I think the key might be the plants. If you don't have plants, there really isn't anything to soak up the waste nutriment provided by the fish.
Started Cycling my 1gal. for a betta...
- Thread starter GoLdFiSh_GrL
- Start date
If there is media for the bacteria to colonize, food for them, and appropriate temp, then they will do so. The volume of water is pertinent in several ways, but not to the presence of bacteria.
Small tanks are not as stable over the long run as a larger tank, but they will cycle. The instability crops up in two ways--First, pollutants will increase in concentration quicker than in a large colume of water. Picture 2 drops of food coloring in a tea cup versus a gallon jar. In the tea cup, the dispersion is fairly fast, and the resulting color is noticable. The same two drops disperse slowly to all corners of the gallon jar, and result in only a faint tinge of color. Same thing for wastes. In a one gallon tank, the wastes build up quickly.
Second, because the volume of water is small, water parameters (hardness, pH) can shift dynamically from normal bio-processes. In large tanks, the volume of water means these parameters are stable under normal maintenance. Insmall tanks, more frequent water changes are needed to prevent pH crashes.
So, what this means is that frequent, small water changes are needed to prevent toxins from building up (talking about things other than testable nitrogens), and to maintain an appropriate buffer to stabilize pH.
Small tanks are not as stable over the long run as a larger tank, but they will cycle. The instability crops up in two ways--First, pollutants will increase in concentration quicker than in a large colume of water. Picture 2 drops of food coloring in a tea cup versus a gallon jar. In the tea cup, the dispersion is fairly fast, and the resulting color is noticable. The same two drops disperse slowly to all corners of the gallon jar, and result in only a faint tinge of color. Same thing for wastes. In a one gallon tank, the wastes build up quickly.
Second, because the volume of water is small, water parameters (hardness, pH) can shift dynamically from normal bio-processes. In large tanks, the volume of water means these parameters are stable under normal maintenance. Insmall tanks, more frequent water changes are needed to prevent pH crashes.
So, what this means is that frequent, small water changes are needed to prevent toxins from building up (talking about things other than testable nitrogens), and to maintain an appropriate buffer to stabilize pH.
A one gallon needs cleaned every day,it`s like you living in a porta pot.
I suggest getting a 5 gal. with a heater,filter and a plant for him.He`ll survive in a one gal but won`t be happy.I have a 10 gal with one male betta and a clown pleco.It look so nice.
I suggest getting a 5 gal. with a heater,filter and a plant for him.He`ll survive in a one gal but won`t be happy.I have a 10 gal with one male betta and a clown pleco.It look so nice.How large does this clown plec in question get? I'm wondering because I'm not sure if it is viable as a long-term resident of a 10 gallon tank...sorry to drag the thread off-topic.
Clown plecs get to max 4 inch, they are very small and excellent algea eaters. 10 gallon is the very min for one and would still need twice weekly water changes, as with all plecs they produce a lot of waste. I am glad you are getting your betta a 10 gallon, 5 gallon is the very minimum solitary bettas should be kept in. If you want an idea on what you need for a betta, read this article I wrote about setting up your betta tank. http://www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=5
Hope this helps.
Oh and remember bettas can live in smaller than 5 gallons, but where the fun in living, we as fish keepers should be wanting our fish to thrive, not merely survive...theres a huge difference IMO.
Hope this helps.
Oh and remember bettas can live in smaller than 5 gallons, but where the fun in living, we as fish keepers should be wanting our fish to thrive, not merely survive...theres a huge difference IMO.
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you should go to octopuss' garden they are having a tank sale i brought a 40 gallon today for 40 bucks. they also have 20s for $20.
I bought 90% of my 20-some tanks in bulk and paid about
$5 - 15 gallon tanks
$15 - 30 gallon tanks
$30 - 60+ gallon tanks
...Lucky me...
$5 - 15 gallon tanks
$15 - 30 gallon tanks
$30 - 60+ gallon tanks
...Lucky me...
