Water change question

[fishylegacy]

I have a single male crown tail betta. He lives alone in a 5 gallon Hexagon tank with a filter. How often should I be changing his water? The little booklet said that once a week was fine with so little fish, but I'm not sure. He's been with me for about 3 months and is doing fine right now. Also heard you can vacuum the gravel and want to know how it is you do that. Thank you!

[Lion Mom]

And you haven't cleaned his tank at all in the time you have owned him????

The usual practice is a 50% water change with a gravel vac once a week. Since - if - he has not had it changed in 3 months, I would do a few small changes over a week or two to get him used to the new procedure & water. After that I would go with one 50% weekly.

You vacuum the gravel with a gravel vacuum. :) Like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Gravel-Vacuum-Pe...6#ht_500wt_762

[fishylegacy]

No!!! I've changed his water. Once a week I do a 50% water change and every other week I do a 100% water change and take his gravel out and rinse it out. I was just wondering if this was enough. I'm sorry if the first post sounded like I never cleaned his tank! I was wondering about the gravel vacuuming thing because I wondering if there was a better way to clean his home then ripping the whole setup out.

[Pekemom]

Not necessary to remove your gravel!! I put Brooke in the little container she came in, while I take out the decorations. (a couple of freeze dried bloodworms keep her happy and busy). I remove two gallons weekly from my five gallon tank by siphon.

As the water is being removed, I 'vacume' the gravel using the siphon. It sucks up larger pieces of debris as i move it around the tank and into the gravel. I rinse off the decorations in old fish water and return them to the tank. Then add the treated fresh water, a bit of aquarium salt and a few drops of a water clarifier. Then Brooke goes back to her freshly-cleaned home!!