Water changes, Vacuming & set-ups.

by **jasminek** Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 22:58

Ok, so i wanted to get an idea of when to do things. When and how often should i do a water change, vaccume the sand and change the set-up?
As i'm getting a new betta i want to do everything brilliant and right.
Also, i find it hard to vaccume without sucking up half the sand lol, do i just replace sand that gets sucked up?
Thankyou for reading.

by **Vandraco aka Bronzecat** Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 23:02

Hi there

If the filter is a cycled filter, then weekly 25% water changes will be fine thumbup

As for cleaning the sand, all we do is use some airline tubing as a syphon. Hold the end approx 1" from the sand and it will suck up any fish waste or uneaten food without sucking up the sand thumbup

by **jasminek** Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 23:03

Ahh right. Thanks. It doesnt have a filter yet, it will have a filter in about a week or 2 when it gets delivered and it will be cycled. The tanks already cycled, also when doing a new set-up or vaccuming or changing water do i take out the fish?

by **Lexi69** Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 23:11

I could be wrong brain isn't functioning fully tonight but without a filter a tank is never cycled! therefore more frequent water changes would be needed to prevent ammonia build up!!

You dont need to take the fish out if your only doing a small change it can cause more stress than the water change if your doing a big change of set-up it could be best to avoid stressing him/her out too much! sunny

by **Netty** Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 23:12

Nope you shouldn't have to take out your fish....we always work around ours thumbup

by **jasminek** Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 23:13

The filter i had broke on me so i kept the filter media from the old bettas tank i had and when the new filter comes i will put some of the good media in their. The waters been cycling now for a week and everything seems fine Smile

The filter could ocme in days or upto 2 weeks.

by **jasminek** Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 23:14

Ive heard to never take out fish unless,
.Their Dead
.Your changing over gravel
.Your isolating them for medication

by **Vandraco aka Bronzecat** Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 23:21

Hiya

Where has the filter media been since coming out the old filter? Unless it has had water movement through it, and the bacteria fed with food/ammonia, its likely the good bacteria have died off

by **jasminek** Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 23:30

Its in a bowl of tank water and i've been putting a few fish flakes in it every couple of days.
(A friend of mine told me about the fish flakes to keep the media going)

by **Vandraco aka Bronzecat** Wed 26 Aug 2009 - 23:37

Ah ok. When your filter arrives and you put the media in, keep feeding it thumbup

I would then test the water for ammonia, nitrIte & nitrAte. I would imagine the bacteria colony will have decreased a bit. If you get 0 for ammonia and nitrIte, and any reading for nitrAte then hopefully some of the bacteria have survived.
When you put your betta in, i would check for ammonia and nitrIte every day just to make sure the filter is breaking it down. If you notice any ammonia or nitrIte reading then a 50% water will be needed thumbup

by **pippoodle** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 0:53

you should be ok hun - you kept shimmer so well - bless him - i'm sure the new girl will be happy with you and you'll give her lots and lots of love :Love:

by **jasminek** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 10:26

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]i do not yet have the filter it will only be here in about a week so the new girl wont hae a filter for a bit, but thats fine because shimmer was good without one and the live plants helped out, but the filter is coming soon. Pipoodle, i will look after the new girl and spoil her rotten shes coming tomorrow woo!

by **jasminek** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 17:40

So how often should i change the set-up, every 2 weeks?

by **Vandraco aka Bronzecat** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 18:21

I think the person who posted about changing the set-up, was just saying that if you were to do a change around of the tank, it would be best to remove the betta:) The set-up, ie plants and decor, can stay the same as long as you are happy with it :D

by **jasminek** Thu 27 Aug 2009 - 18:31

I just want a change around every so often to ensure the betta isnt bored with the same set-up so yeah ill just change it round when i think it needs a new set-up lol Smile

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