Help! How often, how much? - Water change

So, Belle is living alone in a 16L (about 4 gallons) tank.
There is a wall mounted filter at the corner of the tank.
How often should I make a water change? And how much should I change?
Until now, I didn't have a filter in my tank, and changed the water 80 percent every other day.
I'm new to filters, please help!

*Yes, I did search for the info first, but every person explained so differently! I was confused.

 

Glad you got a filter for your betta! I personally think 4 gallons is a little small, but if that’s what you have it can work. I would be doing 60% weekly water changes. Bettas also will need a heater.

 

I'm so surprised by the large amounts and high frequencies of water changes I keep reading on this forum! Add lots of live plants; they'll make life so much easier for your betta and yourself. I am convinced you can then reduce your changes to, at least, once a week and in much smaller amounts.

 

the betta won't know the difference between 16 and 19 litres (5 gallons) so I think it'll be perfectly fine

Other than that, just make sure the filter isn't disturbing the water too much. Bettas don't like too much flow. While the bacteria colony is building in the filter, do around 20% water changes every other day for a few weeks, then you can go with around 40-50% weekly. The more the better, as long as you temperature match.

As someone else said, heaters are crucial to maintain the tank at a constant 26-28 degrees Celsius. Live plants are great to add too, they'll eat up nitrates and other toxins and keep your betta de-stressed.

 

Glad you got a filter for your betta! I personally think 4 gallons is a little small, but if that’s what you have it can work. I would be doing 60% weekly water changes. Bettas also will need a heater.

Thanks for replying! Yeah I have a decent heater so that’s good
I’d love to have a tank larger than 5 gallons, but not enough space
4 was the largest I could get.
Anyway, thanks again!

the betta won't know the difference between 16 and 19 litres (5 gallons) so I think it'll be perfectly fine

Other than that, just make sure the filter isn't disturbing the water too much. Bettas don't like too much flow. While the bacteria colony is building in the filter, do around 20% water changes every other day for a few weeks, then you can go with around 40-50% weekly. The more the better, as long as you temperature match.

As someone else said, heaters are crucial to maintain the tank at a constant 26-28 degrees Celsius. Live plants are great to add too, they'll eat up nitrates and other toxins and keep your betta de-stressed.

Thanks for replying!! Yeah there is some water flow, but there’s also space that he can swim around without being bothered, since my tank is long in length
I do have a heater! Average water temp is 27 celcius. Thanks for replying!

I'm so surprised by the large amounts and high frequencies of water changes I keep reading on this forum! Add lots of live plants; they'll make life so much easier for your betta and yourself. I am convinced you can reduce your changes to, at least, once a week and in much smaller amounts.

Haha yeah! Anything for my little prince ☺️I’d love to have live plants, but I thought it’d be difficult to maintain. I’m not good at keeping plants
Thanks for replying!

 

Put in some java fern, attach it to suction cups on the side or back of your tank and you wont need to maintain it for years. I think I have fern in one of my tanks for over 10 years without any maintenance. I conduct water changes no more than 6 times a year in that 40 gallon tank; max 5% per change. I am not saying you should follow my example, but all fish love "natural" water that houses microorganisms over fresh dechlorinated tap water; java fern help create those natural conditions.

 

Put in some java fern, attach it to suction cups on the side or back of your tank and you wont need to maintain it for years. I think I have fern in one of my tanks for over 10 years without any maintenance. I conduct water changes no more than 6 times a year in that 40 gallon tank; max 5% per change. I am not saying you should follow my example, but all fish love "natural" water that houses microorganisms over fresh dechlorinated tap water; java fern help create those natural conditions.

Ooh that sounds really nice!!
Thank you for the recommendation! I'll look it up

 

You can even place it in front of your filter outlet. Java does well in current and the java fern will break the current, so your betta won't suffer too much from the current. Just make sure some current is left, so that water (and heat) is distributed as evenly as possible in your tank.

 

You can even place it in front of your filter outlet. Java does well in current and the java fern will break the current, so your betta won't suffer too much from the current. Just make sure some current is left, so that water (and heat) is distributed as evenly as possible in your tank.

Got it! Thanks!

 

Other live plants to consider are vallisnera, crypts, swords and java moss, very little to no maintenence for all of them in my experience.

 

Added some live plants! Also a small cave for him to hide
He absolutely loves them! Haha, thanks to you all for the advice

 

I'm so surprised by the large amounts and high frequencies of water changes I keep reading on this forum! Add lots of live plants; they'll make life so much easier for your betta and yourself. I convinced you can then reduce your changes to, at least, once a week and in much smaller amounts.

The thing that makes large water changes safe is doing them frequently before the tank water gets too different from your tap water.

 

Other live plants to consider are vallisnera, crypts, swords and java moss, very little to no maintenence for all of them in my experience.

moss balls, water sprite, Anubias are good Betta tank plants as well.

moss balls, water sprite, Anubias are good Betta tank plants as well.

If you can get a Betta leaf for him, I think he may appreciate it as Bettas love to rest close to the surface.

 

The thing that makes large water changes safe is doing them frequently before the tank water gets too different from your tap water

If tap water is the benchmark for aquarium water, then I understand. But doing a 80% water change every other day, as mentioned for instance in this thread, makes it impossible to create soft, slightly acidic water, most fish in the hobby, including betta's, prefer. By adding lots of plants, water changes can be reduced dramatically, making it possible to create preferable water conditions and periphyton to establish. Could be worth taking into consideration.