When every so often should i change my betta water?

Question

My betta is in a 2 gallon tank and it has a filter. I make sure his water is at 79F. But I have been told not to change his water completely because of beneficial bacteria in it. Should i change 30% of his water every 2 weeks?

Answer 1

Normally 25%-40% water changes are perfectly fine if done once a week. Since you have only one betta though [I'm assuming since they can hardly be kept with other fish] you could probably get away with every other week. Suck up the gross stuff in the gravel, too. Especially for a two gallon tank, I would just use some spare air line tubing and siphon out water into a bucket and run the tube under the gravel to get out stuff that causes bad water. =]

Answer 2

I have my Betta's in 2.5 gallon tanks, and change the water once a week. I change 10-20%, you you can keep doing what your doing or change less water more often.:)

Answer 3

that sounds about right.  

Answer 4

As a two gallon tank is hard to cycle and keep cycled I would suggest you still change 100% of the water once, preferably twice a week.  I personally change 100% of the water in my one and two gallons every other day (as the bettas in those small tanks are rescues that typically have at least finrot and usually more severe illnesses).  If you want to have a tank that will hold a stable cycle, you need at least a five gallon.  If you choose to go that route, a 10-20% water change weekly will do.  

As to the filter, if your betta is comfortable and doesn't seem stressed by it, go ahead and keep it in with him.  I have a couple of males that HATE any type of water movement and I have several that love it.  All my females are in cycled, filtered aquariums.

Answer 5

Do a 25% water change every week. You won't remove any bacteria unless you change/remove the gravel, change the biological filter media, or expose the filter media/gravel to the air for a long time.

Try finding a small gravel siphon to accomplish this task: http://www.aquarticles.com/images/Colema...

If you can't, then a turkey baster would work fine as well.

E-mail me for any questions!

Answer 6

you should do it every month.

Answer 7

20 percent every week would be better, but yes, don't change it all.  Complete water changes kill the bacteria and prevent your tank from ever cycling.  Besides, moving the fish to do complete water changes is stressful for them and it's so unneccessary to put them through that.

Answer 8

i would say about every week or so. This will prevent your water from becoming cloudy.

Hope I Helped!!!

Answer 9

A filter in a 2 gallon......

I'd take it out...Betta's love calm peaceful unturbulent water and that filter is providing the opposite probably making him very stressed.

I don't think there is any media in that filter that would hold good bacteria on a long term basis as you replace all the media in it regularly.

Aswell there is no beneficial bacteria in the water but the water chemistry stability is important hence no mmore than 25% water to be changed at a time.

You may try replacing the filter with a nice fake plant and ornaments as the good bacteria will stick to those things aswell.

Plus Betta's love plants they can rest in.

Make sure you don't over feed, keep out of direct sunlight and do no more than 25% water changes weekly (changing more than 40% of the water at a time is like sleeping in a strangers house to a fish....it's unsettling) and your fine and the betta is happy.

Bettas breath from the surface so they can take slightly bad water quality hence why people keep them.

good luck!!!!