Unfiltered Tank

[CPQ]

Courtesy of Mel (thanks!! ) I now have a nice new home for the next nice little betta boy that takes my fancy - think I'll go betta shopping this w/e WHOOP!!

But first I do have a couple of questions - I've not kept a betta in an unfiltered tank but, seeing as it's going to be just him (and maybe some shimps or snails) I don't think I'm going to filter this one. Is it ok to do that?? But also I'm a bit confused - if i don't have a filter, how do I cycle the tank? Or do i not?

and also, I know in an unfiltered tank you're supposed to do 100% wter changes but I was wondering if a 50% water change twice a week (as opposed to 100% once a week) would have the same effect? Would it be any worse for the betta than one big weekly 100% water change??

Thanks

 

[FBTgirl]

OK, welll, never cycled a betta tank, probably never will. You can if you want. But I use unfiltered water for my betta fish, they are fine.

 

[lilfishie]

same here, do i 100% water change every week with no filter, had no problems

 

[FBTgirl]

ya... 100% are better for me. Because 50% cause you to have to do them about 2 or 3 times a week.

 

[MermaidMel]

Glad you got it ok and like it!
It has that undergravel filter thingy you COULD use then you wouldn't need to completely empty it each time and could easily do small water changes weekly, but it depends on your betta, 2 of mine hate the filtration however calm I make it and the other 2 are fine with it.

 

[PoptartShop]

Yeah, I don't use filters, I just change their water weekly.

 

[Samphire]

My boy in the hex gets about 20% change each day and once a week 100%. My boy in filtered tank gets about 30/40% each week. The ladies in the filtered BiOrb get about 40% each week too.

 

[CPQ]

ooh - lots of replies! lol. Thanks guys.

Mel - I was thinking I could use it but my last betta was in a filtered tank and went nuts everytime he went near the water flow! So was thinking to try something different this time. I suppose I could just give it a bit of trial and error and if my new betta hates it then just stop running it!? hmm ...

To be honest, I'm not too sure I want to do 100% water changes. I don't mind doing a lot of water changes, just emptying the whole tank and refilling it seems a bit ... erm I don't really know how to say what I mean ... I supose I think that there's lots of things I could do wrong in a 100% water change. lol. Like - where do I put the betta that isn't going to stress him out? and isn't he going to get fed up of moving out every week. aaand ... how do you make sure the water you're putting in is the same temp/ph/etc etc as the water you're replacing?

lol - am I just overthinking this? I'm just not too happy with the prospect of it is all. Would be much happier to do 50% twise a week to be honest. Just wondered if that would be good enough!? Or i could do like 20% everyday and twice a week 50%!?

 

[devon_charm]

I have only recently put sponge filters in my barracks but before i used to do about 70% water changes twice a week and thats it and they are fine. I left the betta in the tank and he swam around in the remaining 30%

 

[CPQ]

brilliant! that's what I was hoping I'd be able to do. Thanks for that devon charm!

 

[MermaidMel]

I think it depends entirely on your betta. Jai, Rufus and Vega are ok with being netted, they deal with it and get back to normal real quick. But Kai in the round bowl is like a mentalist and as such, I've ordered a round under-gravel filter and air pump and I'll see how he deals with that, then I don't have to net him or change his bowl 100% a week. Because it's a 3 gallon it's much harder to move (i.e. tip the whole thing out and start again) and I really don't like stressing him out.

Remind me Crystal - what type of betta is it?

 

[Samphire]

Custard in the hex sits in his cup while I change his water and wash tank out, I catch him in it as I am taking the water out. The girls go into the hospital tank when I 100% the BiOrb evey 6 weeks or so, they come onto my hand and are lifted into it. Rhubarb is netted into the little hospital tank when he is 100 cleaned out every 6 week or so.

 

[CPQ]

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I think I might give it a go with the under-gravel filter and see how that goes. Then, if he doesn't like it I'll just have to take it out and I think I'll probably do like 3 50% ish water changes a week.

Mel - He's a red and sort of iridescent bluey/green (on his body) crowntail! I put him on reserve today while I set the tank up!! H'es beautiful! I'm so chuffed because I've never seen a crowntail in stores round here and I just nipped into the new one that opened today (I met the guy who was opening it last week and he said to pop in today and be the first to see the new fish!) and fell in love with him (the fish not the shop owner, obviously). I'l try to post some pics when he's settled!

Thanks x

 

[MermaidMel]

I know the colouring you mean but in CT? Wowwww can't wait to see pics of him xxx