I have five bettas in a 20gl L. tank with dividers, filters and a heater. They seem happy, eat well and are active but the water will not stay clear. If they swim to the back of the tank you have trouble making them out!!!! I sifoned out half the water and put freash water in yesterday and its ever worse than before!!!!!! Not even 24hrs!!!!! Is this normal or am i doing something wrong????? Please let me know if I am! Thanks
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Portland
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Re: Cloudy water problems
Mon, September 25, 2006 - 11:40 PMHey Morgen,
How long has your tank been set up with the betta kids? Was it properly cycled before you put the fish in? What kind of plants and decorations do you have in the tank? How often do you change water? What kind of water conditioners do you use? What and how much are you feeding? What filter system do you use? How do you "clean" the filter media?
If you can answer any of these questions, I can get a better idea of what may be causing the cloudiness?
If you have testers for Ammonia, Nitrites, Nitrates and pH... those readings would be helpful also (as accurate and to the exact #, as you can get is best)
Oh, and how are the fish acting? Do they seem healthy? Do they have clamped fins? Are they eating? Are they actively moving around the tank? Do they greet you or just move around when you are near the tank? -
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Re: Cloudy water problems
Wed, September 27, 2006 - 7:04 PMIts only been a week since I set it up. I use tetra Filters(two 10glers one on each side of the tank) and top fin Betta water conditioner. Yes they are active and eat well. I feed then once - twice a day; 4-7 pellets(hikari brand). No decorations and i forget the plants name...oops. Anyways I went into a fish store and they said that if the water was a whitish cloudy it was probably good bacteria building up and that it would go away in a couple days(the water does seam a bit clearer), they also said I could bring in a water sample and they would test it for me! I'm going to do that sometime soon but if this does or doesn't sound right would you let me know? Thanks for responding!!!!!! -
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Re: Cloudy water problems
Fri, September 29, 2006 - 10:24 AMIt does sound like the "new cycle cloud" thing. Just continue to watch your fish's behavior closely... bettas are not the best fish to cycle a tank with (in spite of what people at the fish store will tell you) cuz their fins are very delicate and can burn easily from the ammonia and nitrites.
If it is clearing up, you are probably on your way to a fully cycled tank and that is a good thing. You can do some tiny water changes.... 20gL tank, so 2.5g changes once a week... to help with the cloud and not disturb the cycle too much. You just want to be sure your fish are safe and not being burned or poisoned by the cycling.
If it looks like the cloud is not getting clearer or it gets worse, you can go ahead and get some BioSpira from your LFS, or online, and put that in. It's the instant cycle of all knowledgeable fishkeepers... the good ones, anyhow. DO NOT get fooled into buying any other "cycling" product.... ONLY BioSpira. I know the sales kids are good at convincing you... even the older folks that work at these places... but don't fall for it. There is no comparable product for cycling on the market anywhere.
Good Luck!
P.s. Prime by Seachem is an awesome water conditioner and probably less expensive than the "special" betta water conditioner. It's what I use in all of my tanks... and there are many!! It doesn't effect the pH levels the way other brands can, and you can even do ER maintenance with it, when needed. -
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Re: Cloudy water problems
Fri, September 29, 2006 - 10:26 AMI forgot to emphasize that you should not do a gravel vac while doing mini water changes cuz that's where some of the new "benebac" or good bacteria are setting up house and you don't want to disturb them. Just siphon off the top and you should be fine.
I look forward to an update :o) Post some pics, too! I love Bettas!! -
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Re: Cloudy water problems
Sat, September 30, 2006 - 11:11 AMThanks so much!! Yep the water is clearing up and a couple have bubble nest right now! I'm happy and they are happy. And as soon as I get a new battery charger for my camera you will have Betta pics! -
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Re: Cloudy water problems
Sat, September 30, 2006 - 11:18 AMBubblenests are always a good sign that a Betta kid is a happy camper!! Awesome!!
Look forward to the pics :o) -
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Re: Cloudy water problems
Tue, March 11, 2008 - 7:45 PMI think I may be having the same issue, but I have no clue. I'm brand new to the betta world, so a lot of the lingo is over my head. I didn't realize how much different from gold fish a betta would be to care for.
