Mart (Aqua Culture Betta Pellet Food) and some chemical called "Algae Destroyer Advanced" a net and his wish for good luck.

So that all brings me to some questions:

What is the best way to go about cleaning this tank? It's got algae floating everywhere and it's coated all over the glass. I need to clean it otherwise I fear the fish won't make it too long.

Buy a single Dobie pot scrubber pad, DO NOT USE SOAP, and go about your merry way. Just scrub, scrub, scrub. If the tank is glass, try a razor blade for the hard crusted algae. If acrylic, just try scrubbing hard on it.

How do I figure what kind of filter I need? I haven't had a fish tank in over 10 years. I have a horrible memory so I can't recall too much about it all. The filter does need to be changed badly though, it is also covered in filth and algae.

I assume you mean the filter pad..honestly the best thing to do is to rub off the layers of gunk in used aquarium water. Since there is a lot of established bacteria on the pad, I don't suggest getting rid of it unless it's so completely encrusted with gunk that you can't see the filter floss. DO NOT TOUCH THE BIOWHEEL. You never need to change that sucker.


Once cleaned, how can I prevent this from happening again? I'm not exactly sure what kind of light it has (there's a picture below) but I believe the previous owner just left it on 24/7. There is a large fluorescent light hanging above my desk that I cannot turn off. It's a typical 2 tube fixture with both lights brightly lit. I can get a timer to turn the hood light off at certain times but the one attached to the ceiling I have no control over. Should I get something to cover the tank when I'm not at work to prevent the light from getting in?

Probably a good idea to cover the tank when you are gone. A small hand towel should work.

What kind of PH kit do I need to buy so I can test the water and make sure everything is alright with the Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates? Can I get 1 kit that works on both freshwater and salt water tanks?

API liquid master Freshwater test kit. The saltwater one is separate. You can also take a sampling of the water in to a fish store and they'll test it for free.

How well will the little guy hold up on weekends when I'm not here? I'm sure it's used to it since that's how it's lived for a while but I'm not sure what needs to be done when I leave Fridays.

Bettas do fine with no food over weekends. They'll pretty well suited to an office environment, provided you actually care for them.

How often do I feed it? Is the food he gave me good enough or should I find something else?

I feed mine 3-4 pellets a day.

I know the answers are all over this forum but the "gift" came as a surprise to me and I was hit without any research. I've been researching a Nano-Reef for home but none of that knowledge really helps with a small fresh water tank. Normally I would search all these things and get my own answers but I do not have time while working and I want to get things cleaned up before the weekend (I can stay late today or tomorrow to do it if necessary)

A few other questions I can probably answer myself but felt I might as well include them here....

What kinds of fish play well with Bettas? I would like to add at least one or two more fish to the tank. I know 5 gallons is small so I would add small fish, probably some tetra or guppies.

Until you figure out what other kind of fish is already in the tank, don't trouble yourself with finding tankmates. Afterward, I suggest shrimp, a snail, or African Dwarf Frogs, if you're willing to go the extra mile to feed them. The shrimp and snail don't need too much special attention, just a slice of veggie for the snail and maybe some sinking pellet for the shrimp. Don't add other fish.

Can I add live plants? Would that increase the algae problem or help in any way? I'd like to make this look a bit nicer as it's a bit empty right now. I guess plastic plants would work just as well.

It would definitely help to suck up nutrients in the tank, and lessen the algae a bit. Just make sure to check the names of the plants before you buy them, to make sure you have REAL aquatic plants. Some names to avoid: Mondo Grass, Aluminum Plant, Bamboo, Purple Waffle. You can find suitable plants on plantgeek.net.

He did not give me a heater. The temperature says 78º. I live in the New Orleans area so it doesn't really get cold. He said he didn't have a heater through winter and the fish was fine. I wanted to find out if that was true though.

I'll be crucified for saying this, but bettas can withstand a small temperature range. 78 is a good temp, and if it stays there most of the time, I wouldn't invest in a heater. There are mini heaters available, but they are usually preset to 75, which doesn't help you much anyway.

Here are the pictures I took with my phone (sorry for the poor quality)

I appreciate any help you guys can give me. Again I'm really sorry about the bombardment of questions and honestly I don't expect many answers. I just don't want this poor fish to die so I'm reaching out with hope. Thanks.

You'll get all the answers you can stand. Good luck with the little guy and be sure to give us updates! Oh, and :welcome: to AC!

Answers are in Bold.

 

[Squeakfish]

One thing I forgot: Usually if you take the filter pad in to a fish store, they can help you find the right size for your tank. However, there are plenty of DIY ways to save on filter pads. You can always get another Dobie pad, cut it to fit, and place it in there. Filter pads aren't really anything other than floss for catching large debris, and a place for beneficial bacteria to grow.

Best water dechlorinator on the market is Prime. You can get a $4 bottle at Petsmart that will last you ages.

ONE MORE THING I FORGOT!
Best plants to look for are anacharis, hornwort, and duckweed/frogbit. They are nutrient HOGS and require no special treatment.

 

[Reframer]

Good luck, I think everyone already answered your questions, but just wanted to mention that I think a small heater is needed for Bettas. I got one for 9$ at Walmart and it is fully submersible and maintains at 78 degrees.

