new 1.5 gallon tank

C

coolbluewaters

Registered Member
Oct 4, 2010
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hey, I have a few questions about my new tank. Im not really new to freshwater fish thing but am now realizing why my fish never lived very long.
question one- I have a 1.5 gallon tank with one betta, a internal filter the one where the air pump is hooked up the the bottom of the filter and pulls water up to the top going through a carbon filter cartrige, How often should I change this filter cartige, I was considering making my own with activated carbon and pillow batting. I am worried that the tank will cycle again and im going to kill my betta. I did read some about keeping filter media in the filter like those ceramic pieces to keep the bacteria in the tank.

Question 2- how often should I do the water changes from what I heard they need to be often because of how small the tank is. My betta will be in the tank one full week this coming friday. I cycled the tank with a fish in it for one week before introducing the betta, I can not get a clear answer on this...


Thanks for any advice it is greatly appreciated.
Coolbluewaters:confused:
 
Coolblue~

Well, keeping media in the tank itself, I.E. Gravel, etc, will keep your tank from mini-cycle if you replace the cartridge. A tank, cycled for a week with a fish may not be fully cycled, so invest in a liquid API test kit if you haven't already and a weekly water change should be good if it is cycled. A heater would be good too--bettas are tropical! Other than that you should be fine! Do you have any pics of Mr. Betta?? I love me some pics lol! Good Luck!!!

Maribeth
 
I would cut the pillow, remove the charcoal (not right away, but after a month or two--charcoal isn't dong harm, might as well use it up), just rinse the cartridge in tank water during water changes, and re-use the empty pillow until it physically wore out.

How did you cycle it? Either you had another fish, media from some other cycled tank, or you used liquid ammonia. It doesn't cycle just sitting there.
 
To cycle the tank I ran it with the filter caritge in place and let it run for a week without a fish in it.
 
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=81388 all about cycling.

If you are using a new filter then the tank is not cycled. Your betta is in for a rough ride while it cycles. I'd do 75% water changes daily, with de-chlorinated water matched for temperature for at least a couple weeks. Only gently clean the gravel or the filter (unless the filter is too gunked to allow water to flow), only with tank water or de-chlorinated water during this time to give the bacteria time to build. When it's cycled, you can do regular gravel cleaning and filter rinsing and continue water changes at least once a week. I'm not a betta person or a micro-tank person, hopefully some others will have better advice for routine maintenance.

But seriously read the cycling article.
 
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