Saturday, December 14, 2013

Betta Fish checklist - Do I have it all?

Betta Fish checklist - Do I have it all?
Today I have done some mega research, and I feel very confident about my future as a betta owner. My poor Rosario is in his little bowl right now, but it'll all be fixed up soon! I have created a checklist of all that I think I will need in order for me to do this right and for him to be happy. But I would really love it if you all could take a look and tell me if what I have picked out is appropriate. I will provide links and names. =) Overall Set up - 10 gallon glass aquarium; the ones you find at Walmart. It has been used before and held up well. Not in bad condition at all, just a few waterspots. (I already have it.) - Hood: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3730+13447&pcatid=13447 OR http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3730+3792&pcatid=3792 I'm sort of against the last one because of how small that stupid door is, and because it doesn't mention if there is a cut out for a filter or heater. It doesn't need to come with a light. - Filter: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=3940 I'll be going with the Biofilter 3, since it is for tanks up to 15 gallons. (But I find it weird that they are the same price...) - Air Pump: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=3724 I'll be getting model # 50. - Vinyl Airline tubing: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=6124 Which and how much should I get? The price jumps from $2.59 to $38.99, then $5.99. I don't think I'll need the $38.99 one... - Heater/Thermometer: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=3635560 Is this good? I think it says it includes a thermometer, but it may just be referring to presetting temps. -Gravel: I have gravel that is still in that aquarium I'll be using. It's been outside for a long time, and it isn't the whitest gravel around anymore... Should I just go ahead and get new gravel? - Decorations: I'll get these as I roam around PetSmart and Walmart. Cycling - Ammonia & Nitrite testing kit: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4345+13524&pcatid=13524 Since a nitrate testing kit isn't exactly mandatory, I don't think I will be purchasing it unless I magically find extra money lying around. :p - Pure ammonia - Computer on how to go through with the fishless cycling process - I do have an established tank, so should I take anything from there and put it in my tank, like some gravel? If so, how much? Other Information The reason I don't need a light is because I have enough light in my room for my betta to have a sense of day and night, and I won't be keeping live plants at first. Later on, I would really like to get live plants and eventually a light to add to the hood. I read that a reading/desk lamp would suffice for providing enough light for the plant, right? And I read from many sources that bettas don't NEED a light directly over them in their tank. Also, I am on limited funds, since I am only fourteen years old. I am too young to have a job to make money, so I won't be able to afford the most top notch things for Rosario, but I am going to do whatever I can to get him what he needs. I do have some money and plans right now to pay for this, but I might still spend a little more than I have. (I could sort of pay my mom off with $175, but it's a tad confusing on how it would all work. xD Sometimes she is generous and will just let some of it slide if it's cheap) Anyways, if you have suggestions of cheaper, but still efficient products PLEASE let me know! (Especially the tank hood!) To anyone who is actually taking the time to read all of my post, I can't thank you enough. I want to do this right and need all the help I can get, and opinions so I don't start ordering products that work like poo. Black Kat - Oops! I forgot to add dechlorinator and siphon to the list because we already have both of those things for the other tank, so I figured I could just use that. I'll be sure to get a thermometer. ^^ Whitney W. - I will most likely have to get a hood because my cats like to come in my room when my rats are in their cage. I can keep it off whenever my cats aren't in my room though, so I suppose the small door isn't an issue. Just as long as it has the cut-out and provides a bit of protection. My other tank is 26 gallons I think, so I can definately get some water from there and put it in to try and jumpstart the bacteria growth. ;) TetraLin - A lot of people are starting to do fishless cycles now, and there are lots of things about it that show up on google. The high amount of ammonia and nitrites are really bad for the fish, as I'm sure you know, and result in death or a shorter lifespan. I really don't want to hurt him any more than he has been in this life. -Cont- I'll see if I can get some Prime and add stuff from my other tank into this one to help it all, and maybe I can add him into the new tank sooner.
Fish - 7 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
sounds good. very nice and elaborate. to be honest i did not look at the links, but it seems you are a very caring pet owner. hat tank could hold more than just a betta(perhaps some tetras...)you ddon'treally need a hood.....just keep the water level lower.no, the old gravel is fine.to be honest, the ammonia and nitrite stuff IS pretty unecessary unless for finicky fish.....or delicate,sensitive ones.Betta'swill do fine pretty much anywhere.just use the same water from the established tank is fine.also, dont get an air pump if the filter makes bubbles.it is just a waste, escpecially as a betta can breathe air(they breathe air 1/2 the time and in water the other half)
2 :
It looks like you've put a lot of thought into your list. The only items that I didn't see which I would recommend are water conditioner for removing chlorine, a siphon for cleaning, and a separate thermometer. You might already have the first 2 from your old tank. The thermometer with the heater is just to set the temperature, it doesn't hurt to have one where you can see the actual temperature of the water. Just in case your heater stops working or you forget to plug it back in after a water change. It can happen. Both of the hoods have places on the back that you can cut out or that will pop out for a filter. But once they're broken off, they would have to be taped or glued back on, so be sure of where you want the filter to be before you make the hole. You can look at ads on Freecycle.com or craigslist.com, you might find free or cheap equipment on those. Or read the ads in your newspaper or the papers they have free at supermarkets for selling and trading stuff.
