Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: Ally2 on July 16, 2016, 09:22:43 PM

Title: Suitable water changes for a 22 litre tank
Post by: Ally2 on July 16, 2016, 09:22:43 PM: Hi
I've had my tank 7 weeks now and have been doing weekly water changes of 4 litres . Is this correct ? I swish the sponge in the removed tank water , and have been hoovering the gravel weekly too. Is it necessary to hoover the gravel weekly if I have real plants in the tank, as I think sue mentioned the plants use the waste from the fish .
Any help appreciated . Also when I Hoover it really makes the tank mucky so I have been removing my betta while I do this .
Ally
Title: Re: Suitable water changes for a 22 litre tank
Post by: Sue on July 16, 2016, 09:43:02 PM: Live plants will use fish poo as fertiliser so hoover the gravel where there are no roots and leave the bits round the roots.

With 22% I would change a quarter, ie 5.5 litres.

When I had gravel I never needed to remove the fish. How vigorous are you with the siphon tube? You just need to push the open end of the tube into the gravel, wiggle it round a bit and wait till the muck stops flowing then gently remove the tube and do the next bit the same way.
Title: Re: Suitable water changes for a 22 litre tank
Post by: Ally2 on July 16, 2016, 09:57:46 PM: Hi Sue
I have a battery one that I've had to cut the tubing to size as it wasn't reaching the bottom . I have ordered a hand pump one which I'm expecting any day now . I removed the betta (moonbeam) as I thought he would get out of the way while I did this but he kept following my hand about and as it stirred up so much dirt I thought it would harm him, so I took him out . :-[
Title: Re: Suitable water changes for a 22 litre tank
Post by: Sue on July 17, 2016, 11:58:53 AM: I've always used a manual siphon. They are easy to control, you just keep your spare hand on the tubing so you can pinch it flat if you need to stop the water flow in a hurry.

This one (http://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/pets/fish/fish-tank-equipment---maintenance/fish-tank-cleaning/gravel-cleaner-p3646--1#) has a squeeze bulb to start the siphon (useful in a small aquarium) and it looks as though it has squashable tubing unlike the similar looking biorb siphon which has unsquashable corrugated tubing.

But bettas can be a problem. They are inquisitive fish and often hover round the siphon tube in the hope there is food. It is possible to clean a tank with a betta in there - I do it - but you can't take your eyes off the fish for a second.
The problem with taking them out to clean the tank is it is too easy to damage their fins when netting them. And it is quite stressful for the fish.
Title: Re: Suitable water changes for a 22 litre tank
Post by: Ally2 on July 17, 2016, 01:40:51 PM: Hi Sue
I often get him out with a jug so not to damage his fins. He is over confident and quite frankly a danger to himself . He's not scared of scissors, tweezers , hands , cats or children !
I can literally stroke him !
Never known anything like it
Ally
Title: Re: Suitable water changes for a 22 litre tank
Post by: Sue on July 17, 2016, 02:07:48 PM: Using a jug is much better than a net. If he copes well with it, that might be better than risking him getting in the way.
Title: Re: Suitable water changes for a 22 litre tank
Post by: Fiona on July 17, 2016, 04:57:53 PM: Quote from: Ally2 on July 17, 2016, 01:40:51 PM
I can literally stroke him !

I used to stroke my betta Frank, he seemed to really enjoy it. :) They are pretty awesome fish.