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August 6th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| cleaning small tanks?
k, so i havent had a tank this small before. I have a little 2.5 gallon tank in my daughters room. all that is in it is 4 platy fry. they are about 1cm big each, if that. 2 cherry shrimp and a small snail. it is planted with giant duck weed, java moss, and java fern.
It is heated and has a mini filter on it, its a store brand... runs on an air pump to draw water into it and through some sponge/floss material and carbon.
how often should i be doing a water change on this tank, and how much water do i remove. how do i vacuum the gravel on a tank this small? no way my siphon will fit in there.
thanks in advance | 
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August 6th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| There are small gravel vacs that you can buy that would be just fine for a 2.5 gallon IME. Good luck!  | 
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August 6th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| I have a 2.5 and I just use a smaller vac. Since it is small and the perimeters can go bad so quickly I do it at least once a week. Most of the time twice a week. I change out 50% | |
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August 6th, 2009
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| | Fish Mentor
| Like said a smaller tank things can go bad quickly.
You can take the vac part off of your gravel vac, and just use the hose. Or buy a small one.
Brian | |
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August 6th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| I have 3 of those tanks, a betta and two ottos in each. I have to do a 50% WC every 5-6 days, because my nitrates get over 20ppm. I put a bunch of java ferns (because of the "low light") and now every week to week and a half.
Since the tank is so small, your variables will change the water parameters drastically, so don't think there is an exact number to be looking for. Therefor monitor the water to see how fast your nitrates build up and go from there.
(Nothing like your three large tanks) | |
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August 6th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| well i did a test but i used a strip.i cant find my box with the liquid tests. everything tests alright, i did a water change anyways seeing as i can see poop on the bottom, i might as well suck it out.
my daughter helped and was very proud of herself for doing her first water change  | |
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August 6th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Your daughter is doing her first water change:
YOU should be proud!
... she's growing up fast! | |
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August 7th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Quote:
Originally Posted by coffeebean  well i did a test but i used a strip.i cant find my box with the liquid tests. everything tests alright, i did a water change anyways seeing as i can see poop on the bottom, i might as well suck it out.
my daughter helped and was very proud of herself for doing her first water change | That's wonderful! Tell her we're proud of her as well. Fish can be great for bonding with our children  | |
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August 7th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| she is so cute. she is only 5 and is so proud of herself. my kids are all very intent on my fish keeping and i use it as a springboard for teaching them things...like the nitrogen cycle, animal behaviour, circle of life and all that.
my daughter calls me a Fishmom, and she is a Fishmom in training. she said last night at bedtime while staring at her beloved fish, "when i have kids if they want fish i will teach them how to look after them"  | |
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August 7th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Oh, how precious | |
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August 7th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Too cute Coffeebean! Glad the family is involved along with you.
Ken | |
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August 7th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| OH that is all just too sweet. Are you sure she is only 5?
Before I knew that they made small vacs I did a little "configuring" of my own with some airline tubing and about 2 inches of the tube from the bottom of my regular vac. I little tape later and I had my own minivac. | |
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August 12th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| I have a 2.5 and I did a weekly 50% water change with a TopFin Mini gravel vac that was the perfect size for it.
You're daughter sounds so sweet!  | |
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August 12th, 2009
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| | Fish Master
| I 2nd the top fin mini vac, I use it alot even with the 5's.
Usually once a week 50% change is good. Keep an eye on your parameters and live plants help alot.
P.S.
You're daughter sounds so cute. | |
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August 18th, 2009
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| | Fish Helper
| I have a 2.5 minibow in storage, so I am well versed in maintaining at tank that size. My advice is to do yourself a favor and get a battery powered water siphon/gravel vac instead of stressing out your fish trying to get a manual siphon going in such a tiny tank. Here's a link to the one I own by Hagen: http://www.petsolutions.com/default....04&SID=FROOGLE | |
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August 18th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| i was just sucking on the hose to start suction. worked fine. | |
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August 18th, 2009
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| | Moderator
| Wow, I'm about to show myself as a hillbilly here. for both of the 5 gallon betta tanks, I use a plastic cup that's never seen soap. To refill, I fill a big bowl that's never seen soap and add dechlorinator. Of course, neither tank is more than 3 feet from the kitchen sink, so that helps. | |
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August 18th, 2009
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| | Fish Keeper
| Quote:
Originally Posted by bolivianbaby Wow, I'm about to show myself as a hillbilly here. for both of the 5 gallon betta tanks, I use a plastic cup that's never seen soap. To refill, I fill a big bowl that's never seen soap and add dechlorinator. Of course, neither tank is more than 3 feet from the kitchen sink, so that helps. | i wanted to clean the gravel though | |
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August 27th, 2009
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| | Fish Addict
| My friend also has a small 2.5 gallon tank too he has a small siphon that can siphon the gravel. He does a 50-60% water change and then fills it up with RO water. He doesn't live near, he lives in the city and I live in the country area where the huge Amazon River is
I hope that helps.
Good luck!
Neji | |
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