smelly water confusion

[mousey]

Hi, We all have trials in fishkeeping, believe me.
may I suggest a betta?
They are pretty fish and are just the right size for a 1 gallon tank -- although I know some people will say that bettas need 5 gallons.
Bettas like to be at least 70 degrees, not in the sun and not in a draft. You will need to change the water weekly and can use bottled water quite successfully.
The fish eats betta pellets, does not need filtration and is quite responsive to people( begging for food!). If you already have a SMALL filter in the 1 gallon that doesnt have a real brisk flow a betta would be ok.
A small snail as companion would be ok along with a small live plant (anubias)if you like.
Several kids I know have bettas and thoroughly enjoy them.
I have 6 at present and am not a kid!My grandkids love to watch mine.

[ron v]

Greenwave, I am so sorry that my comment offended you. I, in no way, meant any offense to you. Thing's like that happen. I am a grandparent, I know how little hands get into everything. I truely am glad your son is OK.

CichlidMan edit: It's Greenween.lol

[greenween]

First of all, Ron, thank you for your concern, I tend to see sarcasm in situations because I am around alot of it. And like I said I am a little too sensitive. I really dont mean to cause hurt feelings. Thank You and every one else for being understanding ( and for putting me in check, which we all need from time to time ) Anyway, Its funny that betta was reccomended, because that was what we were going to get when my son saw the goldfish. So in an
effort to make the best home for a new one, being that the other one died in
the tank, how do you clean and make it habitable? There is still bubbles at the top of the tank( they appeared the next morning after dorothy passed on) and have proved to dissapate somewhat, but some still remain. I have left it on all week, for fear that shutting the whole thing down might cause more problems. Is this true? And as far as this cycling thing, I read somewhere that you put a few drops of ammonia per 10 gal. what do I do with one gallon? and is it necessary for a mini tank. Should I simply sweep it out, change out the water and continue with a new one. I'm just not sure how much of the starting instructions that came with the tank apply after you have had an inhabitant (stressed) and then die in the tank. I thank you again for your help and putting up with my (sometimes uncalled for )sensitivity.

[mousey]

A 1 gal tank will be very difficult to cycle and keep the water parameters steady due to the small volume of water. The chemistry in it can become unstable faster than a large (10 gallon and up) tank.
Scrub the tank out with plain water or if you must- add a tiny bit of bleach and let it soak for 20 minutes .
then rinse, rinse, rinse until you can't smell bleach any more.
In fact during one of the rinses you can add the water conditioner to cause the chlorine/ chloramine to dissipate.
If you smell any bleach you will need to let the tank sit overnight or keep rinsing until the smell goes. That way if there is any infection in the tank it will be gone.
However i think a simple rinsing out will suffice since the goldie was not ill but died d/t other reasons.
With a tank that small you can put in a bit of gravel and over time the tank will cycle a bit. Change at least 50% of the water weekly making sure to use conditioned water. If you have test kits for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate you may want to map the progress of the tank and see if it does in fact cycle, but generally it is easier to just do the water changes on that small of a tank.If you clean the gravel you will destroy good bacteria so get a turkey baster to suck up poo and uneaten food.
Betta poo is quite large and you can go to the dollar store and get a turkey baster to remove the poo on a daily basis. That will help the water stay cleaner BUT still do the water changes weekly.
If you have any more questions you can email me privately or continue to post here.

