Betta Filters

HI Folks,

since becoming a member of these boards I have been drawn again and again to the Betta boards. I recently noticed that at my second job (a restaurant), their is one of those planted betta vases (with the fish in the bottom and the plant growing out of the top) and the poor little guy looks so depressed and just sits at the bottom. Obviously, this is not a healthy living situation. I am beginning to wonder if I can talk my managers into letting my rescue the little guy.

Now, as I continue to cycle my other tank - what would be the quickest way to set up and cycle a Betta tank. I've been reading about BioSpira. What is that? How does one come across it. My LFS has something called a "BioBall". Is that typically along the same lines?

Also, what would be a good filter for a Betta tank that does not produce too strong a current? Any suggestions?

Thank you so much and I'll keep you updated on my progress.

-UaL

 

BioSpira is a refrigerated bag of bacteria. It has to stay refrigerated and has a short shelf life. When you add it to the tank, fish can go right in because it immediately cycles the tank. It's the quickest way to cycle a tank and nothing else that I know of works like it. Some products like Zymbac Freshwater help speed up the cycle, but only BioSpira is instant.

The whisper power filters do good for our bettas. You'll want a quiet filter with adjustable flow.

I hope you can rescue him - he's definitely a depressed and bored betta.

 

I am using the nano filter in my one gallon tank: It rests on the tank edge and only the intake hangs inside the tank, so it takes up very little room. I had to cover the intake with some netting so that it didn't suck my little guys fins up inside.

I am using the whisper 3I in my 2.5 gallon tank: I got this one and the replacement filters at walmart, very inexpensive. This tank came with the whisper 10I which worked fine, but it just took up so much room inside that tank that I got the smaller version. I did have to buy a gang valve to control the water flow for the whisper 3i. The 10I has a high/low flow adjuster built into the motor.

Good luck, I hope you can rescue the poor little guy

 

BioSpira is a refrigerated bag of bacteria. It has to stay refrigerated and has a short shelf life. When you add it to the tank, fish can go right in because it immediately cycles the tank. It's the quickest way to cycle a tank and nothing else that I know of works like it. Some products like Zymbac Freshwater help speed up the cycle, but only BioSpira is instant.

Be careful on that! I used Bio Spira and it definitely was not instant...it still took 6 weeks to cycle and I had to remove Spartacus during that time because the ammonia levels shot up to 4ppm! I used it in my 5 gallon tank, and I think that was part of the reason. I was told I had too much bacteria for that size of tank.

 

I use bip-spira all the time. I never had a problem with it. My tanks always cycle within a week with it. You can get it here. Just a warning, it is a bit expensive because it's a refrigerated bacteria and the shipping will be the same amount as the smaller packl of bio-spira because they need to overnight due to it having to be cold and remain so until used. welcome to fishlore! Natalie

PS. I hope they do let you rescue him.

 

I think sometimes (intentionally or not) BioSpira packs will be left in too-warm conditions and the bag becomes worthless water. or it goes out of date.

 

There is an ammonia spike in the water during the first week of treatment and I have NEVER had it take more than 7 days. The trick is never to do testing or water changes the first 7 days. They do claim that the tank is cycled in 24 hours they say it is safe for your fish in 24 hours and mine always have been. I have faith in it and I use an Ammonia Alert and it does not go any where near the toxic levels for the fish in the water. There is also no way to overdose with the bacteria. I have used a one ounce package in a 3 gallon tank and never had a bit of problem. Please do not panic about the stuff. The manufacturer does explain all this and if the instructions and information is read and followed there is no danger to your fish. There are a few important things to remember and the first is to do a good job of shaking the pouch before opening it and pouring it into the tank and to keep it refrigerated and not frozen after you receive it. Then you need to add fish right after you add it to the tank and not two or three days later as the bacteria in the Bio-spira need the ammonia that the fish put out to feed off of. MANY members of this forum have used and continue to use it and swear by its use. It is and continues to be the choice of each member whether or not to use it, but it does work and has for me in every one of my tanks and I have complete faith in it and keep at least one or two pouches in my refrigerator at all times. (if I need one for a hospital tank or q tank)

Rose

 

All I know is that Spartacus got a lot worse after I added it. I think I waited for full 7 days before I checked the water but I don't remember. I do know that he got worse and worse and I pulled him when the levels reached between 1-2 ppm. It stayed at 4ppm for the next 4-5 weeks.

Shortly after I added it, I did get .25 Nitrites, which I had never had before, so I know it wasn't expired. It just stayed at that level until the 6th week. I'm just saying be careful. If I were setting up another tank I'd more than likely go and give it another try though.