I feel like my new tank is really tiny.

1285 Views 24 Replies 14 Participants Last post by Silverfang, Feb 14, 2012

Stina

Discussion Starter · Feb 12, 2012

And I haven't even gotten my betta yet.

Also, I'm new. So hello there!

I'm planning on getting a fishy friend tomorrow and I'm super excited. I just bought the tank today, and have it all set up and decorated. Yay! Except now I keep looking at it wondering if fishy is even going to be happy in there. (It's a 1 gal tank. I was attracted to it cause it has a nice light and the filter doesn't make the water move around much)

It's not as decorated as I'd like it to be yet - I'm thinking about getting a couple of silky plants, and hopefully there will be enough room to do so.

Would you be happy in my tank if you were a betta? :/ Picture attached!

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Jrf456

· #2 · Feb 12, 2012 (Edited)

1g tanks are the respectable minimum for betta fish care, I don't see it being a problem! Some fish PREFER smaller tanks and freak out in larger ones. I'd wait and see how he turns out before deciding on something different.

You'll see through betta fish care that they're very smart creatures and all have amazing personalities.

Although, depending on where you live, you may need a heater. I'm in west Florida, just along the coast, so I don't need them, but if you live up North I'd suggest getting at least a 2.5g tank, because that is the smallest tank that can be safely heated. If you're apart of the deep south like I am, he/she should be fine in this tank!

Good luck!

/EDIT: It looks very nice by the way! I keep mine in 2.5g to 3g tanks, but 1g tanks are perfectly fine. As JBosley said, it's all personal preference.

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JBosley

· #3 · Feb 12, 2012

It's bigger than my one tank! 1 gallon is big enough, it's mainly personal preference. Remember you can always upgrade later! :-D

Looks good ;-)

audjree

· #4 · Feb 12, 2012

A betta could live in 1 gallon with the proper water changes. A few plants and it should be just fine. Most bettas do prefer larger tanks, about 2.5+ gallon, but there are bettas who prefer smaller. It all depends on the individual.

There are people who say that a betta should not be in anything less than a 2.5 gal or 5 gal, but there isn't truly a limit. Again, it depends on the betta and the owner. If you observe that your betta isn't happy in a 1 gallon, upgrade to a larger tank. Just remember that the smaller a tank is, the more water changes you'll have to do. For a 1 gallon, I believe it's 1 50% and 1 100% water change per week.

I personally prefer at least a 2.5 gallon tank as a permanent home. If you'd like to use the 1 gallon for a few months, and upgrade later, that's fine as well.

Also, welcome to the forum! I have the same barrel decoration in my female's tank.

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Stina

Discussion Starter · #5 · Feb 12, 2012

Thanks so much for replying everyone! :] I'm glad to know that my tank is going to be okay for now. My birthday is late next month and I plan on asking for a bigger tank. Maybe a 2.5 or a 3 gallon.

Jrf456 said:
Although, depending on where you live, you may need a heater. I'm in west Florida, just along the coast, so I don't need them, but if you live up North I'd suggest getting at least a 2.5g tank, because that is the smallest tank that can be safely heated. If you're apart of the deep south like I am, he/she should be fine in this tank!

I live in Georgia so it's typically mild and humid, but we had a cold front come in today and it is absolutely FREEZING outside at the moment. I was wondering about the whole heater situation as well. I don't even know what I should be doing in regards to that.

JBosley

· #6 · Feb 12, 2012

I would get a heater, I got a good one at Walmart for cheap! Keeps my nice small tanks at a wonderful 78F. It's a Tetra Whisper Heater, for 2-15 gals. Even though my tanks are smaller, it doesn't over heat! I always keep a thermometer in the tanks just incanse

Tappy4me

· #7 · Feb 12, 2012

I have that same aquarium. Due to the way the intake is, I HIGHLY recommend getting a piece of foam to put over it. I've had it tear a long finned bettas tail before.It works really well for my female betta, Sapphira. Just make sure to do very frequent water changes since it is a small tank, but your betta will do fine!

