Betta And Current Problems

Yeah I believe people say minimum for schooling fish is 6 fish. Those fish are quite pretty. If you want plants maybe get some plants that have a grass like look for them to swim through? Yet you can see them

 

I want to put live plants I'm just afraid I'll end up killing it with improper care

 

I want to put live plants I'm just afraid I'll end up killing it with improper care

Try an Anubias or Java fern. Those are hardy plants! I've had my Anubias for almost a year in my 10 gallon betta tank and it's still alive. Frazier keeps it alive

 

I'm gonna try when I can, there's quite a few things I need to do with my other tanks before I can up and buy a plant lol.

 

I've heard your not supposed to do this but I have a molly in with my betta they get along quite well. With a little chase here and there.

 

I plan to set up a 55 g semI aggressive community tank and move my betta back to his 10G with some Harlequin Rasboras or shrimp I haven't decided yet. My stocking ideas for the 55 are as follows

1 Red Tail Shark
1 Electric/Metallic Blue Acara
1 Common Plecostomus (I already own)
6 (3M/3F) Turquoise Rainbow Fish
6 (3M/3F) Millennium or Banded Rainbow Fish
6 Zebra or Skunk Loaches

 

Oh yes well taking care of current stock is more import than getting a new plant! I agree!

 

I don't have them yet all I have is a 16G that I'm trading for 55G the only fish I have are my betta and pleco

 

Ah ok. Hehe.

 

I dunno if the shark would get along with the loaches or the acara?? Someone else on here probably knows. You could start a thread in the stocking section to find out

Rainbow fish are so pretty!! I considered them for my 55 gallon

 

I plan to set up a 55 g semI aggressive community tank and move my betta back to his 10G with some Harlequin Rasboras or shrimp I haven't decided yet. My stocking ideas for the 55 are as follows

1 Red Tail Shark
1 Electric/Metallic Blue Acara
1 Common Plecostomus (I already own)
6 (3M/3F) Turquoise Rainbow Fish
6 (3M/3F) Millennium or Banded Rainbow Fish
6 Zebra or Skunk Loaches

If you do skunk loaches, do more than 6. You have more room.
Are you going to rehome or upgrade for the common pleco when it is bigger?
The red tail could be aggressive, a rainbow shark would be a little less aggressive.

 

Emergency! I am trying to prepare my tank to be moved... Only thing is that I have a 10 watt heater and a 10 gallon tank! Honestly thought it was a 25 watt when I bought it but I never used it because the 10 Gallon kit came with a heater. Anyways I'm trading the 16 gallon for a 55 in about 2 weeks and I'm trying to get both the tanks ready so I'm setting up the 10 gallon for the betta and was going to move him today, do you guys think if I filled the tank up halfway and put the 10 watt heater (rated for 5 gallons) he would be ok? I have to buy a new filter cartridge for my marineland filter so I would be moving the 10 gallon sponge filter to the halfway filled 10 gallon tank, I don't plan to leave it like that for more than a month, or should I run the bio-wheel filter anyways without the pad for extra bio filtration? I'm just trying to figure out my options before I just jump waist deep into terrible fish husbandry and mistakes


Oh an I have another thread that suggested to Skunk loaches because my tank is semI aggressive an I really wanted a red tail for years...

If you do skunk loaches, do more than 6. You have more room.
Are you going to rehome or upgrade for the common pleco when it is bigger?
The red tail could be aggressive, a rainbow shark would be a little less aggressive.

I'm not sure I haven't decided. I figured when the time came that he needed to be in a larger tank I would know what I had to do. It's gonna kill me to get rid of him but if I can't upgrade for him in time I'm going to re-home. I have to do what's best for him/her no matter how attached I am.

I think at some point you will want to switch to sand for the Pleco. It will be easier on its stomach. Plus you will bring out more of its natural behavior of digging in sand.
I recommend Black Diamond Blasting Sand (BDBS).
Fairly cheap, it's only 9 bucks for a 50lb bag. Or you can use playground or pool filter sand.

Hey I can't find any BDBS at my local stores an I really wanted it to :/ costs around $40+ to have it shipped. Any safer sands I can buy locally that are relatively cheap? I heard silica/play sand is not safe is there anything else though I need to find it before 2 weeks.. the only sand I have here is pool filter sand which I think is also silica.

