betta tank

Larry Blanchard wrote:
I'm setting up a ten gallon aquarium with a lot of live plants. I'm
putting a divider down the middle and one male betta on each side. My
question is filtration.

I've read that bettas, even in the inadequate containers that most use,
don't require filtration.

I know that the ammonia/nitrite bacteria will colonize the tank without
a filter. I know the live plants will absorb a lot of nitrates. I know
that one (not overfed) betta per five gallons doesn't generate much
waste.

Given this, I've decided to go without any filtration other than water
changes.

Any comments?


Any fish would benefit from filtration. But I have a betta in a 3 gallon
tank with live plants and I don't have a filter. I change the water
every 4 days. Hmm I have 2 battas each in a 3 gallons, maybe your idea
with the 10 would work out with mine!

Kay

I wouldn't have a 10 gal without cycling it. I have two 10 gals each
with one betta and a 6 gal with one betta and all the tanks are cycled.
They benefit greatly from a cycled tank. You don't HAVE to cycle it but
you will HAVE to do 100% water changes instead and that's just a ton
more work for you. Plus, you'll be testing your water far more often
and have to be regulating all the water parameters at each 100% water
change. (It's a lot easier to keep the pH and temp stable when you're
only changing 20% of the water instead of 100%.

Bettas should not be exposed to any ammonia or nitrites. If anyone
tells you differently, they haven't battled the fin rot. Even exposure
to .25 ppm over time can cause a great deal of damage in these fish. .

I'd get filtration and cycle the tank (without the bettas) without a
doubt.

"Larry Blanchard" wrote in message
...
|
| Given this, I've decided to go without any filtration other than
water
| changes.
|
| Any comments?
|


Take it very slow. Add the plants well in advance of the Betta's, and
add the fish one at a time, seperated by as long as possible.
If you can, have the tank fishless-cycled before adding the
plants. It will cycle, and maintain the cycle given enough plants and
good water changes, but the bio-capacity will be low. An LFS that
used to be in this town had a 150 gallon tank with nothing but plants
for filtration, and a powerhead to keep the water from stagnating. It
was gorgeous. Had a 'not for sale' sign on it, and it always looked
teriffic. Had about 20 various tetras in it.

Filters are so cheap, and bettas like clean water as well as the next
fish. I suppose they might survive, but
will they [i:6324c31597]thrive[/i:6324c31597]?
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