Quick question What is the best way to clean a 3.5 betta tank (yes I'm back)

**Shidohari** · 05-13-2019, 04:29 PM

So this is what is going down, I currently have one betta in a 3.5 top fin bettaflow soothe tank (it's a testing tank for reasons to be explained shortly). It looks to be a blue mustard halfmoon female.

I will be re-homing my bearded dragon to my friend Rachel in the near future as she has space to let her explore (the logistics issue is her having someone to help carry the enclosure down two flights of stairs in my condo building). As my condo is on the upper level and I can't cordon off a place for her to explore myself (and my friend Rachel has about 5-6 lizards of her own that are well cared for), I figured this would be the best option as she's still young at 1.5 - 2 years of age.

There's no decor in the tank, as I like the open feel of it as it is currently, and there is space for her to hide behind the pillar for the filtration system.

Rachel will be giving me her three betta mails once the swap can be arranged (which are currently in one gallon to one and a half gallon tanks). That's the reason i'm testing out this tank as it's currently on sale at petsmart for less than 30.00 USD. These tanks are also completely round cylinders and I would be gradually upgrading as money allows. However since she hasn't been able to arrange a time for the pick up of the enclosure yet I have time. And the sale for the aquarium that I purchased goes on through June 2.

I do have a turkey baster on hand at this time (it's the OXO brand with the cleaning brush), is there a syphon you can suggest to assist with water cleanings? The turkey baster has a one and a half ounce capacity. I don't have water testing strips or freshwater test kit yet, I plan to get something to that effect when I get another direct deposit from one of my IRA accounts later this week.

Also refresh my memory, even though I used API Quick start, what was the water changing schedule for a 3.5 tank that was just started up. I don't have the water quality testing items yet, so needed something to go off of.

API and Jungle brand quick starts (I needed the API til the Jungle brand arrived) are on hand, and I intend to buy Jungle brand Ich guard from amazon as well. I have a fish net, and Omega betta buffet flakes on hand. I also have an aquarium background in case I have to use it for the aquariums when they're next to each other.

Thanks in advance. Please note that bettas will be the only fish I will be keeping, as my community tanks ended up having issues when I kept them about 2 years ago.

Jamie aka Shidohari
Florence, KY

**Rocksor** · 05-13-2019, 06:01 PM

1/4" inner diameter vinyl tubing

I would change at least 25% of the water everyday until you get a test kit.

**Shidohari** · 05-13-2019, 06:42 PM

I don't have that tubing, but i will go get the turkey baster and do that water change right now. I'll start scheduling it before i feed her. But I've already fed her once today (her second feeding will come about a hour before her lights go out around 12:30 AM eastern time). I hope to have those other three tanks on hand for when my friend is ready to swap.

Thank you Rocksor.

**Shidohari** · 05-13-2019, 07:00 PM

Also when in doubt get the large plastic gravy ladle from the kitchen to remove the required amount of water, and use the turkey baster to get up the two bits of poo you found.