Fish tank-water question

[LiquidStarlight]

Yesterday I came home to my beta (which my fiance named Gamma) on his side at the bottom of his tank. My fiance said that he had cleaned the tank earlier, and filled it up with sink water. I had only had my beta for a week, but when I set up the tank I put the water from the fish bag he was in, and mixed it with my sink water and he was perfectly fine. I think that when my fiance cleaned the tank the water had too much chlorine in it and killed the little guy.

I'll admit I haven't had fish in a loooooong time, but when I was in my teens my family had large tanks with tons of fish...I just can't remember how to take care of them. For my next fish I want to get several guppies, but I would love to avoid them dying so quickly. I'm going to buy something to put in the tank to get rid of the chlorine and let that sit for a couple of days before I introduce fish, but what should I do in the future when I clean the tank? Mix the old water with the new? Thanks for any help guys!

[Gemni]

You should only chance 2/3 of the water at a time to prevent to much of a climate chance for them. This is what I have always done, and they do fine. Hope this helps you

[LiquidStarlight]

Thanks Gemni, that's what I did when I first introduced my beta to his tank, but I guess my fiance isn't so fish savvy . Poor man, he was just trying to help . So in the future, when I'm cleaning the tank just adding some old water with the new will be fine and the chlorine won't be too much?

[Gemni]

I wouldn't think so, but if you would like to be on the safe side, 30 min before cleaning the tank just take your water that your going to be replacing the old water with and place a tablet of chlorine eliminater in it and it will be ok. You can find the tablets at wal-mart in the fishy isle

[OSUJillyBean]

Chlorine isn't the only thing in your tap water that kills fish. There's also metals and other junk. You can sit tubs of water out for 24 hours (36 - 48 to be safe) and all the unsafe junk somehow neutralizes (I don't understand it all).

Also - what did he use to clean the tank with? Never use soap or scotch-brite pads. Bleach can be used very diluted but the tank must sit out in the sun and completely dry for several hours to remove the harmful chemicals.


I always use "aquasafe" (from walmart, petco, petsmart, etc) to make my tapwater safe for my fish, but I also have very poor quality tap water (lots of minerals and old lead pipes). If you want, you can take a water sample to Petsmart and have them check it for you for nitrites, nitrates, pH, etc. They may be able to answer your questions.

[pasomystic]

Every pet store, even Walmart, has a water treatment liquid to add to tap water to remove the chlorine/chloramines and sometimes other things as well as to provide a little further protection for the fish. There are even Betta specific liquids sold everywhere Betta are sold. No one should put tap water into a fish tank without treatment unless the water has stood at least 24 hrs to dissipate the chlorine--unless they have a private well with no chlorine or impurities in the water. I use Prime from Seachem. Hagen makes several : Aqua Plus etc. Usually only a drop or two per gallon of water.

[mellowdane]

When we clean our bettas we change all the water.. it is silly to try to change 2/3 of a pint jar. The biggest problem we see is water temperature. They can shock pretty quickly and have a hard time recovering if they are chilled with water that is too cool during a water change, so use water that is sitting out to room temp or slightly warmer. We do always recommend a water conditioner if you are on a city water supply due to chlorine and heavy metals, but, many times we dont use it, especially in our bigger tanks. Letting your water sit out only adjusts water temp and allows the chlorine to evaporate, it doesn't do anything for particularly high heavy metal problems.

Chances are, since you just got him, he was stressed out, may have been too much stuff all at once. Bettas are known to be cruddy shippers and liable to stress.. so a water change right after buying him probably just stressed him out. It happens. With any of your new fish we recommend giving at least a few days with minimal food and no water changes etc just to let them aclimate. I will say, I have found guppies to be more fragile and temperature sensitive than bettas, so careful there. Good luck in whichever you choose.

[BlackMumba]

Hi, I own a online aquarium store. I recommend using Prime by Seacham to remove ammonia and other harsh chemicals in City Water.

Otherwise, if your short on cash, then let your water set out for 24 to 48 hours before water changes.

Also, you only need to change a tank 10% of the water if filtered weekly. Betta bowls and or betta's in small containers 100% only if you have a
higher ph level, higher ph levels increase the amount of ammonia.

So Basically if you have a lower ph level you would not have to do more then 50% water changes. In a unfiltered tank...

I have Too many betta's I breed them... I only change 100% water on my jar babies... and 50% on my adults... in 2.5 gal tanks un filtered... but I use R/O water 90% and 10% well water... so my PH is really low... 80% recommended every second day.

First thing when setting up a tank

You have to have your tank cycled, usually takes up to a month before introducing fish. There are products out there that speed this up Prime by Seacham, you could also add ammonia a capful to the water but MAKE SURE NO FISH are introduced. Also, add some fish food into the water...

Let it sit for a week or two (more likely two), there are tests for ammonia-nitrates etc.. I suggest purchasing them... test the levels if they all read 0.00 PPM... then you can add fish.

Why the purpose of this, there is bateria that is required for a healthy tank, this bateria eats ammonia which produces nitrates...etc... your filter system holds this bacteria.. using water from another tank, does not help cycle a tank, its the filter media (sponge, filter bag etc) so take out the old fiter bag and put into the water helps too...

Also, do you research on each type of fish... Guppies are easy to care for they breed like crazy they are a livebearer fish. I would also recommend that you should have more females then males. Or the males will stress out the females... they are also trying to mate... even with other species of fish. Those species might not like the guppies pestering them so... they will bit nip and rip the Guppies fins which can lead to infections.

I don't recommend putting a betta in with other fish, these guys are territorial and will not like other species especially Guppies...

When researching the fish you want, take note of the temp they thrive on and what will go best in the size tank you want.

a 10 gal tank will not hold goldfish... nor a pleco... (those sucker ones on the pane glass).

There is a lot of information out there regarding each type of fish your looking at. Some fish like the barbs will do well in a 10 gal tank, but barbs won't work in a community tank. They are more aggressive fish... and will kill other fish with them... so its very important to research. I hope this helps!