SPONGE FILTER BETTA FISH

[Macky]

I’m new to this so please don’t hate me I recently just got an all-inclusive fish tank kit (rocks, PH balancing liquid,tank) for a betta fish and then Bought fish after purchasing Tank immediately After. The instructions never explained that the Fishtank had to be cycled as I later read online (i’ve been doing freaking water changes at least once a day though since I bought him it’s now day 4) I then set up the Fishtank With heater and added some live plants along with a moss ball immediately put the fish in the tank! I’m reading that no matter what the ammonia levels are high and the fish is going to die!! then did more research to come to find out that the filter is a sponge filter and that it can grow ammonia and nitrate levels?!? I got my beta fish 4 days ago and he’s been doing fine since then eating normal swimming happily not stressed Color is beautiful and fins are sleek but I’m still scared he isn’t in safe water?! I read online how to properly clean a sponge filter if I just continue to do that weekly sponge cleaning properly with water changes will he be OK overtime? I don’t know what to do now I’m thinking of going to the store and getting a regular soft electric filter just so he can be properly healthy and clean with less worry and up keep for me? I’m also thinking of getting a new tank and just seeding everything (cave, plants, moss balls) even the sponge in the water of a brand new tank?
I’m truly at a loss I need some advice and help on this situation!

 

[Copingwithpods]

First let's slow down, water changes are good but too many can also be bad. YouTube the nitrogen cycle it will clear things up alot better than anything we can type out. Your substrate and sponge filter act as homes for beneficial bacteria that remove ammonia and nitrites so don't clean those. If you have high ammonia you can dose prime which will nutrilize the ammonia while allowing your tank to cycle. You'll know when it is done when you read 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. For now try to keep ammonia low and do frequent small water changes.

How big is the tank?

 

[Macky]

First let's slow down, water changes are good but too many can also be bad. YouTube the nitrogen cycle it will clear things up alot better than anything we can type out. Your substrate and sponge filter act as homes for beneficial bacteria that remove ammonia and nitrites so don't clean those. If you have high ammonia you can dose prime which will nutrilize the ammonia while allowing your tank to cycle. You'll know when it is done when you read 0 ammonia and 0 nitrites. For now try to keep ammonia low and do frequent small water changes.

How big is the tank?

The tank is 3 gallons! And you don’t think I should just clean the sponge itself ?

 

[Copingwithpods]

The tank is 3 gallons! And you don’t think I should just clean the sponge itself ?

No leave the sponge and your substrate be, once everything settles in you can clean the sponge or substrate as needed, just not both at once

 

[Macky]

No leave the sponge and your substrate be, once everything settles in you can clean the sponge or substrate as needed, just not both at once

even though I put him in immediately after I filled up the tank put items in and put liquid in to balance ph levels you don’t think I’m exposing the fish to very high ammonia levels? Should I buy testing strips?

 

[Macky]

even though I put him in immediately after I filled up the tank put items in and put liquid in to balance ph levels you don’t think I’m exposing the fish to very high ammonia levels? Should I buy testing strips?

It’s also on a Aquaponics system with plants growing above the fish so the plants are taking in the fish poop as well

 

[Hugh Mann]

Not unless the sponge is clogged with debris. The sponge will provide space for beneficial bacteria to grow, which will break ammonia down to Nitrite and then Nitrate. You can clean your filter and substrate, but not both at the same time as one will seed the other with the aforementioned bacteria.

This is known as the nitrogen cycle and is a natural and important part of any aquarium. While the cycle gets going you can do small, frequent water changes or dose ammonia detoxifying chemicals like Seachem Prime.

If you are concerned about ammonia, I would definitely recommend picking up some sort of test kit, preferably Salifert, usually gets you the best accuracy for the money. Also, watch the behaviour of your fish. If it is eating and swimming normally, you do not have a problem. If your fish becomes lethargic and starts breathing quickly/heavily, that is an indication your ammonia is rising and should be dealt with.