3 :
Your check list sounds great! You have it all. I used have two beta fish of my own(in two tanks). I would go with the 5.99 tubing, the heater does not have a thermometer so I would get one and you don't need lots of gravel 1 cm deep should do. Hope your beta fish loves his new home!
4 :
The second hood is sold at Walmart as well (I have it on one of my 10 gallons). It does have cutouts. If you are only keeping a Betta in the tank, you don't really need a hood as they are not jumpers (as long as you don't have cats that like to drink out of your tanks like me ;) ). You could also go with a plain glass hood. If you don't like that one, this one: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754548 is cheaper than your 1st selection. The filter and pump are fine, and you only need the $2.59 tubing (unless you are planning on placing the pump really far away). Personally, I'd go with an all in one filter like this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753028 or this: http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752295 (in the 10 gal. size), both cheaper than the combined price of your pump and filter...but that's me. The heater is fine. Get new gravel. How big is your other tank? You can take about a cup (or more if it's bigger than 10 gallons) and put it under the new gravel (or mixed if it's the same color), that should give you enough bacteria to be able to put Rosario in his new tank in very short order. Kudos to you for wanting to take care of your fish so well!!! Good luck!
5 :
Just a few comments. 1) You don't need the pure ammonia. Put Rosario in the tank and he'll provide the ammonia for you. It's not a fishless cycle, and of course, not the ideal, but a bigger tank will help dilute some of the ammonia and nitrite. Just carry out daily water changes of about 15% until ammonia and nitrite read 0ppm and, if you can afford it, get a bottle of ammonia remover such as Prime to keep the ammonia and nitrite away from the fish. 2) Add dechloronator to your list, otherwise the filter will NEVER mature and the chlorine from the tap water will build up in his gills. 3) The nitrate test IS important - for 2 reasons. a) Because it's the end product of the cycle, so without it, you'd never really know when the cycle was complete. And, b) because nitrate is still a toxin - it's still harmful to fish if it's over 40ppm. The test kit you've chosen is the best on the market, but you might find it cheaper to go on ebay and get this: http://cgi.ebay.com/Freshwater-Master-Aquarium-Test-Kit-API-6-Unique-Tests_W0QQitemZ290283755234QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item290283755234&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50 It's the same thing, but you get all the tests you need. 4) The heater has a thermostat - not a thermometer. The thermostat reacts to the temperature of the surrounding water and turns the heater on/off. It's still better to get the thermometer :-) As for the hood, I have one for my betta tank, but I only put it on the tank when my brother's dog comes round (mainly because she's out of control), and Hughey's never made any attempt to jump out of the tank. Just keep the water quality as high as possible and provide him with plants/ornaments to hide in, and he should be fine. If you're really worried, get a condensation tray to go over the top. You could get the hood later. EDIT// I'm currently fishlessly cycling a 4ft tank myself so am well aware of the proposed method, and in any other scenario, I would be the first to recommend the fishless cycle. My point was, considering that you have a fish in "a small container", presumably without heater or filter, that you have from your friend the fish will be much better off in a 10gal heated and filtered (if not yet cycled) tank, than in the container he is currently in. Oh - and a tank will cycle on even a tiny amount of ammonia and nitrite. The emphasis on the cycle with fish is keeping ammonia down as much as possible. If you get the Prime, which will bind the ammonia and the nitrite up and keep them away from the fish, there's no reason you can't put him in the tank straight away. Otherwise, he's going to continue to suffer in a tiny bowl until the 10gal is cycled.
6 :
I agree with the above poster, an internal filter like this ; http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3579+3632&pcatid=3632 will be better and cheaper than the air driven set and will be quieter if the tank is where you sleep! You don't need to spend on a hood but can use a sheet of glass or Plexiglas cut to size. A hood is to hold a light and pointless if you aren't using lighting. With a clear top you can aim a desk lamp for visibility for cleaning. Fishless cycling is the way to go but you can use a cocktail shrimp instead of bottled ammonia. In your situation I would forget fishless cycling as Rosario will fare better in 10 gallons of water with daily changes than in a small bowl while the tank cycles. Keep an eye on the readings and keep a bucket of water prepared ready to change. As you already have a filtered tank it can donate some bacteria to the new one. Just squeeze some of the filter gunge onto the new filter.
7 :
i would do without the air pump and tubing (you save $15!!) because bettas are anabantoids meaning they can breath from the surface and don't need air pumps to agitate the water. for the lid, i would get the second one since it's cheaper and the small opening isn't a big problem. the only time i need a bigger one is when i do my weekly water changes and i just simply take the lid off for that. cycling -i would get a nitrate and ammonia tester instead because then you know if the cycling has started (ammonia) and when it has ended (when nitrates chow up) - for the established tank, it'd be best to put one of the sponges into the new tank. that would almost instantly cycle the tank. you could also put as much gravel as you want. http://bettacare101.googlepages.com



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