I have a beta fish tank question?

Question

I have a beta fish tank. Its appx 3 to 5 gallons. I don't remember exactly what it is. Well I do what I was told to do. I empty half the water once a week and put in new water and once a month I completely clean his tank. I even change the filter and put a new one. It came with a carbon filter. Well my question is after a few days of new water his tank gets this funky film that i have to skim off. I don't have a clue what it is or what i can do to make it go away. Today i just went to go feed him and the film was so think and icky looking that i could not even see inside his tank. I just dumped out about 3 quarters of his water and put new stuff in. Am I doing something wrong or his he sick? Please I need some advice. Thanks

Answer 1

Does it look like a cluster of bubbles?  If so, it's a bubble nest, and it perfectly natural for male bettas to make them.  Bettas use them to breed (however, this does NOT mean you should breed your fish!).

I believe what you actually have, though, is what's called a protein film.  It's basically a layer of harmless organic gunk that builds up on the surface of fish tanks.  It won't hurt your fish as long as he can still breath air from the surface.

Also, for a tank that small, a filter may not be doing any good.  The main purpose of a filter is to serve as a home for benficial bacteria that clean the waste from your fish's tank.  If you're changing the filter pad every month, though, then your tank isn't cycled and doesn't have this bacteria, and therefore the filter is actually not doing much.  And without a filter, you need to be doing 100% water changes once a week.  50% changes still leave waste behind, and that waste will build up.

If you want to keep using your filter, then you should cycle your tank.  This means NOT changing the filter pad.  Here's a site that will tell you how cycling works:

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php

With a cycled tank, you'll only have to do small water changes once a week, and never 100% changes.

Also, more surface agitation should clear up your film.  Turning up you filter flow should work, although you need to keep in mind that bettas don't like a strong current.

Answer 2

thats great! It means he is happy and readt to breed. Males make these because when the female lays her eggs the male will carry the egs and put them into the bubbles. Just leave it it's not going to hurt anything. It is a good thing!

-goldfishfurlife

Answer 3

Sounds like he's creating a bubble nest. It's a very good thing. Means your betta is happy & wanting to spawn. On suggestion though, don't change your filter cartridge. When you do, you're getting rid of all the beneficial bacteria that keeps your water quality up. & you shouldn't ever completely empty the water. Take about 1/4 out once a week. That will help to keep as much good bacteria as possible.

<3

Answer 4

He is fine. Actually the film doesn't affect your betta at all. It is a bubble nest. You should keep it in the tank. It won't cause him harm and he won't have to be always making a new one.

Answer 5

It could be his bubble nest, which you really can't do anything about except leave him alone, or have to keep destroying it all the time. But it also could be algae, get algae gone taplets-they are safe. Algae is  orange. But if it looks like a bunch of bubbles it's his nest.

Oh i just remembered it could be you are overfeeding him.... i used to get this gross green stuff at the top of my tanks, if you think this it, stop feeding him for two days and get clear water stuff it should go away shortly, also get an air pump, it will make it stay away longer, you don't need a really expensive one just a cheap one that will keep the water moving.