 

[Copingwithpods]

Not unless the sponge is clogged with debris. The sponge will provide space for beneficial bacteria to grow, which will break ammonia down to Nitrite and then Nitrate. You can clean your filter and substrate, but not both at the same time as one will seed the other with the aforementioned bacteria.

This is known as the nitrogen cycle and is a natural and important part of any aquarium. While the cycle gets going you can do small, frequent water changes or dose ammonia detoxifying chemicals like Seachem Prime.

If you are concerned about ammonia, I would definitely recommend picking up some sort of test kit, preferably Salifert, usually gets you the best accuracy for the money. Also, watch the behaviour of your fish. If it is eating and swimming normally, you do not have a problem. If your fish becomes lethargic and starts breathing quickly/heavily, that is an indication your ammonia is rising and should be dealt with.

^ all of this. Watch a few videos on the nitrogen cycle it will ease your mind and answer alot of questions.

 

[Macky]

Not unless the sponge is clogged with debris. The sponge will provide space for beneficial bacteria to grow, which will break ammonia down to Nitrite and then Nitrate. You can clean your filter and substrate, but not both at the same time as one will seed the other with the aforementioned bacteria.

This is known as the nitrogen cycle and is a natural and important part of any aquarium. While the cycle gets going you can do small, frequent water changes or dose ammonia detoxifying chemicals like Seachem Prime.

If you are concerned about ammonia, I would definitely recommend picking up some sort of test kit, preferably Salifert, usually gets you the best accuracy for the money. Also, watch the behaviour of your fish. If it is eating and swimming normally, you do not have a problem. If your fish becomes lethargic and starts breathing quickly/heavily, that is an indication your ammonia is rising and should be dealt with.

I’ve done a water change everyday since I got the betta fish (4 days) you think it’s safe to skip a day just for the stress? I also ordered aqueon ammonia neutralizer! I’m going to try my best to pick up strips tomorrow or the next day! The neutralizer isn’t coming until Monday!

 

[Copingwithpods]

I’ve done a water change everyday since I got the betta fish (4 days) you think it’s safe to skip a day just for the stress? I also ordered aqueon ammonia neutralizer! I’m going to try my best to pick up strips tomorrow or the next day! The neutralizer isn’t coming until Monday!

Sounds like you'll be ok, I'd do 1 gallon water changes a day until your nutrilizer arrives, got a picture of the little guy?

 

[Macky]

Sounds like you'll be ok, I'd do 1 gallon water changes a day until your nutrilizer arrives, got a picture of the little guy?

I got him a betta hammock and he loves it!

 

[Macky]

Sounds like you'll be ok, I'd do 1 gallon water changes a day until your nutrilizer arrives, got a picture of the little guy?

(The tank might look smaller but I keep plants surrounded by him to make him happier so he can hide When he hangs in the hammock

 

[Hugh Mann]

Sounds like you'll be ok, I'd do 1 gallon water changes a day until your nutrilizer arrives, got a picture of the little guy?

+1 this. As long as your water change water matches in temperature and whatnot, small daily water changes shouldn't harm your fish. Especially in the short term.

Oh, also, try and remove any uneaten food too, if you can. It takes time, but it eventually rots, releasing ammonia.

 

[Macky]

+1 this. As long as your water change water matches in temperature and whatnot, small daily water changes shouldn't harm your fish. Especially in the short term.

Oh, also, try and remove any uneaten food too, if you can. It takes time, but it eventually rots, releasing ammonia.

+1 this. As long as your water change water matches in temperature and whatnot, small daily water changes shouldn't harm your fish. Especially in the short term.

Oh, also, try and remove any uneaten food too, if you can. It takes time, but it eventually rots, releasing ammonia.

OK sounds good I’m going to try to get to the store tomorrow for the strips I just feel bad doing another water change I’ve done one every day in the first day he was cold cause I didn’t have a heater for him so he’s been in quite shock but I will try to that daily I also got a moss ball which he LOVES he lays on it and pushes it around so I might get another to help the water and since he likes it I just don’t want to kill him with the stress!

 

[Macky]

Update

+1 this. As long as your water change water matches in temperature and whatnot, small daily water changes shouldn't harm your fish. Especially in the short term.

