5gal Hex-bio wheel-Betta follow up
 

Anyone want to comment or advise about this please feel free-you can
email to my address if you want, hopefully it is just over concern on
my part. Here is a shot of how his fin had torn a bit more (above
where it was torn) the next day:

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/View...p=73396242&f=0

I've read about "throwing tail", and I can understand that their fins
being so long might tend to tear or split. He's a good swimmer, I
don't know if threy caught on the ornaments, I don't necessarily see
sharp jagged edges in the tank except for perhaps some of the gravel.

I don't see anything on him as far as fungus, or anything, and I didn't
add salt when I did the last water change, waited til last night to add
a small chunk, as I think I may have added too much at one time (not
overall) after the 3 gallon water change, so would rather add
gradually. Will keep testing his water.

We don't have central air & heating, and it was pretty cool this
morning in the house, his tank was at 75 degrees-the room was about 66
degrees, he seems to like it at 80-82 degrees. Last night the
temperature got up to 84 so I did lower his heater a bit. Gill
mentioned about having to adjust the heat for his tanks, well that is a
constant concern of mine because of the cold weather and our heating
situation. We use gas and electric heaters throughout the house. The
tank mostly stays pretty steady temperature wise unless I have to
adjust, but last night's drop was too much I know, I know that will
stress the poor guy and hated to see that. It is steadily going back
up, at about 78-79 right now, might be a bit fast.

One more thing, I've had this tank set up since November 21st. I've
changed the filter media 2 times since, should I keep the filter in
there as long as the water is able to circulate (not clogged) to help
the tank cycle? The biowheel spins fine. I've read and bookmarked
several posts & pages on this, from Tynk, Netmax, and Anna Hayward, to
name a few. Really appreciate all the comments and help, this forum is
great, I did not realize about "cycling" and all there is to it when I
decided to buy the tank but knew there was more to it than just setting
it up and adding fish. Thanks to you guys for all the help.

One thing, he did eat a spot of green bean last week, and he had a
taste of pea the other night (didn't have peas cooked but had the green
beans...)

Any comment on fins and anything else appreciated, thanks...

Kerry

5gal Hex-bio wheel-Betta follow up
 

ko57 wrote:
Anyone want to comment or advise about this please feel free-you can
email to my address if you want, hopefully it is just over concern on
my part. Here is a shot of how his fin had torn a bit more (above
where it was torn) the next day:

http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/View...p=73396242&f=0

I've read about "throwing tail", and I can understand that their fins
being so long might tend to tear or split. He's a good swimmer, I
don't know if threy caught on the ornaments, I don't necessarily see
sharp jagged edges in the tank except for perhaps some of the gravel.

I don't see anything on him as far as fungus, or anything, and I didn't
add salt when I did the last water change, waited til last night to add
a small chunk, as I think I may have added too much at one time (not
overall) after the 3 gallon water change, so would rather add
gradually. Will keep testing his water.

We don't have central air & heating, and it was pretty cool this
morning in the house, his tank was at 75 degrees-the room was about 66
degrees, he seems to like it at 80-82 degrees. Last night the
temperature got up to 84 so I did lower his heater a bit. Gill
mentioned about having to adjust the heat for his tanks, well that is a
constant concern of mine because of the cold weather and our heating
situation. We use gas and electric heaters throughout the house. The
tank mostly stays pretty steady temperature wise unless I have to
adjust, but last night's drop was too much I know, I know that will
stress the poor guy and hated to see that. It is steadily going back
up, at about 78-79 right now, might be a bit fast.

One more thing, I've had this tank set up since November 21st. I've
changed the filter media 2 times since, should I keep the filter in
there as long as the water is able to circulate (not clogged) to help
the tank cycle? The biowheel spins fine. I've read and bookmarked
several posts & pages on this, from Tynk, Netmax, and Anna Hayward, to
name a few. Really appreciate all the comments and help, this forum is
great, I did not realize about "cycling" and all there is to it when I
decided to buy the tank but knew there was more to it than just setting
it up and adding fish. Thanks to you guys for all the help.

One thing, he did eat a spot of green bean last week, and he had a
taste of pea the other night (didn't have peas cooked but had the green
beans...)

Any comment on fins and anything else appreciated, thanks...

Kerry


I wouldn't go changing the filter medium unless totally necessary...give
it a rinse in a bucket of tank water to clear the gunk and put it back
in - I've not replaced any filter medium in over 16 months...the problem
with replacing it is that you lose the beneficial bacteria and your tank
will most likely cycle again...

Gill

5gal Hex-bio wheel-Betta follow up
 

Hey, Gill-

I had read about just that-rinsing it then put it back-in one of the
threads here last night. I had ordered a supply of these filters after
noticing our store has been out for a while, but that sounds good to
me, anything to help the cycling, will do that next partial water
change. Meanwhile, seems like he's doing fine-seems happy; now and
then stops, looks and flares at himself then seems to swim off in a
huff-pretty comical.

Kerry

5gal Hex-bio wheel-Betta follow up
 

ko57 wrote:
Hey, Gill-

I had read about just that-rinsing it then put it back-in one of the
threads here last night. I had ordered a supply of these filters after
noticing our store has been out for a while, but that sounds good to
me, anything to help the cycling, will do that next partial water
change. Meanwhile, seems like he's doing fine-seems happy; now and
then stops, looks and flares at himself then seems to swim off in a
huff-pretty comical.

