My female built a bubblenest

[Seahorse]

I looked in the back of the tank, and there is a bubble nest that puts all my boys to shame I will take this as approval of the 20 gallon long I put her in. It is so heavily planted sometimes I can't find her!

I also have a question for you smart folks. I am in the middle of cleaning my 10 gallon where the dropsy boy was housed (thanks btw BM for the great post), and I am wondering about the snail. He should be okay putting in with other fish right, even though he was in the infected tank?

 

[Seahorse]

Two more questions about the dropsy tank.

Live plants... do I just rinse them and will they be okay?

And... filter media. Do I replace it, or can I clean it with very very hot water?

 

[Seahorse]

Bump. If I would have titled it "I got a new betta!" I would have had 16 people respond by now

 

[ScoutCarcer]

Then change it It still might work

 

[OrkyBetta]

Hey. Ok, I am no expert on this, but all I can offer is one of those "what I would do" comments.

Don't rinse your live plants in tap water, I would put them in a container with warm dechlorinated water and salt, the salt will kill whatever's on it.

Same with the filter media. If your tank was cycled, tap water will uncycle it, as chlorine kills bacteria. Swish it in old tank water, it should be OK.

I would do a ton of water changes, like 20% a day and let the tank just sit and chill for a while before you put anything in. If your tank is cycled, leave the snail in, and maybe put in some fish food for a while. Dropsy is a tough thing to be able to tell if it was caused by something communicable, so just let everything clear out. The snail should be ok, and congrats on your girl's bubblenest!

 

[Seahorse]

Thank you SO much Orky! I know I was being impatient but I was kind of needed some help since I already started tearing the tank apart.

I brought it outside, and just rid of the sand completely. I just wouldn't trust it otherwise..
I let the tank soak in very hot water with soap for a long time. I rinsed it several times (and scrubbed!) and put the tank back up, using sand from my other established tanks.

Now I will let it cycle with the original media (after doing what you said), and put the plants back in soon as well.

It'll be sitting for a bit before a new inhabitant.

Thanks again.

 

[OrkyBetta]

You're very welcome. Don't worry, I get really impatient too! Sometimes I click the refresh button on a thread I've started until my eyes glaze over. Good luck on the tank, it should be just fine. I would add a little more dechlorinator than normal, just to make sure you got the soap chemicals out of there.

Edit, also, is there any gravel you could put in the tank from an already cycled tank? That would make things go faster. Put the gravel in a stocking and let it sit in the bottom of your tank.

 

[Seahorse]

You're very welcome. Don't worry, I get really impatient too! Sometimes I click the refresh button on a thread I've started until my eyes glaze over. Good luck on the tank, it should be just fine. I would add a little more dechlorinator than normal, just to make sure you got the soap chemicals out of there.

Edit, also, is there any gravel you could put in the tank from an already cycled tank? That would make things go faster. Put the gravel in a stocking and let it sit in the bottom of your tank.

Yup I did that with some sand And I was able to use different established media, so I didn't risk it. Should go very quickly

 

[Saucy]

One thing about this is that plants can't take a lot of salt. It will kill them. I'd make sure you don't add a lot of salt to the plants.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

yes, the plants will handle a good rinsing with tap water far better than a salt bath. very little beneficial bacteria will be on your plants anyways. after you're done cleaning the plants under the tap, dunk them a few times in a bucket of twice-dechlorinated water (that should get rid of any trace contaminates).

 

[OrkyBetta]

I've never had live plants, thats awesome to know. Good luck and keep us posted.