Oh, also, try and remove any uneaten food too, if you can. It takes time, but it eventually rots, releasing ammonia.

Update! I got test kit and ammonia neutralizer I out directed amount in along with the enviro-clean I tested immediately after (stupid probably should have tested before but I was so nervous) and the test is showing 0 ppm should I continue to do water cleaning everyday and monitor water levels?

 

[Macky]

+1 this. As long as your water change water matches in temperature and whatnot, small daily water changes shouldn't harm your fish. Especially in the short term.

Oh, also, try and remove any uneaten food too, if you can. It takes time, but it eventually rots, releasing ammonia.

 

[Hugh Mann]

Daily water changes shouldn't be necessary now, unless required for the proper keeping of a Betta fish. Just monitor your ammonia daily to see if it begins to rise, and pay attention to the fish's behaviour/breathing.

Seachem makes an Ammonia Alert Badge that constantly monitors ammonia levels, but doesn't replace the necessity of ammonia testing. If you are still concerned about it.

Also worth picking up nitrite and nitrate test kits as well. If you start detecting those in your tank, then you know your nitrogen cycle has started, and once ammonia and nitrite drop to 0, your tank is considered 'cycled' meaning the biological processes can keep up with the waste production. After that, you won't really have to test for ammonia unless you notice problems with your fish.

Nitrate isn't very toxic to fish, but excess amounts can lead to algae blooms, so you will need to do water changes to get rid of it. How often and how much depends on how quickly it builds up in your water.

 

[Macky]

Daily water changes shouldn't be necessary now, unless required for the proper keeping of a Betta fish. Just monitor your ammonia daily to see if it begins to rise, and pay attention to the fish's behaviour/breathing.

Seachem makes an Ammonia Alert Badge that constantly monitors ammonia levels, but doesn't replace the necessity of ammonia testing. If you are still concerned about it.

Also worth picking up nitrite and nitrate test kits as well. If you start detecting those in your tank, then you know your nitrogen cycle has started, and once ammonia and nitrite drop to 0, your tank is considered 'cycled' meaning the biological processes can keep up with the waste production. After that, you won't really have to test for ammonia unless you notice problems with your fish.

Nitrate isn't very toxic to fish, but excess amounts can lead to algae blooms, so you will need to do water changes to get rid of it. How often and how much depends on how quickly it builds up in your water.

Sounds good, since I ran tests and put neutralizer in tank he is now laying at the top more and coming up for air often, he’s still swimming around sometimes to bottom should I change water once more until I get nitrite and nitrate tester? Also I truly can’t thank you enough with your help!!

 

[Macky]

Daily water changes shouldn't be necessary now, unless required for the proper keeping of a Betta fish. Just monitor your ammonia daily to see if it begins to rise, and pay attention to the fish's behaviour/breathing.

Seachem makes an Ammonia Alert Badge that constantly monitors ammonia levels, but doesn't replace the necessity of ammonia testing. If you are still concerned about it.

Also worth picking up nitrite and nitrate test kits as well. If you start detecting those in your tank, then you know your nitrogen cycle has started, and once ammonia and nitrite drop to 0, your tank is considered 'cycled' meaning the biological processes can keep up with the waste production. After that, you won't really have to test for ammonia unless you notice problems with your fish.

Nitrate isn't very toxic to fish, but excess amounts can lead to algae blooms, so you will need to do water changes to get rid of it. How often and how much depends on how quickly it builds up in your water.

Got nitrite test kit! I tested ammonia again it’s at 0 but nitrite looking closer to 5.0 than 0 I just did a water change about two hours ago ran to the store came back and did the nitrite test just now, you think it’s okay to wait until tomorrow to do another water change? Is there anything else I can do to lower levels?

 

[Hugh Mann]

I'm seeing no3 on the colour chart, that is nitrate, not nitrite. Difference between the two is nitrate is relatively harmless to fish. 5ppm nitrate is just fine, I was at one point 80ppm in my saltwater tank and everything was just fine. I wouldn't recommend letting it get above 10-20. It's really ammonia and nitrite you have to worry about.