A filthy betta tank is typically a sign of bacterial growth and water pollutants, which are frequently brought on by messy decorations or decomposing biological waste.
You might also see a bunch of algae growth, depending on the phosphate and light conditions. You need a strong filtration system, an appropriate tank temperature, and a routine maintenance program to maintain the tank clean.
Why Betta Fish Water Get Dirty So Fast
Often, the water in your betta’s water tank seems hazy after only a few seconds of being left alone. Avoiding water contamination is essential for the well-being of your fish. Nevertheless, why does it occur so quickly?
Tarnished Gravel Or Decorations
The introduction of inadequately clean materials is among the most frequent errors made by fish tank owners. The introduction of fresh gravel, tank stones, or even ornaments can add a lot of silt and obscure the water in your tank. Worse still, they might unintentionally introduce dangerous bacteria into a tank.
When adding new decorations to your betta fish tank, especially gravel, be sure to thoroughly rinse and clean them first.
You Are Not Using The Correct Filtration
You will require a variety of filters for the bettas’ tank, and if you don’t have the correct one, your water will get quite polluted very soon. Mechanical filters will remove debris; chemical filters will absorb contaminants to produce pure water, and beneficial bacteria will be introduced via biological filters to break down waste.
Whereas a filter can hinder a betta’s ability to swim inside a tiny tank, some betta fish keepers choose not to use one at all. But without a filter, you’ll have to keep adding water to the tank to maintain a healthy environment.
You Should Clean Or Replace Your Filter
The water will ultimately start to grow hazy or unclean over time, even with the proper filter in the tank. This is because your filtration system’s filter material needs to be cleaned or replaced when it becomes blocked or used up.
The Nature Of The Water Has Changed
The proportion of growth of bacteria that would be taking place may fluctuate if the temperature or PH balance of either the freshwater in your betta aquarium has suddenly changed. Unexpected changes in the water’s characteristics are frequently the cause of cloudy, white water.
Algae Is Expanding
Algae growth is typically indicated by clouds of greenish in your water, even if you may not initially notice it on the tank’s glass. Furthermore, algae growth is frequently caused by too much sunshine or excess phosphates in the water.
You’re Feeding Your Betta Too Much
There may be too much metabolic waste accumulating, whereas water inside your betta tank is becoming too dirty too rapidly. Betta fish don’t need to consume a lot of food at once, and any extra food will accumulate on the tank’s bottom and begin to spoil. This is a fairly frequent reason why tank water gets nasty.
The Tank Is Insufficient
A too-small tank will inevitably get filthy more rapidly. A smaller tank means that waste buildup is more of an issue and that water becomes contaminated more quickly. A tank with only one betta fish shouldn’t be any less than 5 gallons.
Why Do Betta Fish Tanks Get Dirty So Fast?
The sanitation of the container itself would be crucial, even though the water’s quality may be the most urgent problem. You might see dirt or algae expanding rapidly in your betta water tank for a variety of reasons.
Overly Bright
Algae is typically to blame if you notice a bunch of green economy on the decorations and glass in your betta water tank. Algae might grow too quickly in the presence of too much light for your filtering system to handle.
Remaining Food
Uneaten food can cause additional algae to grow on the surfaces of your betta tank’s surfaces in addition to affecting the water quality. Algae feed on phosphates found in biological waste.
More Waste Equals More Fish
The longer a larger tank typically stays clean, the sooner the dirt will start to show up in a smaller tank with fewer fish. More fish always implies more waste, bacteria, and pollutants in the tank.
Greater Waste Due To More Plants
Living plants in your betta tank are usually a plus, but they do require additional cleaning. As plants develop and shed biological material, such as dead leaves, your tank will become soiled.
Certain Materials Leave Remain
You might have put the improper materials in your betta’s tank if you see a white residue building on the tank’s glass. There is calcium in some rocks and stones, and over time, this calcium will react only with water and deposit lime on the glass. The water quality may also suffer greatly as a result of this.
Maintenance Of Filters Is Crucial
Not only is it vital to clean and replace your filters to ensure high-quality water, but it’s also crucial to maintain the tank’s general cleanliness. Make sure your filters are always working efficiently to remove debris, dangerous germs, and contaminants from the water.
How Do I Keep My Betta Fish Tank Clean Longer?
It begins slowly. Your fish tank is spotless the day you receive them. You observe the tank is beginning to look a little cloudy a few weeks later. You disregard it. After another two weeks, your fish tank will resemble mine in appearance. For a rookie fish owner, this can be overwhelming. Do not worry; I have you covered. Simply follow the instructions in this step-by-step guide, and your fish will have a clean, new tank before they realize what has happened.
Background
There are a few things to keep in mind before starting the tank cleaning process. Created for small to medium-sized tanks, this instructional (5-20 gallons). Since the instructable is however intended for betta fish, the water temperature should be maintained at around seventy. The tank I’m using for my demonstration is an unusual instance. It is considerably more filthy than it ought to be. The majority of cleanings don’t need to wait till the tank is this filthy. You should aim to clean your tank every other week.
Materials
You are required to have the appropriate tools on hand to effectively wash a betta fish tank:
- Aquarium salt.
