First Betta Fish & Q's About Setup

[darkngorgeous]

I have a Marina Goldfish Starter Kit; its a 1.77 gallon tank. It came with a filter but someone had told me that betta's dont require a filter and prefer not to have one in its tank at all. I had aslo baught a jug of distilled water that I am currently using for the tank and was wondering if that WOULD be the best type of water to be using? When I had gone to Petco I saw they sold "special" water just for betta fish as well as normal freshwater sold for tanks, and I wasnt sure if that would be better than the distilled water I'm using now. Another question I have is, do I still have to cycle the tank? If I shouldnt be using a filter, how would I do this or should I do this at all?

 

[fishcatch22]

I have a Marina Goldfish Starter Kit; its a 1.77 gallon tank. It came with a filter but someone had told me that betta's dont require a filter and prefer not to have one in its tank at all. I had aslo baught a jug of distilled water that I am currently using for the tank and was wondering if that WOULD be the best type of water to be using? When I had gone to Petco I saw they sold "special" water just for betta fish as well as normal freshwater sold for tanks, and I wasnt sure if that would be better than the distilled water I'm using now. Another question I have is, do I still have to cycle the tank? If I shouldnt be using a filter, how would I do this or should I do this at all?

thats false... bettas should have a filter like any other fish. also, theres no need for special water. just use the distilled water you've currently got, and yeah, you should make sure to cycle the tank before you add the betta.

 

[Lupin]

Bettas still need to be treated like other fish. Having a filter in its tank is better than none at all otherwise you'll have to do almost daily water change to cope with the wastes. Tapwater treated with dechlorinator is fine.

Tank has to be cycled. Bettas are sensitive fish and will become very vulnerable to diseases if exposed to high levels of ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

 

[darkngorgeous]

Thanks so much! I felt really weird when I was told I didnt have to use a filter and couldnt imagine why it couldnt be used. I'm still not sure how to cycle a tank though. Ive only had it running with a filter for 2 days now and I know it takes anywhere between a week to a month? Should I be adding anything to the water to help the process?

 

[Lupin]

Dechlorinator is all you need. I'd suggest familiarizing yourself with the nitrogen cycle. There's a sticky in this section made by rbishop on cycling. Do you have the test kit already? API liquid test kit is recommended for reliability. Check your ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH. You could try asking your lfs for a filter media from one of their tanks.

Good luck.

 

[fishcatch22]

Thanks so much! I felt really weird when I was told I didnt have to use a filter and couldnt imagine why it couldnt be used. I'm still not sure how to cycle a tank though. Ive only had it running with a filter for 2 days now and I know it takes anywhere between a week to a month? Should I be adding anything to the water to help the process?

I reccomend reading this well-written article on the process by our very own rbishop here

 

[darkngorgeous]

Yeah, I already have the whole freshwater/saltwater tesing kit! I also have the strips but I find the kit works much much better and more accurate.

 

[Lupin]

That's a good start. Good luck. Please don't hesitate to ask more questions if you have.

 

[darkngorgeous]

Thank you so much. I just finished reading that post by rbishop, it really helped! The only thing I didnt understand was the part about the fishless cycling, when it says:

"There will be a day where you test and the nitrites have completely disappeared, thus, the bacteria that convert them to nitrates have established themselves. When you see this drop to zero on nitrites, dose ammonia in the tank to about 5 ppm, and wait 24 hours. If at the end of that period, ammonia and nitrites are zero, your cycle has been established. Test for nitrates, and do a 75-90% water change. Pull your water down to 20 ppm nitrates and add the fish! If you have to wait to get your fish, keep the cycle established by dosing more ammonia, but you may have to do another water change before adding your fish."

How do I pull the water down to 20 ppm?

 

[Lupin]

Thank you so much. I just finished reading that post by rbishop, it really helped! The only thing I didnt understand was the part about the fishless cycling, when it says:

"There will be a day where you test and the nitrites have completely disappeared, thus, the bacteria that convert them to nitrates have established themselves. When you see this drop to zero on nitrites, dose ammonia in the tank to about 5 ppm, and wait 24 hours. If at the end of that period, ammonia and nitrites are zero, your cycle has been established. Test for nitrates, and do a 75-90% water change. Pull your water down to 20 ppm nitrates and add the fish! If you have to wait to get your fish, keep the cycle established by dosing more ammonia, but you may have to do another water change before adding your fish."

How do I pull the water down to 20 ppm?

Just do series of water changes as instructed until your kit says nitrates are 20.