Help with my first fish?

Question

1. I got my tank and got a filter I am going to fill it with water but do you have to wait 1 week till you can put in the fish, is so do i have to turn my filter on as soon as i put my water in.

2. I live near sydney and wondering if i need a heater at the middle of the night its getting around 20C, my fish i'm getting is a beta. If i don't get a heater could I get little bushes type thing?

Answer 1

depending on your type of fish, ill give this answer in two ways.

Cold water fish (goldfish etc.):

you do not need a heater.  your fish adapt to its surroundings.. pretty much the whole cold blooded thing. you should leave the water out for about 24 hours so it gets to room temperature. you might want to turn your filter on for about a min or so in dirty water so all the dust and stuff gets out of it. your fish doesn't need the filter to survive, so dont fuss too much, but put your filter in when you put your fish in. but if your filter is dispossiible, throw it out get a new one about every few months, and take out a third of the water and put some clean water in. and put chlorine in it, too when you do this. then every few months, change the ENTIRE water.

Tropical fish/ warm water:

you DO need a heater. otherwise.. dead fish. same deal with the filter, but with these guys they need the filter. and cleaning, pretty much the same

:)

hope this helps!

Answer 2

1. read up on the fishless nitrogen cycle it will take at least a month

2. yes you need a heater 23 should be a minimum for a betta

and the temperature will constantly change without a heater

also make sure the filter is not too fast because bettas dont like much movement

and its betta not beta

good luck and have fun

Answer 3

Okkies you need to clean out your tank, gravel, filter, and any ornaments with tap water and then some salt water. Fill your tank with water, gravel and ornaments, put the filter on and add your water conditioner (a must in australia as tap water is heavily chlorinated and will kill your fish) leave for a couple of days only with filter on. Then check if your tank is cloudy and the ph (you can do this by buying a ph testing kit or take some of the water to the pet shop). If everything looks good add your new fish and enjoy. By the way for bettas you do not need a filter as they have like 2 sets of lungs to get air.

By the way bettas like anything above 18. Although i ussally keep them around 22-24 as i find they swim around more and look happier. Heaters are only $25 for the small ones. But otherwise cover them at night with a towel and you can even put a hot water bottle near them at night to keep the temp up.  

Answer 4

yes turn your filter on and i live in sydney to so dont worry bout ur beta

Answer 5

1. i think you should turn the filter on a few minutes before you put the  fish in

2.  if the fish is a cold water fish, you don't need to get a heater.but if its a warm water fish you do. i don't know anything about the bushes but i think they're just decorations.

Answer 6

20degrees is ok

you can go down to 15 degrees with a betta. but it may get ill...