bere

hi!

I need help, I have lovely red half-moon betta named Kiyo about 1.5 year old, right now he's living in a 2 gallon tank without filter, just a small heather, I have him there 'cause he get sick on a 3 gallon tank with a power filter, one of those kits they sale. He got pop-eye and fin rot, but right now he's recovering fine!

I am doing water changes about 20% every day and total water change to his bowl every 4 or 5 days... but I would like to eventually get him a filter again.

Because he's still a little sick and weak, I don't want to cycle a small sponge filter with him in the bowl. So can please please please somebody help me with how to cycle a small sponge filter in a separate tank? How long should it take? and do I have to use chemicals? or can I just use "dirty" water from the bowl his living in?

I have NO clue where to start! so please HELP

Also, since the temperature in my room changes a lot, I have one of those submersible heathers but without pad control, just a very small one, so I am also curious if I can use an auto-adjustable heather in such a small tank as 3 gallons..

ah! all help very appreciated

Kiyo thanks you already!

Lucy

Hi bere,
I'm sorry to hear Kiyo isn't feeling well, it sounds like you're on the right track, if he's healing already.

I'm glad to hear your going to cycle fish less.
Here's a link to cycling, it will explain how to cycle fish less:
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

You'll also need a test kit. The API master kit is highly recommended here. When cycling, you'll get ammonia readings, then nitrites, when they drop to 0 and have nitrates between 5-20, you'll be cycled!

I'm not sure what you mean by auto-adjustable heater. A 25w heater would do fine. I personally like the visi-therm stealth heaters.

Good luck and feel free to ask any other questions you might have.

bere

hi Lucy

thanks a lot for your quick reply! I am reading about the Nitrogen cycle now. It's good to know I can cycle the tank without Kiyo in it.

The heather I have is this kind
http://www.petco.com/product/102429/...um-Heater.aspx
but I will try to get a little bigger one.

One other question I have, some strange stringy white material keeps on appearing on the water. I got rid of the power filter because the tube that went into the water was full of that stringy material. Do you know what is that? I have read that it might be some kind of fungus.

What do you think? I use silk plants 'cause I've read they are good for Bettas, but the white strings seem to 'hide' on the plants too! I have changed plants and caves and other ornaments in the tank 'cause of this problem, but it keeps on coming back.

I usually use just spring water like Arrowhead or any water I find on sale and add some BettaSafe from Tetra and some Fresh Aquarium Salt to the water every time I changed it. could any of these things be causing those white strings?

Thanks a lot for your help! you rock!

COBettaCouple

I'd recommend not using salt. Bettas are totally freshwater and don't need it, but it is irritating to them and their slime coating.. which can make them weaker against disease. The salt accumulates too over time, raising the salinity of the water.

I would highly recommend a product called "Prime" for treating all the water with. It only takes 1 drop per gallon and will help Kiyo out in getting better and staying healthy.

If you can find other products called "Vita-Chem" and "Garlic Guard", they are both good for fish health and not meds or harsh on fish.

I'm not sure on that white stuff. Is it in the bowl or tank? Would you be able to post a picture? It could be white hair algae or a bacterial bloom possibly.

Lucy

I've got a 7.5w heater in my 1.5 quarantine tank. It does ok in a pinch, but like you pointed you, it's not adjustable.

I'd follow Dave's advice, he's got a lot of experience with betta's.
If you can't find Garlic Guard, you can use minced garlic...I have the kind in a jar already minced and in juices.

I don't know about the white stuff either. Did it show up while you were cycling? See if you can post a pic, maybe someone can identify it.

chickadee

If you have a cycled tank you put the sponge filter in the cycled tank for a period of 7 days and it will become cycled from the bacteria in the cycled tank otherwise you have to do the old fashioned way and put it in the new tank and let it run and do 50% water changes every day until it cycles itself normally in 4 to 6 weeks with the fish in the new tank or bowl. He would do much better in the 3 gallon with clean water and take the power filter out after you get the sponge filter cycled for a week and just let the sponge filter take over being the only filter in the 3 gallon for you. The tank is not the problem it is the water quality. Popeye is usually caused from the water needing to be changed more often and needing more oxygen in it. A sponge filter that is made for a 10 gallon tank can take care of the tank just fine and you need to change water for that size tank 50% at least 2 times a week. The smaller the tank the more maintenance it takes.

Rose

bere

hi again and thanks a lot to everybody for helping me with Kiyo!!

right now i have him in a 2 gallon tank with NO filter still... but I started cycling the sponge filter by itself in a 3 gallon tank, unfortunately I freak-out when the power filter started spitting out what it seemed the "white hair algae" so I took Kiyo out of that tank and throw away the old filter ... so I am starting all over!!

unfortunately I most leave the city for 5 days 'cause of work so I hope the cycling goes OK without changing the water for a couple of days, I am not sure if I can leave the filter just there, cycling by itself (NO Kiyo there of course!!)... in the meantime I am keeping Kiyo with plenty of water changes since he doesn't have a filter yet in his old 2 gallon bowl with just the 7.5 watt heather and plenty of water changes

I just found the "Prime" product at Petco, so I am picking up tonight for his next water change.

I have been trying to take a picture of the 'white strings' but they are rather elusive

if it's the white hair algae, is that what could be causing Kiyo the fin rot? his eye is now completely recovered! but the fin rot is still leaving some holes in his lovely fins... could it be the Arrowhead Spring Water with Betta-safe that caused the white strings?

again thanks everybody for your responses and ALL your help!! I am still learning a lot about Fishes but overall I don't want my little Kiyo to be uncomfortable, thanks for helping me giving him a good home

luna

HOW are you cycling the filter? The cycle requires an ammonia source which, without Kiyo in the water, you'd need to be providing. Without a fish in there, you shouldn't be changing the water at all, as it will slow down the cycling process.

5 days in an uncycled tank with no water changes is going to be a problem for your fish, and (depending on your ammonia source) your cycle. Do you have anyone who can follow detailed instructions and can do water changes (and ammonia-feeding your cycle if needed) while you're gone?

bere

hi luna, thanks for you reply

as for the cycling of the new filter, i have decided to wait on it until i come back from my trip. I am planning to do it *fishless* anyway, i got a test kit and amonia to be adding... since Kiyo has been sick and i am new to this, i prefer to cycling the filter without him in, but i won't start until i come back... which makes me sad 'cause I really want to move him into a filtered tank

and as for Kiyo, i will leave him with a good friend that will do the 50% daily water changes while I am gone on the 2 gallon tank, he will feed Kiyo too and I asked him on cleaning under the marbles with a turkey baster and the top of water after Kiyo is done eating for left-over food

but I cannot wait to come back and start cycling that little filter for him! do you think this sponge filter I have is good for a 3 gallon tank? the #1, isn't it too big for a 3 gallon?

http://americanaquariumproducts.com/...FQVYbAodQAVltQ

thanks a lot for your help!