- Water conditioner
- Fish net
- Temporary fish tank.
- Water siphon
- Clean container
- Large bucket for wastewater.
Unplug Electrical Devices
You must first unplug all equipment, including the heater, filter, and aerator. To assist in illuminating the tank, I advise leaving the cover lights connected in and simply positioning the cover behind the tank.
Remove Decor & Fish
Start taking away the tank’s ornamentation and electronics. Take caution not to hurt the fish while doing this. The fish can then be taken out after the decor has been taken down. Add part of the water from the primary fish tank to your temporary fish aquarium.
Filling the temporary tank with tank water is crucial since the fish will experience less environmental stress as a result. Use the fish net to carefully move every fish from the present tank towards the temporary tank. Take care to prevent the fish from jumping out of the temporary tank. I advise covering the temporary tank with a lid.
Vacuum The Gravel
You can now start the actual cleaning. Utilize the water siphon to gently drain the contaminated water and suck up any debris on the gravel. The simplest technique to initiate a siphon would be to add water to the vacuum end and swiftly move it up and down numerous times. As you siphon the water out, ensure you have a big enough container ready to capture it.
To eliminate remaining food and fish waste, it’s crucial to utilize the freshwater siphon to suck through all of the gravel. The gravel should not be difficult for the water siphon to suction up since it is too heavy. Keep in mind to only take up to 75% of the tank’s water. By doing this, you can avoid eliminating all the essential microorganisms that your fish require to survive. In actuality, you should only need to remove 25% to 50% of the source water for a routine clean.
Clean The Glass & Decor
Use a clean rag as well as a paper towel to clean the interior of the glass. To start cleaning the glass, avoid using any cleaning agents, like soap, as doing so could injure your fish. To safeguard some algae for pleco to eat, I advise anyone who has a plecostomus to leave one side of the glass unattended. If necessary, you can also clean the fish tank’s exterior. Make sure to just run water over any decor items to rinse them off.
Refill The Tank
The tank can now be filled up. Replace all of the decors, along with the heater and aerator, to start. Do not yet reconnect these devices. Grab your clean container, and start putting tap water in the tank. Try to fill the water tank with water that is as near to the original temperature as possible. To make space again for aquarium salt, water purifier, and fish, you should fill the tank roughly 90% full. All electrical appliances may now be plugged in.
Add Salt & Conditioner
You’re ready to add the aquarium salt and water purifier now that all of your water has been added and the heater has been reconnected. After carefully reading the directions for each chemical, add the required dose of each to the tank. 15 to 20 minutes should be given for the tank to rest, whereas the chemicals diffuse as well as the temperature of the water stabilizes.
Return Fish
Your fish can now be placed in their freshly cleaned housing. I advise cleaning your tank once every two weeks. A 25% – 50% water change ought to be acceptable while doing this. Additionally, the filter needs to be changed every two weeks. To maintain the beneficial bacteria and decrease the stress on your fish, make careful to stagger the time between your filter change & water change.
Other Factors Should You Consider
When determining how frequently to clean your tank, there are a few more elements to take into account besides the size of your aquarium as well as the quantity of waste the betta fish generates. Living vegetation in your tank will aid in maintaining clean water by soaking some of the impurities. Therefore, you can cleanse your tank less frequently if you have living plants.
By capturing part of the garbage, a filter will also aid in maintaining clean water. To get rid of all the garbage in your tank, you’ll still need to perform routine water changes, even if you have a filter. They would also produce garbage if you have several fish in your tank. Therefore, you will need to clean your tank more frequently if you have additional fish in it.
FAQ
Can Betta Fish Die From Dirty Water?
Betta fish typically die from living in dirty water or unfavorable water conditions. The quality of the water needs to be closely watched if you desire your betta fish to lead a long, happy life.
How Much Waste Does A Betta Produce?
Due to their small size, bettas don’t generate a lot of garbage. However, even a little trash can easily contaminate a little tank. You won’t need to clean the water as frequently in a larger tank because the water will still get dirty more gradually.
Do Betta Fishes Poop?
Yes, everyone poops, even betta fish! Your betta may not poop in front of you, but you will notice it gathering in the bottom of the tank. Betta fish excrement frequently passes for unconsumed betta pellets since it is typically clumpy and more rounded than lengthy and stringy.
Do Bettas Pee in the Water?
Of course, they do! Fish do urinate, but since they are aquatic creatures, it is uncommon to witness them. Your fish might urinate a lot or barely at all, depending on whether they are freshwater or saltwater residents. Thankfully, their devoted kidneys are prepared to support them wherever they go.
Conclusion
So why does a betta tank get dirty so quickly? There are quite a lot of things at play, but ultimately it all boils down to the existence of an entire ecosystem. No matter what you do, biological waste and microorganisms will accumulate over time. If your betta’s tank is not adequately purified, the water quality is poor, or you have added dirty rocks, decorations, or gravel, the water will just become dirty more quickly. Aquariums with more fish and smaller tanks both accumulate dirt more quickly.
You must maintain the cleanliness of your betta fish tank if you want them to remain happy and healthy. The right freshwater & temperature should be guaranteed, the filters should be kept in good working order, and garbage shouldn’t be allowed to accumulate.