I have several bettas in various size containers-- some are small but cycled and some are not.
mousey

[greenween]

Hi all, just wanted to update my fishkeeping trials. I got a betta about a week or so after the dorothy passed. Its been about a month or so I guess. He is doing GREAT! We moved the tank out of my sons reach, well without a chair anyway. I of course do all the water changes,supervise feeding,and so on, but we have been really successful. The turkey baster idea was awesome!
It is such a small tank it is so much easier than pulling out the siphon each time. Especially because after dorothy I swept out the tank real well and realized that even though I bought the smallest siphon they had, it barely fits in there. I've been turkey basting the bottom every two days or so and doing 25% changes at the same time. Our betta, bloo, seems really happy. I thank you all for your help and suggestions. You saved a lot of heartache I'm sure.
Also, I saw a used (I'm guessing 10-20 gal) tank at a thrift store. Is it a good idea to buy a used tank? and if I do, is there any thing I should keep in mind, or would regular cycling do. We would like a bigger tank, (we're addicted!) well, we got a snail with bloo and after a week bloo attacked goldie(the snail)
and eventually killed him. I think maybe the water was not hard enough for the little guy and made him vulnerable. We do have a little bit of algae now, I think its the hard green kind. (Green spots, the size of a pin head.) I heard to use a credit card? Do I wash it first? Credit cards are dirty like money. I don't want to create more or should I say the wrong kind of bacteria, and I shouldn't use soap. Maybe bleach and then let it evaporate. New utensils I just usually rinse off with plain water. But a dirty credit card? I am unsure. The tank( 1 gal.) is too small to try the rubber lip I see so often suggested.
Sorry about the 20 questions, I guess its been awhile!

[emc7]

I wouldn't bother washing the credit card, the germs it carries are for/from people, not fish and soap can be bad if not rinsed off. Or get one of those magnectic scrapers or just one of those green things they sell for scrubbing dishes (get a new one without anti-bacterial additives). A used tank is fine, just fill it outside and let sit for a day to two to check for leaks. If it does leak, you can reseal it with 1 tube of aquarium sealant in a half hour. Loose trim and black sealeant are a warnings signs that it might leak, but test all used tanks even if they look perfect.

[Scy64]

For the algae problem, you can always go to the local petstore or even walmart's fish accessory section. There are usually little scrubbing pads there that can help. I've heard that sometimes you can scratch acrylic tanks, so be careful if that's what you've got (I have an acrylic 10g and a glass 30g- scrubbers work fine for me on both). You can then use the turkey baster to suck up the algea you scrape off.

As for second hand tanks, they're always risky, but can be worth it. if you do buy it, take it outside and fill it all the way up with water to make sure there are no leaks (and let it sit for a bit to insure all is well). Nothing worse then decorating a tank and then have it start to leak in the house!

Sounds like your betta is doing much better! I had a betta for a while in a 1.5g tank, and he lived happily for many years. =)

[greenween]

Okay, so I did buy the used tank, I waited so long that they had even taken 5 dollars off the price. It seems sort of dirty to me. Sort of a whitish film ring around the top and some on the sides. I was just wondering if I should scrub it out and rinse the rocks (of course with plain water) with one of those scrubbies you were talking about? I don't want to kill any surviving bacteria, if its possible for them to live, but I don't know why this person decided to sell their tank. If their fish died from disease or something, I definately want to make sure I don't carry that over. Will the cycling take care of all that? I will definately take your advice on the filling it outside thing, thank you. Should I take all of the rocks out first? Aside of seeming a little dirty, Everything seems fine with it. No visable cracks, complete with filter system, heater,thermometer, hood w/ light , rocks, and even a small plastic plant. The light bulb and actual filter is missing, but I'm really in no hurry now that I have it, I know these things take time, now that I've had the forementioned experience with the one gallon. I am not sure on gallons but the dimensions are:20 in long, 10 in wide, 12 in deep. Filter says Aqua-Tech 5-15, pro-file heater, hood is regent. I don't know why I am giving you all this info. Just in case, I guess. So, I guess my question is can/should I scrub it out, or is it better to leave it and start the cycling?

[emc7]

Rinse everything in the sink. If there is some bacteria left in the gravel it will survive this and if there is any stray dust and dirt it will come off. You can use a collander for the gravel. If you're afraid of disease, use bleach solution, but you will lose any biology thats left. Once the tank is empty you can rinse it in the kitchen sink, You can use lime-a-way on the white crud, and the green scrubber, just be sure to rinse very it well. Of course, check the heater with another thermometer before you add any fish.

