Son wants 1 gallon tank - need help.

[Roan Art]

I don't know how well they work but they do sell under plant heating pads that are water resistant. They may have the same issues as the reptile pads Roan indicates but are meant to get splashed with water. Unfortunatly they also only add a few degrees so would be opperating constantly.

I haven't seen those. If it specifically says that it's okay to be used with aquaria, then it's okay in my book. I just take exception to reptile heating pads. Those things get up to 100* easy. I know, I have several snakes

Doesn't mean I advocate using them as a heater, just that they are safe to use as a heater

In a smaller tank spending more on a heater can sometimes be the best idea as they are not tolerant of large swings. A 50 gallon tank can survive much longer if a heater gets stuck on than a 2 gallon.

Couldn't have said it better.

Roan

 

[Ms.Bubbles]

BTW...here's a little one gallon betta tank I've had setup since June/july. Never a problem with it, no algae at all...very happy healthy fish...

I've always thought your little betta tanks were awesome, in fact they inspired me to do a planted tank myself when I first joined this forum. However, I know my betta probably wouldn't tolerate such a size of tank, he's MUCH too hyper. Guess it really depends on the personality of the fish. Looks like I picked a maniac...

 

[julianbc]

I really like my 5 gallon regent (eclipse). I planted it and it looks great. I have a betta, 3 tiny tetras and a couple of ghost shrimp. They all get along well too; except the ghost shirmp that sometimes antagonizes the betta.

 

[PumaWard]

I used to think my bettas were happy in 1g vases... Then I started putting them in things like 10gs... 38gs... and 75gs... boy, what a difference .

IMO, if you wouldn't put a dwarf gourami in anything under 3g, why a betta? I really don't think it's very kind to force them into anything under 2.5g (bare minimum), but that's just me.

 

[TKOS]

Agreed there. 1 gallon is fine to start but I have never really been able to keep my bettas alive until I switched to a heated 5 gallon.

 

[Emg]

I've always thought your little betta tanks were awesome, in fact they inspired me to do a planted tank myself when I first joined this forum. However, I know my betta probably wouldn't tolerate such a size of tank, he's MUCH too hyper. Guess it really depends on the personality of the fish. Looks like I picked a maniac...

Lol Bubbles, yeah, some of them can be pretty wild...and I agree that bigger is better....BUT....small CAN work if you have limited space and would like to keep a fish or two, for yourself or the kids...IF you take care of it properly.

Here's another one of em....lol...I have 5 of these little tanks and the betta have been living happily in them for over 2 years now with no issues at all. This is my daughter's betta and he split his tail swimming wildly at his reflextion..silly fish..it's a nightly event for this guy, just can't get enough of himself...lol...



My passion for fishkeeping started with these interesting little fish. I purchased the 1 gallon tanks because they were inexpensive and I could keep more of them...(and more and MORE Betta !!!)...I suffered from bettajustcanthavenoughitis for quite awhile there...lol...and well...it took awhile but I've gotten over that now. The number of bettas are diminishing (I'm down to 14 now)...I'm now into shellies and trying to figure out how and where I can fit a 70+ gallon discus tank in my house....LOL !

 

[Anne L.]

Thanks for all of the replies, everyone.

My son bought a 1.5 gallon tank with an undergravel filter and a light today. The temp in the tank is about 71-72 degrees F, so we may need to get a heater. We did see some adjustable 25W ones today, so that's probably an option. Or if it's too cold in his room, we might move the tank to our kitchen where it's warmer.

He's going to put some water from our 10 gal, some gravel from it, and a bit of the filter media in it, then get the betta fish. I'm also giving him a plant from the tank so we can get as much good bacteria as possible. We'll do this sometime during the week because we're on Christmas vacation.

This is his tank, and his money to spend, so this is what he can afford, and I'm sure it'll work out fine. I'll buy the heater for him if it's required, but I'm pretty broke right now with Christmas spending and a $1200.00 car repair last week (youch).

 

[TKOS]

Gravel and filter media fromt eh main tank are a good idea but use fresh water. Old tank water has no good properites and is just old water.

 

[Emg]

Good for your son Anne !

I wouldn't try and put a heater in a tank that small....If he has a bookshelf in his room, try and put it there to keep it out of drafts. If the tank has a light over it, that may be enough to keep the temp in a comfortable range for the betta, but he'd have to leave it on all the time..in the winter months anyway. I have done that before and if he has a small cave thing or dense plant in the tank for the betta to get out of the light if it wants to...it will be fine.

Doing at least a 50% water change twice a week instead of once, may help to keep the algae down...which will show up with the light on all the time....but in a tank that small it's really not a problem to deal with.

I have 3 small one gallon tanks in a cubby area in my computer desk. Three sides of the tanks are surrounded there and with all 3 lights on that little space stays nice and cozy for those tanks.

Lol....you've started him out Mom....next year he'll be wanting a 10...then 20.......and, well......the beat goes on !! :dive: