low maint, cheap setup

[LowMaintenance]

Hi

I am a total newbie and would like to setup a small tank with a few (1-5) fish. I was told that bettas are easy to take care of.

I don't want to keep track of pH or water temp and would prefer not to change the water that much. So I'll probably get a kit with a filter.

I was considering a 1-3 gallon setup.
All-Glass Mini Bow 2.5 for $27
Aquatic Gardens Mini-Aquariums 1 gal, 2 gal for $15 each
Marineland Eclipse Explorer 2 gal for $22

Any recommendations on tanks?

What fish do people recommend?

Or should I just get the Lee's Dual Betta Hex and keep 2 bettas.

 

[Endgame319]

All those aquariums are very small and I reccomend a minimum of 5gal for ANY fish. But a single betta should be fine in a 2-2.5 gallon, only one though, because male bettas are very aggresive against their own species.

 

[Fruitbat]

LowMaintenance...

Welcome to Aquarium Advice....the BEST aquarium-related site on earth!

Unfortunately your two requirements (small AND low-maintenance) are almost mutually exclusive. The smaller the tank you have the more frequent maintenance it will require because the waste from even a single fish and the inevitable uneaten food that will settle to the bottom will soon taint the water....and a small tank simply has less water! Smaller tanks require more frequent water changes to stay healthy rather than less.

A Betta would get along quite nicely in a 2.5 gallon tank....though 5 gallons would be better! Another thing to consider is that most 'tropical' fish need water that is higher than room temperature so you're going to need a heater. One type of fish that you might consider, especially if you're willing to go up to about 5 gallons, would be the White Cloud Mountain Fish, Tanichthys albonubes. Three or four of these in a 5 gal tank would be a pretty sight and White Clouds can happily thrive in an unheated tank as long as the room temperature doesn't drop much below 70 degrees F. If you add a heater and keep the temperature at about 75 degrees F then you could add a couple of Corydoras catfish as bottom-feeders.

Regardless of whether you select a single Betta or a school of White Clouds, you're still going to need to change about 25% of the aquarium water every week or so (even if you use a filter, by the way). With a small aquarium this really isn't THAT much of a chore. You're only talking about a gallon or less at a time. Oh...by the way....filling the tank up to replace evaporated water does NOT count as a water change!

 

[Allivymar]

Hiya LowMaintainance and welcome to Aquariumadvice.

Actually, even with a small tank and a betta, if you want to fish to remain healthy you will have to make a little effort *grin*

Bettas need water changes just as much as other fish. Most folks do at least a weekly water change. Do know you'll need to treat the water with some type of water treatment to remove chlorine and probably chloramine. Having filtration does not preclude the need for water changes; my betta is in a 2 1/2 gallon with a smal filter and still gets a weekly water change/gravel vac to remove nitrates and detritus in the bottom of the tank.

Betta's (as well as all fish) need a heater. Not so much because of the temps, although bettas need a water temperature around 80F or so, but because heaters keep the water temps stable. Its changes in water temperature that really can be a problem for fish, and unless you keep your house at the same temp day and night, it could be an issue.

A betta would make a great first fish; while you will still need to provide good water husbandry, its a lot less in terms of water being moved about then required for larger tanks with more fish.

 

[Fruitbat]

Gads Allivymar.....simulpost!!!!!

 

[Allivymar]

*snickers*

Almost Batty; you beat me by a min LOL

 

[Fruitbat]

I'm quicker than the average bat!! Isn't it amazing how we both gave virtually the same advice. Somebody might actually start to think we know a thing or two!!!

 

[LowMaintenance]

wow!

thanks for the welcomes and the quick responses. i'm ok with changing the water 1 a week. does that mean just removing some water and then filling the tank again? and i guess i'll have to buy some chemical to remove like nitrates??

the reason for such a small tank is that i might keep a fish at the office. and since i'm pretty busy i don't have time to attend to my fish everyday.

do i need a heater though?

and i welcome any other comments to my questions. like especially which tank of the three that I listed would you recommend?

i'm considering just doing the $15 one for 1 betta.

thanks so much. i figured you guys would know more than my Petco.

 

[Fruitbat]

If you get the Betta then it would be a very good idea to get a heater as well. They make them for small tanks and, as Allivymar stated, Bettas like warmer water than normal room temperature (78-80 degrees F).

The Aquatic Gardens 2 gallon tank comes with an under-gravel filter, an aquarium pump, airline tubing, a lighted hood, 'decorative' rock and gravel. PetCo is advertising it on-line for $14.99. I imagine the local store would honor this price as well. All you would need to do is spring a little extra for a heater and you would be good to go with a Betta.

The All-Glass Mini Bow 2.5 has a built-in Whisper Micro-Filter, a lighted hood, a Betta divider (practically useless in such a small tank), some fish food and water conditioner. You'll need to buy your own gravel and decorations and you'll still need a heater.

The MarineLand Eclipse Explorer has a Bio-Wheel filtration system which is very good but it does not come with a light (they say it has a 'skylight' to use available room light). Once again...you'll have to add your own gravel, decorations and heater.

Hope this helps!

 

[Allivymar]

*tries to beat Batty on this one *

Actually, thats the cool thing about water changes; it reduces the levels of all nitrogenous wastes, including nitrates. Btw, if you don't have a handle on the nitrogen cycle, check this article out: http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

And yeah, grab a small heater; the betta will appreciate it and it will help keep him healthier.

As for the tank, which ever one thrills you *grin* We suggest at least a 2 1/2 gallon tank, although a 5g would be even better. I keep mine in a 2 1/2g as I mentioned; he stays at work. I'm at that office 3 times a week; he gets fed on those days in the morning and when I leave for work, and once a week I do a water change.

 

[Allivymar]

Darn.

LOL

 

[Fruitbat]

Gotcha!!!

 

[LowMaintenance]

great

I think I'll go with the 2 gal tank and just get a heater.

with water changes, I just take out water and add some. Should I buy any sort of chemicals? Sorry I have never done this before and am totally clueless

 

[Fruitbat]

LowMaintenance....

The only chemical you'll need is a dechlorinator to remove the chlorine/chloramine that is added during the water treatment process. Check the labels and find one that mentions both chlorine AND chloramine....I don't know which method your local water treatment facility uses.

If you're feeling flush with money you could buy one of those mini-aquarium vacuums which is basically just a siphon hose with an attachment on one end for cleaning aquarium gravel. That way you can do a water change and clean the gravel simultaneously! Otherwise...yes....you simply remove about 25% of the water and add fresh water from the tap. Some folks go to the effort of adding a drop or two of dechlorinator to the water they're going to add to the tank but I have personally found that with a 25% change you can just add the water straight to the tank.

Good luck and let us know how things are going!! Oh...by the way....be SURE to read that article on the Nitrogen Cycle that Allivymar put in her post. Understanding how that works is absolutely VITAL!!

 

[LowMaintenance]

thanks

I will definitely keep you posted. I am also having trouble finding a heater for a 2 gal tank like at petco.com Would the store have one?

And to follow up, if I do a 25% water change each week, I don't need the dechlorinator?

Ray

 

[Endgame319]

Yes, you still need the dechlorinator, but you dont need to treat the water before adding it to the tank, you can just add it strait to the tank.

 

[LowMaintenance]

So something like this?

NovAqua Instant Conditioner & Fish Protector
16 oz or 4 oz?

 

[Fruitbat]

Novaqua is good stuff. Get the small bottle...you won't need all that much. Add the dechlorinator to the water in your tank once you have it set up (and before you add fish) to remove the chlorine/chloramine from the water. Once the tank has cycled (read the article), you don't really have to add dechlorinator during your 25% water changes, though it won't hurt anything if you do add it.

You should be able to find a heater for a 5 gallon tank at PetCo. If not....Wal-Mart usually has them. They do make heaters for smaller tanks but if all you can find is one for the 5 gallon then it won't be a problem.

 

[Kwenbee]

We had Bill the Betta in a one gallon tank and, upon the advice of many on this board, we upgraded him to a 5 gallon. He immediately began eating more and actually built his first bubble nest after two days in the new tank, so I would have to agree that a one gallon is not big enough.

Unfortunately, three days after I upgraded Bill's tank, a friend gave us Jake the Betta who is now housed in Bill's former 1 gallon. As soon as I can get my husband motivated, we are going to build a multi tank stand (found a great design online) with space for a 55, a 29 and a 10. The 10 will be divided in half and Bill will live on one side and Jake on the other. I hope to be able to get a divider with small openings (too small for Bettas but big enough for corydoras) so I can keep Sugar the catfish in with both and she(he?) can go back and forth between the two. If that isn't possible, I'll just invest in another catfish for Jake's side of the tank.

As far as heat goes, GET A HEATER! Find the post titled "Another Valuable Lesson" and read it...you'll understand the need for tank heaters!

I am water changing daily in Bill's tank because I've got 1.0 nitrites and 2.0 ammonia right now (new tank...just started the cycle). After that, I'll do once a week changes, like I do with my other tank.

As far as Jake goes, we do once a week total water changes for him because his tank is so small.

 

[LowMaintenance]

So I've read about cycling. So when I start I'll change the water very frequently for about a 2 months and the cycle should be set.

Do I have to wait until all this is done before I get the Betta?

And I will get a heater.