New tank for Lilex

YAY! I finally bought Lilex his new 5 GALLON tank today! He will be so happy. It is complete with filter and heater!! WOOHOO!!!


Is there anything I need to do with the setup before I put him in it? I know I need to condition the water and all. Does the tank have to run first or what?

Please help as I do not want to kill my baby!!!!


Thanks!!
Kelly ;D

 

We usually run a new tank for 24 hours to get the "new" off of it and the bubbles out of the water and all before the fish go in. I am guessing you have a piece of old filter to put in the filter for him perhaps...(from your other tank)? That will cycle the filter for you.

He will be so happy!!! He will probably just hang in the center of the tank for a while taking it all in and then go WILD!!!! The first few days they have all that room are the most fun!!! Just turn off the TV and line up your easy chair in front of the tank, he will keep you entertained.

Rose

 

OK.... I will run the tank overnight...


I do not have any filter piece as he has been in an unfiltered tank .... any other suggestions?


I appreciate your help!!

 

Your other tank doesn't have a filter? I thought you had another tank that was already cycled. If you do you can take a chunk of the filter media out of that tank and put in the filter of the new tank and it will cycle it for you. Are your filters Bio-wheels or what kind? If they are bio-wheels on both tanks, just take the filter cartridge from the old tank and put in the the new tank and the bio-wheel will seed from it in about a week. Just put the new cartridge in the old tank as the bio-wheel is where the bacteria is for that tank anyway. The filter cartridge from the old tank will have enough bacteria on it to do the cycle for you very quickly. Just test the water daily until the cycle is complete but it probably won't take much more than a week if that long.

Rose

 

I do have another tank that has a filter in it. That is where my snails and frog are. The two filters are not compatible. The old filter is a bio-wheel (I think) and the new one is a bio-bag (whisper) ... I was hesitating about taking anything from the other tank as it is FULL of algae right now because when we had a cold snap I had to change from fluorescent bulbs to regular bulbs and it created more algae.

Also, I've set the heater temperature for 80 degrees ... is that about right?


I can't wait to get Lilex in that tank. His bowl has some algae in it too from the change in light. I thought about cleaning him tonight but I didn't know if I should clean him tonight and then transfer him tomorrow ... would that stress him out?

Sorry for all the questions .. I just want to do this right. I'm kinda nervous about going from a bowl to a tank since he has been used to the bowl even though I know the tank will be better for him! :-\

 

Well he will just have to cycle the tank himself unless you want to do the next best thing and make a small bag of used gravel from the other tank in a little sock or small cloth bag of some sort. (gravel is a bacteria bed also) I know you do not want to transfer the algae but it will be so much better than to have the little guy do the cycle all by himself. That would be stressful on him. The bacteria grows the fastest at 80 - 82 degrees so 80 is okay but no cooler or it will hamper your cycle.

You can always clean a fish, it is a treat for them not stressful. He will do fine and think he has gone to fishie heaven when he gets another clean water bath tomorrow.

The only way this could be better for him and I know this would be hard, is to cycle the tank before you put him in there. This would mean that he would need to stay in the bowl for a while yet. I used the ammonia method (Option 3 on the Fishless Cycle section at https://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm) It took me about 8 days to cycle the tank with pure ammonia. It is clean and easy. Just "feed" the tank a few drops of ammonia (unscented like you clean windows with) once a day and do the tests for ammonia, nitrite, and then after nitrites are present you start to check for nitrates. When the ammonia is 0, nitrites are 0, and the nitrates are 20 or below your tank is cycled and you do a 30 - 50% water change and then you are set!

I hope this helps.

Rose

 

Well, I think I will try the "gravel bag" idea. I really don't want my baby in that bowl any longer now that I've got the tank. I hope that isn't selfish of me. :-\


I will also clean him. I'm glad it won't be stressful for him.


I am so thankful that you were online tonight and could answer my questions! Thanks Rose!! I'll post pictures of my boy when he's all set up in his new tank!!!!!!!!


Thanks again,
Kelly

 

Thanks, Kelly! I am glad I was on tonight to help if I did. I will look forward to the pictures.

You are going to have a lot of water testing ahead but the tank is still going to be excellent for him. I envy you the experience...I love watching them get used to their tanks.

Time to say "good night".

Rose

 

It sounds like chickadee has typically told you all that you need to know...you couldn't have a better advisor about setting up a betta tank since she's done it so many times.

 

I also used the "gravel method" to cycle my 5 gallon when I got it. I just got a new clean glass bowl from the dollar store, placed some gravel from one of my other tanks in it and placed it in the tank. I also used a few pieces of BioMax media from a filter in my other tank and just placed it in my new filter. The tank cycled in 4 days. Don't worry about algae. Just keep the gravel separate from your new gravel. It's only going to be in there for a few days.
You can keep one fish in there during the cycle if you do constant testing and water changes (10-20%) every day. I tested 3 times a day. It isn't the best method but if you are very vigilant about the testing and water changes it works. All my fish cycled their own tank though with the third tank I had cycled media to seed it with and it went MUCH faster.
Best solution, if you are in the US you can get some BioSpira and cycle it right away. This is what I would use if I could. I am in Canada so unfortunately we can't get it here.