[Scy64]

I had white stuff (I assume it was hard water stains) all over my tank (especially the hood and filter), and it was reccomended to me to use distilled white vineger. Tried it, and it took the white stuff right off.

I used it on the plastic parts of the tank and the glass hood only though. Rinsed really well and all that. Seemed to work well, and just a touch of scrubbing required where it was thicker then most.

[Caitlin Rose]

Not many fish can stay in a 1 gallon, but of any the most suited might be a betta. They are usually sold in tiny cups and kept in small bowls . I think they deserve more room, but could start in your 1 gallon tank. They are VERY colorful and have great personalities! They can be among the more lively and entertaining fish out there, and are widely available. There is plenty of info on them all over fish forums, so read away! And please just take everything people say here with a grain of salt... lots of people have good information, some have bad information. Some people can say things in a way that sounds rude or even offensive, but don't take that to heart, there's so many people on here there's bound to be a few bad seeds :P and sometimes it's just a misunderstanding anyway. I'm sorry about your loss and all I can say is research, research, research; try your best and there is still the potential for a random accident (especially when little kids are involved). Good luck.

[Caitlin Rose]

Woops, posted before seeing page two! Hope your Betta Boo works out for you, I am longing for one myself but can't get one yet . Yes the white stuff is hard water staining, not bad for the tank, just esthetically irritating (as far as I know anyway). Once he's in the bigger tank you could add a small group of little corries (if you want more fish that will cohabit without having problems). They like to school, so I'd get like 6 or so ones that will stay smaller like Panda Corries. Lol, I'm not even sure if you want other fish in the tank. But a 10 gallon will have you itching for more after a while :P

[emc7]

Those dimensions fit a ten gallon tank so the filter should be fine, you can buy filter cartridges for it or use a sponge insert. You'll need to have something in the filter when you start cycling the tank. Light is optional, but most people like to see their fish.

[ultasol]

For your larger tank, if you don't move the betta, you could try a trio of endlers livebearers or small (wildtype) guppy. ANother lovely fish for that size tank is the sparkling gourami, much smaller than dwarf gouramis I find them to ahve wonderful personalities. Mine aren't shy at all. Also, if you can get 1 or 2 watts per gallon of flourescent lighting over the tank, easy plants (such as floaters, java moss, java fern.. don't go by what petsmart says are 'lowlight' plants) will help suck some of the excess nutrients from the water, which would otherwise pollute your tank.
Anubias are another good low light tank choice

[darkfalz]

Here's what you should do, is put the Betta into the big tank, throw that 1 gallon death trap away, and get him some low maintenence buddies, like some white cloud minnows or zebra danios. Bettas may fight fish which looks similar, but these fish obviously don't.

Only thing is don't put a strong filter in the big tank, or put the output towards the back wall so that there's only a small area of the tank that Betta will avoid with strong current.

Wash everything good, soak it overnight even better. Make sure it works before setting it up. Set heater on 26 or so degrees for Betta (if you do take my advice and minnows or danios, put it lower, maybe 22, Betta won't mind but the minnows in particular won't like it that warm - plus your heater won't have to be on all the time). Otherwise you can get some tropical fish which are compatible, and keep it on 24-26.

For the filter I'd find some compatible media and replace it, I wouldn't trust some old media that had been sitting somewhere for god knows how long. Media is cheap, you can buy sponge and just cut it to fit.

If you add fish slowly and keep up with water changes (a small mid week, a larger weekly one) then you really don't have to cycle. It will happen by itself.

I'd go with the Betta first and once he's been living like a king for a month or so, then add two or three other small fish for company. The biofilter will adjust itself, the important thing is to get it established.

With regards to the light, if it's in a well lit room (should never be in direct sunlight) you won't need it, the fish don't need a light on them all day.