Betta Water Changes

[rebrn]

Hello all, I was reading in the Betta FAQ section about water changes, and it said to change the 100% once a week or 50% twice a week. I was just wondering if this was for tanks that don't have a filter. I just did one yesterday but I only did 25%. My stats prior to the water change were:

ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 10
pH 7.0

After the change:

ammonia 0
nitrites 0
nitrates 5
ph 7.2

I based the 25% water change on the fact that my water stats looked fine. My tank is filtered with an AC20 (turned on the low setting), so based on my before and after water stats am I fine with only doing 25% or should I do another one today? I check my water daily for right now, only because the Betta was added a week ago, so I check daily untill I can get a better feel for how my water is and how long it takes before the nitrates start to rise again. Also my tank was fishless cycled.

Thanks

 

[Haych]

i only do a 25% a WEEK

 

[Tom499]

I'm still in my 1st year of fishkeeping, but I think your doing the right thing. Every tank is going to be different depending on its contents and filtration.

As the tank is fairly new with its in habitants, your right in doing the regular checks, and you will soon work out a water change schedule right for your tank.

 

[rebrn]

Ok great thanks guys. I figured it was fine, the only stat that was a little off was the nitrate at 10, which really isn't all that bad. The primay reason I even did the water change was because it had been a week since I added him to the tank, so I figured regardless of the stats I needed to do one. Also my pH had dropped a bit from when I added him to the tank, it was 7.4 when I added (dropped to 7.0), so I figured since my tap water is 7.4 I would go ahead and do one to bring the pH back up a bit. Weird though that my pH only dropped in that tank my other 2 tanks are holding at 7.4. Anyway I will continue to watch the stats closely until I have a handel on what the water is doing and adjust the water change schedule/amount, if necessary, as I go.

Thanks again and Merry Christmas.

 

[Amberleaf]

Hmm.... Are there any plants/bogwood/IAL in there? Those sometimes drop the pH a bit. Which reminds me -- the water change in my 10-gallon is a bit overdue. Whoops. XD Ah, well; tomorrow is Boxing Day and I'm redecorating the tank *anyways*; so. Merry Christmas!

 

[rebrn]

That is it! I have a coconut cave in there and forgot they could lower the pH. The ph did drop quite frequently during the cycle, but once that was all over, it took a week for it to drop from 7.4 to 7.0, so I think it is fine, I will just have to watch it closely. If it starts to drop further or more rapidly I will have to add some crushed coral to balance it. Thanks.

 

[Haych]

bettas dont mind lowe PH levels.

the only issue i have with my PH (it WAS nearer to 9 ) is at that high of a PH level ammonia levels (no matter how low) are more prominant and more dangerous. a low PH shouldnt be an issue.

is there a reason it worries you?

 

[loraxchick]

shockingly tha tis meant for unfiltered tanks.
25% a week is certinly fine. and with nitrates of only 10, not really entirely necessary if the substrate is clean. just op it off. nitrate is not harmful to fish until it is in the hundreds of ppms. just saying. but if there is debris laying about (as in from plants or poop) it is good practice to tidy things up once a week.
cheers

 

[rebrn]

Thanks, the substrate (sand) was not overly dirty but there was some dirt present so I cleaned that up in the process.

Haych, the pH isn't particularily bothering me, I just thought it was odd that I only had a drop in one tank, then I remembered the coconut cave. The only time it would worry me is if it drops to the mid to low 6s, only because my tap pH is 7.4 and I wouldn't want there to be too much difference between the tap and tank pH, but it took it a week for it to drop from 7.4 to 7, so I don't think at this point any counter measures are needed. It was really just a comment that it was odd that it was only in the one tank...duh the coconut cave is only in one tank, that should have clued my memory in

 

[coldcazzie]

Thanks, the substrate (sand) was not overly dirty but there was some dirt present so I cleaned that up in the process.

Haych, the pH isn't particularily bothering me, I just thought it was odd that I only had a drop in one tank, then I remembered the coconut cave. The only time it would worry me is if it drops to the mid to low 6s, only because my tap pH is 7.4 and I wouldn't want there to be too much difference between the tap and tank pH, but it took it a week for it to drop from 7.4 to 7, so I don't think at this point any counter measures are needed. It was really just a comment that it was odd that it was only in the one tank...duh the coconut cave is only in one tank, that should have clued my memory in

My tap water is 7.4 but tank pH is 6-6.4 depending on how long it's been since I did a water change, I tested once after a wc to see what the change was like - it had gone up to 6.8 from 6 an hour previously - the fish weren't remotely bothered! IMO they care more about the temperature and the water hardness than they do the pH (unless it's wildly swinging obviously). I wouldn't worry too much about it but everything else you're doing is spot on! Well done!

 

[Haych]

well, mine has coconut caves in four out of five sections yet my ph rocketed UP above my tap levels

 

[rebrn]

Interesting, I thought they lowered pH but maybe I was wrong.

 

[Haych]

i dont know lol