How To Clean A Betta Fish Tank With A Filter

Betta fish are stunning, and one fish that near anyone would recognize.

They are not the easiest fish in the world to own and take intendance of properly, but they are worth every problem you might take.

If you have betta fish, or are thinking virtually getting some, and need to know how to clean their tank, you've come up to the right place.

Here, nosotros will get through what betta fish are, what they similar in their tank and general environment, and how to make clean their tank.

What are Betta Fish?

Betta fish, or Siamese Fighting Fish, are from Southeast Asia.

They thrive in tropical climates and would live in locations such as rice paddies in countries like Thailand.

Because of their natural habitat, which recedes during the dry out season, these beautiful fish have a labyrinth organ.

This organ allows them to become oxygen not only through the water, merely as well in the air.

These fish become their name considering of their territorial nature, which was actually exploited in fish fights in the 19th century.

In the early 20th century, these fish were introduced to the United States and became immensely pop.

While these fish are normally a brownish or green with shorter fins in their natural habitat, the bettas nosotros tin can buy at the pet store today are very different.

Now, they volition be colorful, and have stunning, elaborate fins to grab our attention.

Every bit a general rule, these fish can live for 2-four years if they are cared for properly.

Surroundings and Tank Contents

Betta fish are a type of tropical fish, and then it goes without saying that they need heaters to maintain their preferred temperature.

While this isn't something they typically care about, it is something that many people forget most, and so it is worth mentioning.

There are some of import rules to follow when you lot have betta fish, and they are as follows:

Tropical temperatures – since these fish hail from Southeast Asia, they need to constantly be in temperatures betwixt 76-81 °F (24-27 °C). The majority of people do not accept homes that range within this temperature, so if you desire your fish to exist happy and comfortable, a heater is a must.

Large tanks – a betta fish's tank should never be whatsoever smaller than 5 gallons (19 liters). Although these fish are soften sold in smaller bowls, they require the infinite to swim around, so they don't become stressed.

Tank depth – every bit a general rule, betta fish should not be in tanks any deeper than 12 inches (30 cm). This is because these fish may struggle to reach the water'southward surface if they are put in deeper tanks. Since these fish like to residue on the surface, they need to exist able to get in that location, and their fins are not every bit powerful equally many other fish. To make it easier for them, they should reside in relatively shallow tanks.

Weak currents – since betta fish have their elaborate fins and aren't potent swimmers like many other fish, they adopt to live in at-home waters. If they are put in rough waters with strong currents, they will struggle to swim and fifty-fifty tear their beautiful fins.

Cannibal diet – betta fish are naturally carnivores, and would east larva and insects in their natural habitat. Because of this, you lot need to feed your bettas the fish nutrient they demand, which is ordinarily in the class of flakes or pellets. Yous tin also give them treats that are high in protein like alkali shrimp or bloodworms, merely these need to be given in moderation, or y'all will brand your bettas fat.

Females like friends – betta fish can happily alive solitary, simply they can besides be with other fish, and female bettas can exist with other females. Male bettas are likely to fish one some other, or any other fish that resembles them, only the females are typically docile enough to be some a few of their own kind. If you have a male betta, they don't have to be in a tank lonely, either. You can pair them with creatures like snails, ghost shrimp, and African dwarf frogs and bottom-home fish so long as they have small fins.

What Should Go into a Betta Fish Tank?

Alive plants are great – having live plants in the fish tank your bettas are in is great for them and the environment. These fish like to remainder on the leaves and made expert apply of the plants to get away from other living things when they don't feel similar socializing.

Toys and other stimulating features – bettas practise well when they have things to exercise inside their tank. A popular betta amusement choice are things like logs, pocket-sized balls (like ping pong assurance), caves, and hammocks. These fish like to explore the earth around them, so it'southward a great thought if you lot give them something interesting to explore, similar caves made out of safe (and smooth) materials.

Smooth gravel – because of their cute but delicate fins, bettas should be in tanks with polish gravel. This volition reduce the risk of them injuring themselves.

How to Make clean a Betta Fish Tank?

Cleaning a betta tank is no different to cleaning whatsoever other fish tank.

Like whatever other species of fish, bettas will produce waste material, which volition need to be cleaned weekly.

There are a few tank hygiene tips that should exist followed every week to maintain a healthy surround in your aquarium:

Weekly h2o alter – you should do a 10-fifteen% h2o change every week, which will help keep the tank cleaner and looking bang-up.

Go rid of any organic waste – yous should get rid of any dead leaves (or fish) the moment y'all come across information technology in the water. Any uneaten nutrient and fish waste matter yous run across should exist removed from the tank.