 

Oh boy! Can you get a 50w heater soon for the 10g? I dunno how making the the tank half way full with a 25w would work as I haven't heard of that before. It could work perhaps. I have heard of several people using pool filter sand with great success

 

Oh boy! Can you get a 50w heater soon for the 10g? I dunno how making the the tank half way full with a 25w would work as I haven't heard of that before. It could work perhaps. I have heard of several people using pool filter sand with great success

Actually my 10 gallon Aquarium kit came with an adjustable 25Watt heater that kept the 10 gallon at 78°F.. and the minI heater I have is actually a 10 wattage.. it says online that it's good for a 5 gallon that's why I was trying to find out if I could temporarily use half the 10 gallon space with a 10 watt and 10 gallon sponge filter plus if using the bio-wheel would make a difference or not without the pad? Like I said I only plan to have it like this less than a month I know it's far from ideal but can it be done with minimal effect to my betta?

 

Oh huh. Hehe. Maybe I went for overkill at first? Oh well. Hehe. Would the heater still be submerged safely and not be touching anything with tank filled halfway?

I do not know anything about bio wheels. I have never used them before.

 

Yes it will be safely submerged

Sorry I meant a 50W came with the 10 gallon kit

 

Heheheh. Ok so I got normal at first and just went overkill this winter. Good. If it will be safely submerged I would think it would be ok

 

I set it up and it's almost completely full , apparently my house is rather warm cause it's hovering at 81°F... Too warm for the betta but I'm scared if I turn it off it will be to cold

Now that I look both my tanks are 80-81 degrees with the heaters plugged in but my 50 watt has a light that comes on when it runs and it hasn't came on in a while n my tank stays 80 even when I turn it down

 

Oh wow. Some bettas are ok at 80* I'd guess keep an eye on him. You can always point a fan at his tank. I don't know the ideal temperature for common Plecos but that's cuz I know I couldn't have a big enough tank for an adult one.

 

Do you have a Tractor Supply nearby? That is where you will find black diamond blasting sand.

 

No I've looked everywhere for the black diamond the only tractor store around here is Rural King and they don't have it

Okay so I called my local Menards and they have this stuff called Black Blast, it says it's a mix of 20/40 and 30/60 it's a 50 pound bag it's recycled coal slag and it's silica free will this be safe I already bought it but haven't done anything with it yet. Also with this sand do I have to worry about gas pockets? I read something about the sand has to have Oxygen all throughout it so gas doesn't build up or you have to sift through the sand regularly to keep it from building up... I don't plan on getting my entire arm soaked reaching into a 55 gal tank just to stir some sand unless I'm cleaning the tank.

 

I have been told 2-3 inches should be safe from gas pockets. I'm still gonna poke around in my 55 gallon to be safe. Besides I'm getting cories and a BN Pleco. They will help stir up the sand

 

I have been told 2-3 inches should be safe from gas pockets. I'm still gonna poke around in my 55 gallon to be safe. Besides I'm getting cories and a BN Pleco. They will help stir up the sand

Nice! Do you feed your Pleco blanched veggies like I do? Also do you think the mix of 20/40 and 30/60 will be physically safe for my fishes skin? I know 30/60 is preferred for larger grain size but assuming I have a Menards brand or Off brand bag of slag I want to see if you think it's just a safe as the black diamond.

 

Okay so I called my local Menards and they have this stuff called Black Blast, it says it's a mix of 20/40 and 30/60 it's a 50 pound bag it's recycled coal slag and it's silica free will this be safe I already bought it but haven't done anything with it yet. Also with this sand do I have to worry about gas pockets? I read something about the sand has to have Oxygen all throughout it so gas doesn't build up or you have to sift through the sand regularly to keep it from building up... I don't plan on getting my entire arm soaked reaching into a 55 gal tank just to stir some sand unless I'm cleaning the tank.

Sounds like that would be fine.

 

I will be feeding my Pleco veggies and seeing what he likes. I hopefully will have Stucky by October!! The sand should be fine. I have just heard that cleaning the finer sand can be more time consuming.

 

I will be feeding my Pleco veggies and seeing what he likes. I hopefully will have Stucky by October!! The sand should be fine. I have just heard that cleaning the finer sand can be more time consuming.

I've had the best luck with Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Asparagus, and Green Beans! Also for a more sweet treat I've given mine a grape, I just peeled one part of the skin off and he does the rest lol.. carrots don't seem to be a big hit though.