 

I also used the the old gravel that was in his 1 gallon tank along with some gravel just to fill it in better, but it was cycled in 24 hours which really surprised me. I was expecting it to take a week, but I was glad it cycled in just a day. I'm glad Rose was online for you last night to have your questions answered. She is such a great advisor for Bettas. Natalie

 

Thank you everyone for your feedback. Lilex is not in the tank yet as the heater has not reached its temperature. The package said it could take 12 hours to achieve the desired temperature. Luckily, Lilex is not in NEED of his tank at the moment, he is fine where he is ... I just can't to get him in there. I think he will enjoy it SOOOOOOO much!!!


Thank you again!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND YOURS!!!!!


--Kelly

 

Congratulations on your new tank.  I am sure Lilex will love it.  We will also want pictures after you get it set up.

CherryRose

 

OK. HE'S IN!!! He's still getting used to the current as his old tank was still water. He's definitely liking it, though!!


Here is the best picture that has ever been taken of him!!!



-- Kelly

 

WOW, Kelly, are you going to enter that photo in the fish picture contest for next month!!!?? I sure hope so! That is one very Beautiful Betta and one Great Picture of HIM.

I am so glad that he likes it. If the currents and water movement become a problem we had a suggestion on how to damper the flow a bit so you may be able to lower the currents some if they become a problem. Most really healthy bettas develop stronger body muscles being in some current so he may "fatten" up a bit and become stronger by having some water movement to challenge him, but not so much that he gets discouraged and won't try.

Have a fine time watching him and again, he is a lovely betta boy. LILEX, you could melt the girls hearts for sure, you devil you.

Happy New Year

Rose

 

Ooooooh.  He is absolutely gorgeous!  I love his color and the picture. 

Lilex, my fish are very happy to welcome such a handsome boy.  Be good to your mommy now and build those strong muscles as you battle the current.  You truly are a heartbreaker, and my girls are happily waving ther fins hoping to get your attention. :-* :-*

CherryRose

 

Really nice picture...that also captures the betta in action. You rarely see a good picture of that, one of the things that makes having one fascinating.

 

Thanks, Rose! I didn't know there was a fish picture contest! I'll have to take some more pictures so that I can have more to choose from!!!! He is getting a lot better with his swimming around and he finally has a long leafy plant that reaches to the top of the tank and he has spent most of his time resting there. I am so glad that he is happy with the tank! He is a heartbreaker, for sure!!


Thanks Cherry and Poe for your comments as well. I love my little guy and he absolutely captivates and fascinates me. I could watch him all day long!!!


HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

 

((divakeeks))

You have an incredibly beautiful Betta!! Awesome pic too. What kind of camera do you use? (I SOO want a dig camera...sigh).

I second the entering into the fish pic contest!!

Lilex is one lucky Betta...the looks, the tank and a great mom...what more could a Betta ask for (other than more brine shrimp, heh)

Congradulations on getting him into a bigger tank. Makes for such a nice life for them.

 

Here is the place for the tank and fish pictures. They can be entered when you have a gallery set up. It is easy to do and you transfer the pictures in just like you would to post. Have a good time!!

Rose

 

He is so beautiful!! And that is an awesome pic!! He definitely loves his new home. Hope it cycles ok for you.

 

Thank you so much everyone for your comments. Lilex continues to LOVE his tank!! I believe it is cycling just fine. Lilex has found himself a home in his plant. He likes to sleep there a lot! he also has found a spot to sit and get his food when he sees me pick up the package of pellets. It is amazing how much happier he seems in this new tank. he is more active, he eats better ... what an amazing thing! I wish I could have done this earlier for him!!!!!


I'm definitely going to check into that gallery thing!!!

 

Lilex is very beautiful indeed. That is an awsome picture of him too. I wish Mr. Red would pose like that for me. Have fun watching him explore his new tank. Natalie

 

Oh, Kelly, PLEEEAAASSEEEE enter the second picture in that post of the little fellow and his reflection. I would love to have that picture for my Greeting Cards, it is absolutely stunning!!

He seems so active (witness picture #1 ) and happy that I am thrilled for you both.

We want to hear stories when they happen.

Lilex, are you even half as happy as you look?? ;D Such fun...

Rose

 

I think Lilex is getting a big head over all of these comments!!! Thanks again!


I think I've entered the pictures correctly... we'll see, I guess!!!!


Lilex and I are having a lot of fun with his new tank. he just needs some more "stuff" ... it looks rather empty!

 

Those are incredible pictures!!! The first one is an awesome shot, and the second pic is just stunning. I don't know how you do it!

 

Thanks! I believe it is just luck of the draw, really. My boyfriend has been taking most of the pictures lately. The new tank helps a TON as it is clearer than his old one and the camera doesn't glare as much.


I'm loving the new pics, too!!!!!!!