Keep the tank out of direct sunlight and limit bogus calorie-free – algae will thrive in conditions with strong light. Your tank should never exist by a window, and the artificial lights should never be on for more than x hours a day.

Limit the food – you should only feed your fish every bit much every bit they can eat in around v minutes. Uneaten food will just cause problems for you and the fish down the line. Y'all can skip feeding for a twenty-four hours to ensure that your fish consume the nutrient they have left.

To clean your betta fish tank finer, follow these steps:

Gear up the water for the water change ahead of fourth dimension – get the water you lot are going to practise the water transfer with prepared ahead of time. You should try to get it to the correct temperature for the tank, and if y'all are using tap water, go out information technology out for several hours. Leaving the water out for 24-48 hours volition give plenty time for the chemicals information technology contains to evaporate. If yous don't have time to await for the chemicals to evaporate naturally, apply a water conditioner and then that the chemicals get neutralized.

Transfer the fish somewhere prophylactic for the cleaning – prepare a bowl for the fish within the tank. The bowl should exist filled with tank water, then gently scoop them out. They will stay in the bowl until the cleaning procedure is done.

Remove all decorations from the tank – take everything out of the tank and put them in a bowl of water large enough to contain them. They will probably take to be cleaned as well.

Transfer tank h2o into some other container of sorts – you will have to scoop the h2o yous intend to keep for the water commutation into another container. Afterward the tank has been cleaned, this is the water that you will be adding dorsum in.

Get rid of the water you want to change – the remaining water should exist poured out. You lot won't be needing this. While doing this, utilize a sieve or something to that issue to catch all the gravel at the lesser of the tank. Add together this gravel to bowl of decorations.

Make clean all decorations and furniture – utilize warm h2o and NO SOAP. A soft castor should be enough to get any dirt off the decorations, and even the smallest amount of lather (even if rinsed well) can negatively bear upon your fish. Set the cleaned decorations aside when you're washed.

Go the gravel clean – apply warm water and your hands to loosen any dirt that has accumulated on the gravel. Keep doing this until the gravel looks clean, and once again Practice Non use soap.

Clean the tank thoroughly – apply warm water to make clean the tank. Exit your tank cleaning equipment (clean sponges and brushes) and get all the dirt out. Brand certain that you aren't too crude and get every corner of the tank. When it looks clean, rinse it out with warm water once again.

Put all the gravel, decorations, and furniture back in the tank – pour the gravel dorsum into the tank and spread it out evenly across the bottom. Add the decorations and accessories and arrive look cute for your fish. When this is done, call up to reattach the tech or other miscellaneous items used in the tank like heaters, thermometers, and filters.

Refill the tank and mix the sometime and new water – go the tank water that you put aside and carefully pour it dorsum in. Brand sure that yous don't disturb the decorations or gravel that you just put in. Later on that, add the fresh water y'all prepared at the beginning and mix it together. Test the pH levels and temperature to make sure it is perfect for your bettas.

Add your betta fish – finally – add your bettas! Get the bowl the fish is in and put it in the tank advisedly, then tilt the bowl until your fish swims out on their own. Your fish should exist happy to see their home ass shiny and new.

NOTE: never consummate a full water change when cleaning your tank!

This can exist harmful for your fish and the surround that has been congenital up in the filters and tank water.

Completing a full h2o alter will upset the balance and issue in potentially dangerous consequences.

Last Thoughts

Cleaning your betta fish tank is pretty piece of cake, and should be washed every week.

Having a clean tank will mean that your beautiful bettas will be happy and thrive in their dwelling house.

Always remember to keep some tank water when doing this, and always put your bettas in a bowl of tank water to be put bated when you're cleaning the tank.

You lot don't need anything special to make clean your betta fish tank to a high standard, and as long as y'all accept a sponge, soft brush, warm h2o and a sink, you should be practiced to go.

Make certain that you use either a brand-new sponge and brush, or use one that is strictly dedicated to cleaning your tank.

Using items that are used for other purposes (like washing the dishes) tin be hazardous to the fish and the environment of the tank.

Some central things to think:

Never do a total water change
Never apply chemicals when cleaning your tank or its contents
Ever condition your water or allow the chemicals in it to evaporate naturally (24-48 hours)
Always wash your hands with warm/hot water before cleaning your tank (no soap)
Put your fish in a bowl or container of tank water when you clean the tank
Always remember to reattach the heaters and other important devices in your fish tank

I promise this post helped you in your fish-owning journeying!

At that place is ever something new to larn when information technology comes to fish, just every bit long equally you follow the rules for each species, they are a joy to own.

Before getting any new kind of fish, do your research and find out everything you can about them.

Not all fish volition get on, and every fish will like slightly different things.

At present that you know how to clean your betta fish tank, all I can say is proficient luck cleaning!