I set up a couple 5 gallon setups over the weekend and have a female in each one, my question is there is a build up of film over the top of the water and I was wondering how to get rid of it. My tanks are not cycled and of course they have no filter in them.
Film on top of betta tank water
- Thread starter WOLFRAD
- Start date
echoofformless
Peat Advocate & Defender Of Snails
The film is just a natural result of the water being still, and filling with waste. It happens after a couple of days. Basically, just change the water and it will go away. And then return again when you haven't changed the water in a few days.
Adding something like a small sponge filter that agitates the surface drastically helps. And yes, the tanks should have a heater. There are some very cheap sponge/bubble filters at most pet stores or even WalMart.
No I don't have any heaters in them at this time, the temp stays around 72 degrees, would a heater help? How often do I need to do 100% changes of the water and would a partial change everyother time work?
Bettas like the temperature warmer at 78-80, so you really need to get some heaters in those tanks to make them comfortable.
Do you have substrate? If you don't have substrate and don't have a filter, you have no place for good bacteria to live and thus need to be doing total or near total water changes at least every 4 to 5 days. That film you describe on the water is dissolved organic matter and indicates a waste build-up. If you get some cheap sponge filters (less than $4 a piece in most stores), you can probably get away with weekly 50-75% water changes.
Do you have substrate? If you don't have substrate and don't have a filter, you have no place for good bacteria to live and thus need to be doing total or near total water changes at least every 4 to 5 days. That film you describe on the water is dissolved organic matter and indicates a waste build-up. If you get some cheap sponge filters (less than $4 a piece in most stores), you can probably get away with weekly 50-75% water changes.
I don't think that film is dissolved organic matter. I think it's just dust. I have an 80 gallon tank fully cycled and filtered well and I get tons of that stuff every day on the tank.
Reason being it's open-topped.
My other tanks don't get that problem but they are closed tanks =x
Surface skimmers work.
I don't know if there is a surface polisher small enough though.
Reason being it's open-topped.
My other tanks don't get that problem but they are closed tanks =x
Surface skimmers work.
I don't know if there is a surface polisher small enough though.
i have that same problem on my feeder tank, but not my beta tank. neither have filters or heaters, but the beta tank is covered. i think that might have something to do with it too. dust may be a good call.
Well since switching from flake food for my betta to pellet food I have far less surface skum. The only tank I get it in a lot is my large planted tank which has limited surface mov't (due to using a canister filter).
As you have 5 gallon tanks, heaters will be easy to find and really should be added for the best health of the fish.
As you have 5 gallon tanks, heaters will be easy to find and really should be added for the best health of the fish.
Just add a small airstone. Also, the bacterial cycle is not as important for labyrinth breathers like bettas and gouramis. Keep up regular 50% water changes and the occasional 75% change and you should be fine.