 

[bazil323]

I'll put in my 2 cents, I guess. I had a betta in my office for about 8 months (finally died from old age and a struggle with fin rot from the lfs). Anyway, just do small water changes until it's cleared up. If you change too much too quickly on a tank like this, it will cause what's called Old Tank Syndrome. The fish has grown used to his current situation, and if he is suddenly plunged into completely clean water, he will get stressed out and may actually die. Ironic, I know. I'd say do a 25% or less water change daily for a couple weeks (weekends should be fine without). Don't change the filter pad yet (unless it's completely gunked up and no water is getting through). The bio wheel, as was said, should never be changed. Once everything is stable and where it should be, then do a 50% water change weekly.

Pick up either an API freshwater kit or the Red Sea freshwater kit. The main things to look at right now are ammonia (should be 0), nitrites (should be 0), and nitrates (should be less than 20). Those test strips expire too quickly and can be inaccurate, though are fine for a quick general idea of where you're at. Say if nitrite or ammonia are anything other than 0, do a water change (wc).

I second the motion to get a plant. They really, really help keep things stable and suck up those nitrates (they'll even take in ammonia and nitrite if the nitrate is gone). They are no substitute for water changes, unless it is very heavily planted. Even then I wouldn't go without a water change.

NO other fish should go in with a betta. Some have gotten away with it in larger community setups (say 75 gallons+), but most of the time you are just asking for trouble. He will be much happier alone. Get rid of that "algae cleaning" fish. It's probably a pleco which is probably a common pleco which would need 125+ gallons. No pleco can go in less than 50g of water, so... In any case, he's probably getting bullied by the betta. You could think about snails or shrimp though (might get picked on by the betta, but plants provide a hiding spot). I recommend java moss, najas grass (aka guppy grass), etc. You should look for a low light plant.

I'd invest in a heater. Most businesses turn down the heat or air conditioning at night, which results in a fluctuating temp. Get a 25 or 50 watt one (high watts are fine, just don't turn on as often as they would be more efficient) with an adjustable setting. Bettas need fairly warm water and tend to get sluggish in anything under 76. I like 78-80.

Feeding: Keep what he's got now as he's used to it. 3-4 pellets a day (I'd do 2 in morning and 2 in afternon/evening) is plenty. You could pick up freeze dried bloodworms (mine loved 'em). Many like to feed a mushed up, shellless pea once a week to help prevent constipation and also skip a day a week for feeding. Mine was fine with no feedings on weekends. Ocean Nutitrion makes a good betta food: Atison Betta Pro.

 

[Reframer]

and you should know that whenever someone says "get rid" of any fish, they mean give it to someone else or to your local fish store, obviously...

 

[bawsko]

I wanted to thank you all for such wonderful helpful replies! I never expected to encounter such friendly people.

I took the advice of a few people here and just got back from the local fish store and picked up the API Freshwater Master Test kit, some sponges, a scraper, and some replacement filters. I don't plan on swapping the filter out yet as you guys said it has some good bacteria in it but I may rinse out the one I have.

One other question, is it okay if I remove this tree shaped rock and give it a good scrubbing? I would have to rinse it under the faucet and would dry it with paper towels. Would that hurt anything?

I will stay late today and hopefully get it pretty clean. I'll post more cell pics if that happens. I did forget to get the stuff that makes tap water safe and I don't have any way to remove water unless I just use a tupperware container. I guess I'll pay another visit to the pet shop after work. Again, thank you all so much.

 

[Hebily]

Remove the algae SLOWLY. lil patch here, the next day another lil patch... If you remove it too quickly you could cause chemistry spikes. I wouldn't keep anything in there, with a betta, except maybe a female betta. the "lil guy that's supposed to help keep the tank clean" is probably an oto. If he's still alive, he should be fine... BUT if it is an oto, you don't want to remove ALL the algae, or it will starve. That's 'otocinclus affinus'. If you google that, you'll find pics, and be able to say if that's what it is or not. keep the light on for ~8 hrs a day. no more than 12. if you don't have a timer yet, the light can be off all weekend. much better for a betta than it being on all weekend. The algae is not going to hurt the betta. Prolly makes it more comfortable. they live in really murky, overgrown water in the wild. that's all the Q's that I think I haven't seen answers for. Have fun. BTW, I would NOT use ANY chemical algae killer!

OH! Do I see a sticker thermometer??? I bet that is an acrylic tank! If so, that thermometer is giving you room temp, NOT tank water temp. Acrylic insulates well, and those stick it on the outside of the tank thermometers do not work on acrylic tanks. Get one of the glass therms that go inside the tank. they should be like $3 at most.

 

[bawsko]

and you should know that whenever someone says "get rid" of any fish, they mean give it to someone else or to your local fish store, obviously...

oh i don't think i could ever purposely kill a creature. sometimes if i see a roach or get bit by a mosquito or something, instincts kick in and i react without thinking like most others but if i go out of my way to let bugs out of my house when i don't instantly react. i was vegan for 3 years because my love for life is so strong. (was anemic so i had to change my diet)

but yea i plan on keeping the beta until it dies of old age. i guess i won't add any other fish to the tank no big deal. i'll have plenty of fun with my nano reef once i get it setup at home to make up for it.