So this is what I wake up to lol











Apparently he has mad himself a hammock

 

I've had the best luck with Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Asparagus, and Green Beans! Also for a more sweet treat I've given mine a grape, I just peeled one part of the skin off and he does the rest lol.. carrots don't seem to be a big hit though.

So this is what I wake up to lol

View attachment 320457

View attachment 320453View attachment 320454View attachment 320455
View attachment 320456

Apparently he has mad himself a hammock

Yeah I'll be giving zucchinI first cuz I'll know he likes that! Then once settled in I'll try new veggies.

Awwwww! So cute! Nothing wrong with sleeping in a hammock

 

I like your plans. I highly suggest setting aside a small part of your budget for some live plants. The easy to care for ones do not require any special care and really add a more natural environment for the fish, it's also kind of fun to watch how fast they grow and change the tank. Anacharis, amazon sword, anubias, bacopa, wisteria, etc are all available at all of the major pet supply chains.

 

Anubias rocks!! I have had one for almost a year and my betta takes wonderful care of it. The tallest leaf is almost to the top of the tank. Anacharis is really easy too. I can't plant it but I do good when I just let it float

 

I will try. I want to get some for my betta because I'm pretty sure my Pleco would eat them lol. I just got the heater in the mail today so all I gotta do is go trade tanks. I'm going to be spending most my money on decor first so there's a nice environment before I start stocking it. Filter pad comes tomorrow for my 10 gallon tank to. The only decor I have for the 55 gallon is a clay pot, a bushy plant and small piece of driftwood, I'm sure the sand will make the Pleco feel more comfortable though. Also I have a question about the filter I'm getting, the guys giving me a TopFin Filter that he said is rated for a 55Gallon and it holds 2 cartridges, I also read online that there was a manufacturers flaw and there was a large recall of TopFin filters... Should I use temporarily until I can get 2 more filters or should I just keep it and use it for awhile.

 

Get a cute decoration like a bridge and take some thread and tie the Anubias to it and all is good!

Me personally I refuse to use something that has a recall on it. I would just get a new filter that if a Hang on back has 500gph flow or if canister has 385gph. For HOB you need 8-10x the amount and for canisters it's 5-8x the amount. I would go with an AquaClear 110 HOB or a Fluval 306 for a canister.

 

I was going to try and get 2 marine land filters because I feel like the Aquaclears are to much work and I didn't understand all the different media in it. I personally don't care for cannister filters..

The Marineland filters are 350GPH each so with 2 it would be 700GPH with a Common Pleco I don't think you can have to much filtration xD I will just have to use the crappy TopFin Filter until I have the money to order the other filters :/

 

Alrighty. Hehe. AquaClear you swish around every other week.

I have heard canisters are good for larger tanks.

There is no such thing as too much filtration!! Hehehe. For my 55 I'll have the AC 110 that does 500gph and a SunSun 302 canister that does 274gph. I hope you are able to get the Marineland filters soon!

 

Yeah I'm talking to the guy and I have the information to check if it's one of the recalled batch or not. Once I get it I will know for sure and I can get a free replacement from the manufacturer if it is. The Marineland are my favorite and simplest to clean in my opinion. I had an Aquaclear but never used it cause I didn't have any of the media, I'm sure they're great filters I just was confused trying to look online and in stores for the correct pads and sponges for it

 

Ok good. I hope it's not one of the recalled ones. That way it's safe for you to use. Awesome! Oh that makes sense. Maybe cuz I got a 20 for my 10 gallon tank (does 100gph). For my 10 gallon betta tank and it came with all media

 

I have a marine land 10 gallon Filter for my betta tank and a 10 gallon sponge filter. I honestly don't even want the Top Fin filter cause they're so cheap and crappy but I don't have a choice at the moment

 

Good thinking. Oh really? They are that bad? Eewwwww. Yeah I mean the fish needs a filter.

 

Yes Rick loves the sponge he sits on it and behind it and if provides extra filtration/aeration with the lowest current possible

A 75 gallon Top Fin filter is like $20 or less at pet smart... They have to be made of cheap material to sell for so low.

 

Heheh. Awesome! More air and filtration is good. My guy just has the one HOB. And live plants. With some current but he loves to swim in it.

Oh wow. Yeah you'd think it would be made cheaply.

 

He likes to swim through the HOB current to but he doesn't like too strong of one so I didn't opt to get him a stronger HOB just the sponge filter. I'll be setting the HOB up tomorrow when the pad gets here.