Beta Tank Issues

[Astrid]

Hello, I'm new posting but have visited this site on a few occasions for answers. I've been having issues with my new tank the past couple months so I've finally decided to try and look for some help or insight.

Back story is, for past two years I've had a small 5ish gal. tank with 3 female betas that had done excellently, and decided to buy a used 20 gal. for my new apartment before the summer along with adding 3 more betas. They were all doing fine until a couple months ago, they all started mysteriously dying. I never saw anything externally wrong that I would recognize, except for one that had an open wound that I treated but unfortunately she then ended up passing away a week later. I was down to 2 for the past few weeks, but then one of my original fish I had owned for over 2 years started developing dropsy (she was definitely a pinecone). I quickly separated her from my last healthy fish, and she died a couple days later. And just last night, that "healthy" fish died as well.

I feel horrible because I adored my fish, especially the ones that I have had for years. I tested my water with strips, which it appeared ok, until my BF pointed out that they had expired and had inaccurate readings (though I think they're only a year old). I'm wondering if the tap water in my apartment wasn't good, or maybe I should have more extensively cleaned my used tank before using it, or maybe I have bad luck.

So the question is, how do I go about rebuilding my fishtank? I'm moving to a new place in a month so I thought there would be a no better time for sorting this out and eventually restocking. I'm considering bleaching everything in case there might have been a contagious bacterial issue.

Thanks!

 

[K_Hedin]

Sorry to hear about the loss of all of you fish. There is a lot of information here on the forum. There are a couple ways you can go about setting up a new tank. Cleaning the old one isn't a bad idea but make sure that it is rinsed out really well. Especially if you use bleach rinse it really well as that would have adverse effects on any new fish put in it.

Anyways there are two ways to start a new tank. A fishless cycle or a cycle with fish. A fishless cycle takes a little longer to get going but there is lots of information about it in the forums. A cycle involving fish will take less time but you may lose a couple in the process. There is also the option of seeing if anyone on here lives close to you and will donate some used filter media to you to speed up the cycle process. Basically when you are cycling the tank you are looking to make sure that there is no ammonia or nitrites in the tank and that it is only producing nitrates which can be fixed with the weekly water change.

Hope this helps. I have learned a lot from reading here but am not expert yet. I would recommend going with a fishless cycle though so the little guys don't suffer or anything. It can be sped up like I said by adding someones used filter media from an established tank. If you have a friend who has had a tank for over 6 months have them put a cut up sponge in their external filter for a week or two and then bring it over in some of the fish tank water and you can put it in your filter. It will help spread the good bacteria needed. Hopefully someone wiser than I will be able to put in their two cents as well though.

Good luck in the future.

 

[Astrid]

Thanks for the response. I have a feeling there might have just been issues with the water since there seemed to be nothing physically wrong with my fish, so I'm going to buy a new testing kit and see. If it turns out alright, better start cleaning, ugh