All 5 gallon Betta keepers.... HELP!!!!!!

[montanafish gal]

I need some help/advice on my 5 gallon tank that has one betta. I knew before I set up the tank that keeping the water condition good is a lot harder in a small tank than it is in a big tank. I was prepared for this, so since I set up the tank two months ago (after cycling it), I have been doing about 50% water changes once a week. I thought all was well and wonderful. Betta seemed happy.
I also have about 5 small plants in the tank.
One week ago, I tested the water using a liquid master test kit. Results were:
Nitrate 0
Ph 7.6
Ammonia .25
nitrite .25

I was a little suprised, but figured I just needed to start doing wc's twice a week. So about 3-4 days ago, I did a 50-60% wc, then tonight before I did another one, I decided to test my water again. I thought it would be ok. It wasn't. It was:
Nitrate 0
Ph 7.6
Ammonia .50
Nitrite .50

WTH????? ok so my questions are.....
Is it this hard to keep the water levels good in a 5 gallon tank??
This is just one little fish!!
How often do you change your water in your 5 gallons?
Do I need to do water changes daily or every other day?

Of course upon seeing those results I flew into a panic and immediatly changed about 90% of the water and tested again; all levels are good again for the time being.

Give me your success tips please!!
P.S. I do probably over feed. how much do you feed your betta? he usually eats flakes, frozen brine shrimp and frozen blood worms.

 

[Crispino Ramos]

Excellent Resource Person for Betta

Here's a link for an excellent resource person on betta. She has won national awards on her betta.

http://www.azaquaticplants.com/community/member.php?u=4932

 

[Riiz]

I would change 50% a couple of times a day until the cycle is complete and dose a little extra Prime until then.

 

[Jspigs]

I did not vote in the pole because I don't own a 5 gallon. But I still wanted to try to help.

My question for you is did you check your tap water?

 

[theicequeen]

i agree , Prime always worked for me.

 

[montanafish gal]

RIIZ: There is no cycle; the tank has been cycled for more than 2 months.
RIIZ and THEICEQUEEN: soo... are you saying that Prime takes Nitrites and ammonia out of water?
JSPIGS: yes, I have checked the tap water. My 46 gallon bowfront always has excellent water quality with a wc once a week.
CRISPINO: Thanks for the link. I'll read up on it!

i guess what I wanted to know from people is how often should a 5 gallon tank with one betta have the water changed? how much at a time?
How much do you feed a betta?
Is this typical that one fish can cause the ammonia and nitrites to go that high in one week in a five gallon?

 

[jlink17]

It sounds like your tank is going through another cycle so I would do water changes as neccessary to get your levels as close to 0 as possible and then after that I don't see why you couldn't do once a week water changes. that is what I did when I had two bettas (divided tank in half) in my 10 gallon and never had any problems.

 

[Riiz]

RIIZ: There is no cycle; the tank has been cycled for more than 2 months.
RIIZ and THEICEQUEEN: soo... are you saying that Prime takes Nitrites and ammonia out of water?
JSPIGS: yes, I have checked the tap water. My 46 gallon bowfront always has excellent water quality with a wc once a week.
CRISPINO: Thanks for the link. I'll read up on it!

i guess what I wanted to know from people is how often should a 5 gallon tank with one betta have the water changed? how much at a time?
How much do you feed a betta?
Is this typical that one fish can cause the ammonia and nitrites to go that high in one week in a five gallon?

I thought by the readings you've posted that the tank is going through a cycle. Have you medicated or disturbed the bio-filter in some way, or maybe the filter is inadequate.

But yes Prime will help in a cycle, it will detox ammonia and nitrite, make a cycle a little bit less stressful on the livestock.

 

[WandaA]

I have pretty good luck with my betta's so maybe I can help.

I started with 5 gal tanks and they were tough! Not big enough for a decent filter, so water changes had to be done daily. My boys got very unhappy if I skipped a day and took out more than 50% the following day.

I have since switched to 10 gals with dividers and just do weekly water changes as with my other tanks. I use the small AC hob filters and they do well.

I do have a tendancy to over feed because they almost eat out of my hand. I feed them the betta pellets from Ken's and give them each 3 twice a day.

Good luck!

 

[montanafish gal]

I thought by the readings you've posted that the tank is going through a cycle. Have you medicated or disturbed the bio-filter in some way, or maybe the filter is inadequate.

But yes Prime will help in a cycle, it will detox ammonia and nitrite, make a cycle a little bit less stressful on the livestock.

I know, it does sound like it's cycling by the numbers posted. but I have done nothing that would put it thru a cycle. No medication. do not disturb the bio filter. I rinse in tank water. nothing has happened to disturb or kill off bacteria. I think the filter is probably not the greatest; it's a little one that came with the tank kit.

I think there problem is two-fold. one, I probably way over feed my fish and that's leaving a lot of waste in the tank. and two, I probably didn't realize that a 5 gallon needs more frequent water changes than once a week.