Kerry

I actually forgot to mention in my post that from the photo he looks
quite a happy betta...does he come and do the "betta dance" when he
spots you???? It's one of the most endearing things I find about bettas....

Gill

5gal Hex-bio wheel-Betta follow up
 

forgot to mention in my post that from the photo he looks quite a happy betta...

Glad to hear that, and not "looks like a case of...". Yes, he does the
"betta dance", and I hope he does for a long time to come. They are
endearing, I love him. I notice my very independent cat takes notice
that he gets attention, now she is not so aloof. She's a biter and
scratcher-likes to play, but not the most affectionate. At 6 years old
still arches her back and tip-toes sideways up to me as if to try and
scare me-she is hilarious (black & white, reminds me of Dracula when
she does this.)

I tell you, I bought a ghost shrimp one night-about a week ago or so,
He wasn't one of the biggest, but I noticed Rudolf wasn't crazy about
him. I sat at the tank for a good while (have a stool-tank's on a
chest of drawers thanks to Alexandra the cat..she won't get up that
high...). He would go for the shrimp, stopped after a while, well
these shrimp can dart very fast but I could tell he might not have a
chance once I left & had gone to bed...I wish he did, wanted him to
help eat leftovers initially but they really are fun to watch. I
should have pulled him out, but I guess I had hoped for the best.
Sadly he had "expired" the next day (did not get eaten), I guess "Mr.
King" want's no company. I'd love to try again-we have what look like
full grown shrimp at the store, the lights were off in the tanks and I
just grabbed what I could get once I knocked off when I bought the
somewhat small one. I wish one or two full grown ones would have a
chance. If/when I get another tank, I'll definitely get a few shrimp,
but I'll wait a while after this tank gets established.

Can't wait for the java moss to come in, I think he might enjoy having
that. Still waiting for the bulbs' sprouts to grow upward-one customer
told me after a month I'll wake up one morning and it will have
bloomed. I'm thinking rinse the moss or soak it with some treated tap
water before adding it to the tank? I ordered it from
aquariumgarden.com . I'm thinking if I'd get a plant from WalMart,
soak it also in some treated tap water also? Anything else before
adding any plant?

Kerry

5gal Hex-bio wheel-Betta follow up
 

ko57 wrote:
forgot to mention in my post that from the photo he looks quite a happy betta...


Glad to hear that, and not "looks like a case of...". Yes, he does the
"betta dance", and I hope he does for a long time to come. They are
endearing, I love him. I notice my very independent cat takes notice
that he gets attention, now she is not so aloof. She's a biter and
scratcher-likes to play, but not the most affectionate. At 6 years old
still arches her back and tip-toes sideways up to me as if to try and
scare me-she is hilarious (black & white, reminds me of Dracula when
she does this.)

I tell you, I bought a ghost shrimp one night-about a week ago or so,
He wasn't one of the biggest, but I noticed Rudolf wasn't crazy about
him. I sat at the tank for a good while (have a stool-tank's on a
chest of drawers thanks to Alexandra the cat..she won't get up that
high...). He would go for the shrimp, stopped after a while, well
these shrimp can dart very fast but I could tell he might not have a
chance once I left & had gone to bed...I wish he did, wanted him to
help eat leftovers initially but they really are fun to watch. I
should have pulled him out, but I guess I had hoped for the best.
Sadly he had "expired" the next day (did not get eaten), I guess "Mr.
King" want's no company. I'd love to try again-we have what look like
full grown shrimp at the store, the lights were off in the tanks and I
just grabbed what I could get once I knocked off when I bought the
somewhat small one. I wish one or two full grown ones would have a
chance. If/when I get another tank, I'll definitely get a few shrimp,
but I'll wait a while after this tank gets established.

Can't wait for the java moss to come in, I think he might enjoy having
that. Still waiting for the bulbs' sprouts to grow upward-one customer
told me after a month I'll wake up one morning and it will have
bloomed. I'm thinking rinse the moss or soak it with some treated tap
water before adding it to the tank? I ordered it from
aquariumgarden.com . I'm thinking if I'd get a plant from WalMart,
soak it also in some treated tap water also? Anything else before
adding any plant?

Kerry

From what I've read on the ng some bettas take to companions and others
don't - some of mine have been fine and others will attack.

Generally if I'm putting a shop bought plant into one of the tanks I
will soak it for a couple of minutes in a very mild bleach solution (has
to be pure bleach with no additives - I use around 1-2% bleach to
water). I then rinse it very thoroughly under running tap water. One
thing to watch for with buying plants is the introduction of snails into
your tank. I transferred some plants between tanks today and just gave
them a very good rinse in tap water...

Gill

BTW My cat can scale a 6 foot fence with no run up so I'm not sure
whether a chest of drawers would actually stop your cat - maybe she just
can't be bothered in that endearing cat-like way. Mine has even stopped
looking at the tanks...

5gal Hex-bio wheel-Betta follow up
 

Thought I had read about using mild bleach/water, will do. I think if
she tried to jump up on the chest, she'd slip off, with nothing to grab
onto. I just got a shorter bookshelf to put the tank on, will keep an
eYe out on her. I agree with the can't be bothered routine, but I have
seen her staring just a bit, then she moves on, as in come sit & watch
her eat.

The bookshelf will make it easier for me to reach his tank, hopefully
Alex won't care...funny how pets will get you to jump through a few
hoops...

Thanks Gill,

Happy Hollidays to all
Kerry