Mechanical Filtration

[Minni3]

My betta lives in his spacious 3g tank with a heater and filter. I do 25%-35% water changes every week using a siphon hose. My question is, If I can't get all the poop and stuff off the bottom will it really AFFECT my betta's health? The thing is, I can't keep trying to siphon everything out because then I will be doing a >50% water change and that will stress him out too much?? eeeek help! *stress*

 

[TribeOfShroom]

I would personally get a small air driven sponge filter. It wouldn't create a noticable current and will help you keep your water quality.

Algarde bio45 sponge filter would be perfect and can be run off a small air pump.

Random

Not my site or sale, just the quickest pic and descript I could find. But the price is right. My lfs sells these for £3 + air pump = Less than a tenner. Bargain!

*EDIT* I only suggest the filter as the bacteria on it would allow you to do your normal 25-30% water change without fearing toxin build up from any debris left on the tank bottom. But as Ibble as said, if you can do 50% water changes then do them. The Filter is only a helping hand.

 

[ibbledibble]

My betta lives in his spacious 3g tank with a heater and filter. I do 25%-35% water changes every week using a siphon hose. My question is, If I can't get all the poop and stuff off the bottom will it really AFFECT my betta's health? The thing is, I can't keep trying to siphon everything out because then I will be doing a >50% water change and that will stress him out too much?? eeeek help! *stress*

i quite regularly carry out large (50%+) water changes on my bettas and it never seems to stress them out. in fact comet, my crowntail always builds massive bubblenests after a large water change. so obviously he likes it!

 

[Kaz1814]

I agree with the above, All my bettas love water changes and i just use a basic mini gravel cleaner. I do it every water change and find that there isn't that much waste anyway. Betta's are clean little critters compared to other fish.

 

[Minni3]

I would personally get a small air driven sponge filter. It wouldn't create a noticable current and will help you keep your water quality.

Algarde bio45 sponge filter would be perfect and can be run off a small air pump.

Random

Not my site or sale, just the quickest pic and descript I could find. But the price is right. My lfs sells these for £3 + air pump = Less than a tenner. Bargain!

*EDIT* I only suggest the filter as the bacteria on it would allow you to do your normal 25-30% water change without fearing toxin build up from any debris left on the tank bottom. But as Ibble as said, if you can do 50% water changes then do them. The Filter is only a helping hand.

i already have a filter that does both chemical and bio filtration (cotton and carbon), it's just the debris on the bottom I'm worried about. So with a filter, i can do 25%-50% weekly water changes and my fish will be quite safe?

 

[ibbledibble]

I already have a filter that does both chemical and bio filtration (cotton and carbon), it's just the debris on the bottom I'm worried about. So with a filter, i can do 25%-50% weekly water changes and my fish will be quite safe?

its not generally a great idea to use carbon in a filter all the time. when it gets saturated it will just start releasing toxins back into the water again.
most people only add carbon to a filter for about a week after using meds to remove all traces in the water.

but yeah, with a filter you can still do large water changes and he will be fine. (it may take the filter longer to cycle, but as you are doing regular water changes that will keep him safe anyway.)