First off, what does it mean to cycle a tank? Also, what's a bubble nest look like? There are some bubbles around the edge of the water... is that it? What's the purpose?
Okay, so here's my situation:
I got a beautiful blue betta named Rosco the other day, got the betta plus bowl conditioner and two types of food - nutrafin max flakes and nutrafin basix pellets (i'm indecisive and spluge). He's in a 1.5 L tank (which I understand may not be big enough to keep him happy) with a rocks on the bottom, a fake plant, and a little ceramic frog thing that's "betta approved."
I let the water sit a little bit with the conditioner, and it started clear but a day later it was cloudy. I thought I did something wrong, so I redid half the water and it's still cloudy another day later. In addition, the house is cold... 66* during the day, but warmer at night when I have my room heater on. I got a thermostat sticker for the tank and to my dismay, the water is barely 70*. I bought a light for the top... should I keep this on to keep the temperature up?
He seems okay, but I worry so much when I come home from work and he's just... there. I understand they're rather low key, and he'll get moving around pretty good when I'm around for a while, but I have this fear that I'm going to come home and find him dead.
Additionally (did I mention I'm new), I haven't seen him eat. I've dropped both types in at different intervals, and I know this might add to the cloudy water, but again, I worry... a friend said to wait a day or two and let him settle, but how do you know when to feed them?
A friend said he'll "flare up" when he's happy. What does this mean?
So I guess to recap, my questions are (1) tank cycling (2) bubble nest (3) cloudy water causes? (4) cold water an issue? (5) food? too much? (6) flaring?
I apologize if I'm coming off as that first timer with too many dumb questions. I really think I would like to get into bettas and would love to be able to keep Rosco around for a while.
Thank you so much for your help. Hopefully you can help me keep him happy. =) -
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Re: Cloudy water problems
Wed, March 12, 2008 - 10:09 AMSo I guess to recap, my questions are (1) tank cycling (2) bubble nest (3) cloudy water causes? (4) cold water an issue? (5) food? too much? (6) flaring?
1) not sure what "tank cycling" is
2) bubble nest looks like a whole bunch of bubbles together in a cluster laying out on top of the water. Usually in a corner or attatched to a "plant" or something.
3) cloudy water happens in a new tank set-up when the Natural Biological Filter is establishing it's self. It is normal, and will go away after a while.
4) cold water IS an issue. They like their water between 75-80 degrees. Get a heater.
5) yes, it IS normal for a Beta to not eat for a few days after just getting him. Betas don't eat much, anyway. My SpongeBob eats about four or five pellets of BetaBites daily. If you feed your Fishie too much, and he doesn't eat it all, Nitrogen and Ammonia will build-up in the tank. Not good. -
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Re: Cloudy water problems
Wed, March 12, 2008 - 4:41 PMThanks Cherie!
For those still reading, I do have a few more questions...
Still wondering about the tank cycling and flaring...
In regards to the bubble nest, should I let the water level down a little so that the plant hangs out of the water so the bubbles can get around it? There are a few here and there around the side of the tank right now...
I'll be patient about the cloudy water. Although I'm not great at patience.
It sounds like a tank heater is gonna be something I look for tonight.
For the food... he still hasn't eaten. "sniffed" at the food that sank, but didn't eat any.
Is there anything else that I should be learning? I am feeling like I'm way behind on a power curve. Oh, and a new question. Is my tank big enough, or should I look at getting something he can wander around in more? (the one right now is 1.5 L)
Thanks again! You guys rock!
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Re: Cloudy water problems
Fri, March 14, 2008 - 11:38 AMSpongeBob lives in a 5 gal aquarium with a charcoal filter. He has a house that he can hide in (an upside-down pineapple, of course!). He has several plants.
The Flaring is just a Dominance thing, it is a function of the Mating Dance that they do! The Bubble Nest, too!
(he Likes you!)
Hold a mirror up to the side of the tank, and he will Flare at his reflection. Do this once a day for Healthy Hormones, but don't do it too much, or else it will stress him out!
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