kristaml24 Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 Hey all Ok so i have 3 brand new tanks 2x 3ft and one im not to sure about as it was given to me as a gift anyways i have heaters , filters , gravel , decorations , lights etc but im unsure about water treatments and what i need to do with the water before i add my bettas I dont want to stress my bettas out anymore than necessery or put them in untreated water so i was just wondering how you guys go about treating the water before the fish can finally settle into their new homes. even if there is a list of stuff i should buy and do i would greatly appreciate it as i only want to make my little guys happy Any advice is most welcome to this newbie :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BettaBetta Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 I swear by Seachem Prime. Search for "aquarium and/or tank cycling" and then also go the google route - it'll probably do your head in, but is well worth getting it done without the fish in there ... she says running around with test-tubes in hand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 Kudos to you for investigating this before adding fish! You're going to keep bettas in a 3' tank? There are some useful articles about the ammonia cycle at www.ausaqua.net You need a good dechlorinator, Prime is a good one. I would also add Indian Almond Leaf or extract. Get an ammonia test kit and do water changes as necessary to keep ammonia levels at 0. OR do a fishless cycle beforehand. Age the water (literally) for 24 hours before use, ideally with an airstone, or even better, use rain water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristaml24 Posted April 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 At the moment these are the only tanks i have and there will only be one betta in each ( obviously ) lol Or should i be investing in a different size tank? as i said i am very new at this and would like to get it right so any advice is most welcomed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 I think your bettas will love all the space! It's just a huge amount of room for a betta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristaml24 Posted April 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 Ahh yeah i thought they might appreciate the space I do however have plans to possibly split the tanks maybe still considering the possibilty But for now they can enjoy the room! Thanks also fo the advice! Also heard of stress coat? Wondering what thoughts on that is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 waste of time, lol. Stick with indian almond leaf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristaml24 Posted April 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 ok awesome now to find all this stuff!!!!!!!!! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BettaBetta Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 You'll find the IAL in here in classifieds, either from Jeff & Wan or someone. I have other fish in with all my Betta boys, in tanks ranging from 13L's to 25L's (a darn site smaller than yours) and they're as happy as Larry. There's quite a few suitable tank mates for Bettas, especially in tanks the size of yours :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristaml24 Posted April 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 OOhh wow ok Im a little wary of putting other fish in with my boys lol mainly due to the fact im not 100% sure on what would be most suitable to be honest Yeah i know its a little roomie lol but as i got the tanks for practically next to nothing i wasnt bout to pass them up as i am looking at splitting them as well but thats a whole new project all togeather though i will have to take plenty of pics once i am all set up If you dont mind me asking to you have any tank mates for your bettas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BettaBetta Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 It depends on the tank & the particular Boy concerned, but we have a Betta, 3 Molly's, 3 Platy's, 3 Cory's & 8 Neons (they're all in an 80L Hex together). In my 20/26L tanks I'll pop in, say, 10 x Neons & a Betta, or, a Betta, a couple of Molly's & some albino Cory's. I have no troubles at all and none of my boys mind the albino Cory's which are fabulous little tank scavengers & funny as a fit to watch. Oh, my boys also leave Mystery Snails well alone too, in fact they use them to lean all over, although one of my girlfriend's boys nipped at her snail's long antenna thingies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristaml24 Posted April 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 ooohh ok think ill definitly have to look into that then do you have plants? lol sorry for the million and one questions lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BettaBetta Posted April 20, 2010 Report Share Posted April 20, 2010 Smiles, no-one here minds questions Yes I have anubias on diftwood, java fern I tied to wood, java moss tied on to rocks & am also trying some moss via attachment with silicone, subwassertang (my all time fave although it's so ruddy hard to keep it together as it has no roots) & other plants I bought from someone's shop that I can't remember the names of - plants & I don't get along so I never remember their names. Oh, and banana lillies, love them, they go mad & they're as cheap as chips too, usually around $1.50 ea & quickly become a pest that you have to pluck (they look like pretty water lily pads with dark maroon edges floating on the top of your tank). Don't be too fussed with buying drift wood from local pet stores or aquariums, they can charge you $20 for a teeny, weeny piece, same goes for creek type larger rocks. Collect your own & then boil the bejeebers out of it at home to kill bugs. Most wood (drift & bog)will make your water a "tea" colour (same as IAL will) but not a bad thing at all for Betta's. If you run Seachem Purigen in your filter that'll clear the colour of the tank right up & "polish" your water to a gobsmacking level of stunningness. Hurry up, we are waiting for photos lol! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted April 21, 2010 Report Share Posted April 21, 2010 how are the tannins helpful if you remove them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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