Need help resetting tank.

Hello, I came back home to find my betta boy who was treated for dropsy and fin rot face down in the plants, dead. He didn't make it. After the sadness and anger went away, I am thinking how can I use his 5.5 gallon to house a new betta. Life must go on, and it will help ease the pain by adopting another.

I do wonder however if I need to throw out the plants, gravel etc to clean the tank from potential bacteria, and what should I do with the sponge filter. Like how would I be able to sterilize that. Also, I am aware that Dropsy could be anything, and that those gram negative bacteria only affect fish whose immune system has went down hill. I don't know what to do. Tear down the tank or do a few 100% water changes before I add a new fish. Any ideas?

 

personally I would do one or two 100% water changes and let the tank set for a week or so.

after that I wouldn’t worry about it, there isn’t any need to get rid of the plants and gravel IMO

 

Thanks, that sounds good. Wouldn't know if it would be safe to tear it down and put bleach in the tank as I have read online. That sounds too extreme since the immune system of a fish would be sole determining factor if it comes down with a disease or not.

 

You would also have to start from scratch and cycle the tank again if you bleach it. The bacteria you are worried about are everywhere.

The best approach for a healthy fish is to provide pristine conditions. I disaggree that the fish's immune system is the sole factor. Chronic stress from any number of things in the aquarium can weaken the immune system and lead to disease susceptibility.

And because we don't know anything about any particular fish's immune system when we buy it, we need to give it the best conditions possible to insure it's well being.

 

You would also have to start from scratch and cycle the tank again if you bleach it. The bacteria you are worried about are everywhere.

The best approach for a healthy fish is to provide pristine conditions. I disaggree that the fish's immune system is the sole factor. Chronic stress from any number of things in the aquarium can weaken the immune system and lead to disease susceptibility.

And because we don't know anything about any particular fish's immune system when we buy it, we need to give it the best conditions possible to insure it's well being.

Yeah I agree. I was referring to the water quality weakening the immune system of the fish. 5.5 gallons need more maintenance than larger tanks. If you slip behind on them it can lead to the fish comming down with dropsy.