Should my filter be making bubbles?

hi,
I just recently purchased a 5 gallon for my betta, he seems to like it but the filter that came with the tank is quite slow. it doesn’t make any bubbles
he keeps hanging out near the filter which is making me nervous the filter isn’t providing enough oxygen
I do have some water wisteria floating in the tank
do I need a stronger filter or a bubbler? or does he just simply like chilling by the flow?

 

Hi lindsayennett,
Did you add an ammonia source for weeks before adding the fish? Does the tank have a full working nitrogen cycle?

 

unfortunately i’m doing a fish-in cycle as I did not do enough research until after I got my betta
I have the master test kit, prime conditioner, and i’m gonna do 25% water changes every two days or if I see the ammonia or nitrite spiking.
he’s been in his tank for two days now. ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0 and nitrates are 5.0

 

unfortunately i’m doing a fish-in cycle as I did not do enough research until after I got my betta
I have the master test kit, prime conditioner, and i’m gonna do 25% water changes every two days or if I see the ammonia or nitrite spiking.
he’s been in his tank for two days now. ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0 and nitrates are 5.0

I would definitely get a small sponge filter

 

do I use the sponge filter instead of the filter that’s attached to the tank or do I use them both?

 

do I use the sponge filter instead of the filter that’s attached to the tank or do I use them both?

What is the current filter?

 

i’m actually not quite sure..
it just came with the tank I got already installed I just had to plug it in.
Topfin dazzle aquarium I think, 5 gallon

 

i’m actually not quite sure..
it just came with the tank I got already installed I just had to plug it in.
Topfin dazzle aquarium I think, 5 gallon

Could you send a picture? Actually nevermind I found a pic online. Use both a sponge filter and current filter

 

if needed I can pull it out and take a picture

 

N

View attachment 814940View attachment 814941if needed I can pull it out and take a picture

No it’s fine, get a sponge filter, these integrated filters often don’t provide enough filtration

 

will he be okay for a few days until I get paid?

 

will he be okay for a few days until I get paid?

Ya ya this is more a upgrade not urgent

 

To answer the original question, as long as there is some surface agitation (ie movement of the surface of the water) created by the filter then the water should be sufficiently oxygenated - you do not need to see air bubbles to ensure that the water has oxygen in it. Live plants will also be playing their part too.

 

To answer the original question, as long as there is some surface agitation (ie movement of the surface of the water) created by the filter then the water should be sufficiently oxygenated - you do not need to see air bubbles to ensure that the water has oxygen in it. Live plants will also be playing their part too.

While cycling extra oxygenation is a good idea though.

 

I have the same tank and filter which is really slow. Definitely add a small sponge filter or at least an air bubbler. Welcome to Fishlore, you will find all the answers you need here.

 

I did notice my betta breathes from the surface quite a bit
when he swims he will often swim slow and randomly shoot forward like an inch or so and swim normally again
he doesn’t seem like he’s having trouble swimming at all though
could be nothing but I don’t wanna take any chances
any advice?

here is a link to a video of him doing it

 

I did notice my betta breathes from the surface quite a bit
when he swims he will often swim slow and randomly shoot forward like an inch or so and swim normally again
he doesn’t seem like he’s having trouble swimming at all though
could be nothing but I don’t wanna take any chances
any advice?

here is a link to a video of him doing it

No my betta does that sometimes too , funky fella

 

while my tank is cycling should I siphon all the waste from the sand or do I just leave it and do water changes to keep ammonia down?

 

while my tank is cycling should I siphon all the waste from the sand or do I just leave it and do water changes to keep ammonia down?

I'd do it the same time.

 

What is often written is to vacuum the sand from a distance of 1/2 inch or so . Hovering over the sand at the right distance will pick up solids ( poop) without disturbing the sand. Later when the tank is cycled we push the vacuum deep into the substrate to pull solid from deep down.

When short of time it’s essential to change water. When cycling you are changing water so often there is no need to vacuum the waste every time. Deep vacuuming or any basic solid removal is not always necessary when the tank is cycled with many species and depending on your stocking. Obviously a big 10 inch fish is going to drop some big solids that don’t look nice at a dinner party.

A link to deep vacuuming for you to learn the two handed style you will use later. Having two hands on the vacuum is a good way of avoiding sucking up fish at the last minute . A good technique to practice?

See how the sand goes up and down inside the large tube?

 

hi guys.
was doing even more research as I still have stuff to learn.
I just changed about 25% of my bettas water and conditioned with prime
I was watching videos and I realized my betta has been glass surfing since I got him.
my water parameters are okay, when I checked yesterday it was 0.50,0,5.0 (the nitrate comes from my tap water)
I still have to test the water tonight
any idea why my betta is constantly rubbing his nose against the glass? he can see his reflection and sometimes flares at himself, could this be it? he does it quite often

 

hi guys.
was doing even more research as I still have stuff to learn.
I just changed about 25% of my bettas water and conditioned with prime
I was watching videos and I realized my betta has been glass surfing since I got him.
my water parameters are okay, when I checked yesterday it was 0.50,0,5.0 (the nitrate comes from my tap water)
I still have to test the water tonight
any idea why my betta is constantly rubbing his nose against the glass? he can see his reflection and sometimes flares at himself, could this be it? he does it quite often

Yes it is possible it is a reflection, but does this happen only when you are there?

 

no, that’s just how he swims, along the glass. sometimes he’ll go into the middle of his tank but just to get to the other side of the glass and rub against that one
he seems to be skiddish every time he looks at the glass
how can I make it better for him?
or will he get used to it with time

 

Is

no, that’s just how he swims, along the glass. sometimes he’ll go into the middle of his tank but just to get to the other side of the glass and rub against that one
he seems to be skiddish every time he looks at the glass
how can I make it better for him?
or will he get used to it with time

your light super bright?

 

it is kinda bright yeah
it’s an led with bright colours so it’s probably not the best light. no option to turn it down either

 

it is kinda bright yeah
it’s an led with bright colours so it’s probably not the best light. no option to turn it down either

Maybe find a way to tone it down?, wrap it in baking paper to mute the intensity of the light, or use tannins to make the tank darker and remove the reflection

 

Or use some black electric tape over some of the led lights in the bar. I saw that trick on YouTube yesterday.

 

would you say he looks healthy?

I think he had some rips in his fins when I got him, they seem to be healing slowly

would you say he looks healthy?

I think he had some rips in his fins when I got him, they seem to be healing slowly

he also swims for hours on end. just back and forth non stop for hours

 

He looks really beautiful and well taken care of to me.