Cycling And Filters In Betta Tanks

[happysaz133]

Hiya, I'm new I have a tank (35L with a heater and filter) which I am hoping will house a Betta

Now, I'm on several pet forums, and quite often people will go to a pet store, and just come home with a Betta (seems to be on American pet forums I have seen this). So this leads me to the question, do Betta's need a fully cycled tank? All my online friends who have done this have happy long lived Betta's. Basically I don't like the thought of waiting up to 6 weeks for the tank to be ready Of course if it is needing I am willing.

I have a filter in my tank, its a Stingray Hagen 10 filter, and a few people have said the flow will be too powerful and upset the Betta. So my question is, do I really need a filter, as long as I am willing to do water changes as often as need be? If I did do this, how often would the water need to be changed?

Thanks!

 

[LilyRose Tank]

hi , really for the life and health of your Betta you need to cycle it fully before introducing the fish. ammonia and nitrite are harmful to the nervous system and gills so basically it would be like you being stuffed in a room with nervve gas and very little oxygen, which noone would want, and especially not to their pet. why should a fish be trested any different to a cat or dog. In the beginners section, there is an account of how to do fishless cycling, which will require a full fluid testing kit ( API test master kit is what most of us use...approx 35 pounds) and some household ammonia which is found in the cleaning section of homebase.
there is a calculator on this site which will help you to calculate how much ammonia to add to the fishless tank. no plants should be placed in the tank as they take up ammonia and give false results on tests. you would fill in the calculator of what volume the tank is and it will tell you what volume of ammonia to add
here are some helpful links on this site
http/www.fishforums.net/aquarium-calculator.htm

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

 

[lljdma06]

Happy, it depends on how much maintenance you're willing to do. If you want to do waterchanges, then you can certainly house a 2 inch fish in a 35l without a filter. I've kept bettas in a lot less without a filter, and they've proved long-lived like your friends' fish. That being said, I do the complete waterchanges at least twice a week and I feed my bettas less. I also will opt for some floating plants if I can get them, or some Pothos sprigs. But your tank's a nice size, plant it. Densely planting a tank (75% substrate coverage) negates the need to cycle, especially for such a lightly stocked tank. Something to consider. I've kept bettas like this too.

There is more than one way to keep a betta is all I'm saying. You could also do as LilyRose suggested and it is a good way, just depends on what you want to do.

 

[ReMz]

The simple answer: Filter the tank.

A betta is a tropical fish and requires the same setup/maintenance as any other tropical fish. The fact that they are a very hardy species does not mean they should be kept is sub-par conditions. Lack of a filter falls under the category of neglect for any other tropical fish.

As far as needing to fully cycle the tank prior to introducing a betta, you can get away with cycling the tank with the betta. Of course it is not recommended, but it is certainly viable. Just be sure to keep up on frequent water changes during this period as the ammonia and nitrite can be very damaging to your fish whether or not you see physical/behavioral symptoms or not. Please consider a fishless cycle though.

If you are concerned about filter current, there are several ways to limit the current. Rubber-banding pantyhose over the filter intake is one way. An ever better way is to follow this guide and cut up a plastic bottle to divert the flow: http/www.petfish.net/articles/Do-It-Yourself/currentkill.php

I think you will find that as long as you provide some areas for your betta to escape from the current, they will be plenty happy.

And of course, lljdma06's advice is spot on with planting the tank - although you are going be getting into an entirely new (and fun) realm of betta keeping. Best of luck and have fun!

edit: btw welcome to the forums!

 

[lljdma06]

Different strokes for different folks and Happy has been presented with methods that all yield good results if done correctly, which is the point I'm making. I've seen betta tanks with filters and all the bells and whistles that are digusting, so having a filter doesn't negate the need for maitenance. Also depends on the experience level of the hobbiest. I never said not to add a filter, just said it depends on the maintenance one wants to do. Because I choose not to use a filter, I actually do more maintenance than if you had one, but this seems to work well for me.

 

[ReMz]

Different strokes for different folks and Happy has been presented with methods that all yield good results if done correctly, which is the point I'm making. I've seen betta tanks with filters and all the bells and whistles that are digusting, so having a filter doesn't negate the need for maitenance. Also depends on the experience level of the hobbiest. I never said not to add a filter, just said it depends on the maintenance one wants to do. Because I choose not to use a filter, I actually do more maintenance than if you had one, but this seems to work well for me.

I'll gladly second that.

For general purposes, a filtered betta tank is ideal. Of course a very well maintained tank w/o a filter is fine. This is assuming the owner is well versed in tank maintenance and is diligent about water changes... Which lljdma06 obviously is.

 

[lljdma06]

Different strokes for different folks and Happy has been presented with methods that all yield good results if done correctly, which is the point I'm making. I've seen betta tanks with filters and all the bells and whistles that are digusting, so having a filter doesn't negate the need for maitenance. Also depends on the experience level of the hobbiest. I never said not to add a filter, just said it depends on the maintenance one wants to do. Because I choose not to use a filter, I actually do more maintenance than if you had one, but this seems to work well for me.

I'll gladly second that.

For general purposes, a filtered betta tank is ideal. Of course a very well maintained tank w/o a filter is fine. This is assuming the owner is well versed in tank maintenance and is diligent about water changes... Which lljdma06 obviously is.

If I've learned anything after 22 years in this hobby, it's how to do a waterchange...