Stina

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 12, 2012

JBosley said:
I would get a heater, I got a good one at Walmart for cheap! Keeps my nice small tanks at a wonderful 78F. It's a Tetra Whisper Heater, for 2-15 gals. Even though my tanks are smaller, it doesn't over heat! I always keep a thermometer in the tanks just incanse

I looked at the reviews online and it seems like a nice one.

Do you think it would do well in a 1 gal aquarium though? I know it's for bigger aquariums but I'm hoping it will work anyway.

Tappy4me, thanks for the warning! I'd be so sad if future fish friend became injured.

audjree

· #9 · Feb 12, 2012

Definitely get a heater (+ a thermometer), you never know what the weather will do. If you're looking for a particularly good, cheap one, I recommend this:

http://www.amazon.com/Elite-Submers...X8QG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1311897674&sr=8-1

The price was actually 10 bucks before, but it's still a pretty good bargain compared to other heaters I've seen in stores. I have two that I've been using for about 1 month and a half, and they work great. I even used one in .5 gallon hospital tank, and it was perfect.

sjones

· #10 · Feb 12, 2012

It will need daily or every other day water changes. Remember to make sure the water is the same temp when doing water changes!

sjones

· #11 · Feb 12, 2012

Check out this thread for betta care info

http://www.bettafish.com/showthread.php?t=49160

Jrf456

· #12 · Feb 12, 2012

sjones said:
It will need daily or every other day water changes. Remember to make sure the water is the same temp when doing water changes!

Daily..? I'm pretty sure you have your facts wrong buddy..

BeautifulBetta

· #13 · Feb 12, 2012

Yea daily is a little much lol. You'd only have to do daily if the fish was in a jar or the cup it came in. Sweet looking tank though! I used to have a fish (like 5 years ago) who would get SO depressed if he was in a tank any bigger than one gallon. I had him in a really nice 5 gallon planted tank, all filtered, had a heater, etc, but all he would do is mope at the bottom. Turned out, he liked the one gallon unfiltered tank better. Very strange indeed. Hope you find the perfect fishy friend soon!!

JBosley

· #14 · Feb 12, 2012

I have the tetra heater I suggested in a smaller tank, because my other tank broke :-(, the tank I have it in isn't even 1 gallon! (Don't worry, my fish won't be in there for long, plus he's super tiny) It works great

I just keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn't go over 80F. My room is freezing, so it keeps the tank at a nice 76F

a123andpoof

· #15 · Feb 12, 2012 (Edited)

1 gallon is fine and can be heated safely I have heated mine for over a year no problems, no fluctuating temps. Yes the tetra does well in the 1 gallon it is what I use. So I would recommend it. Never had a problem with temps in my 1 g tanks.

As for size I think it's all preference.

a123andpoof

· #16 · Feb 12, 2012

Just thought I would add about water changes I do either 2 25% and 1 100% each week or 1 50% and 1 100%. It depends on how busy I am each week. But I don't have problems with either of these schedules.

Gen2387

· #17 · Feb 12, 2012

It's a little small but a betta can live in it if you keep up with the frequent water changes (ammonia builds up fast in those things). I'm a firm believer in 2gallons and +. They just have more room to stretch and swim and it's WAY easier to heat because heaters in small tank are more difficult to control and take up too much space.

Silverfang

· #18 · Feb 12, 2012

Sorry to give conflicting information, but according to OFL, in a 1gal, one full WC and one half (50%) change will be sufficient. You might be able to do slightly different in a filtered 1gal, but I have no experience with that.

I agree, add a plant or two, he will appreciate it. Silk or live are best. If you plan on plastic, make sure it will pass the nylon test!

Thunderloon

· #19 · Feb 12, 2012

At first you'll want to do 50% water changes daily with a little siphon hose, I use a gatorade bottle and air line tubing on my smallest tanks.
Definitely reduce your bottom rock thickness. Only need 3 layers of rock in such a small tank. You can do so with a net if your friend already lives there.

After the sponge over the intake establishes a biological culture, use 2 drops Prime in a bowl of water to squeeze it clean and then put back on the intake.
Then you can go down to the 50/100 changes while protecting the sponge from sterilization and not have a worry again.

Stina

Discussion Starter · #20 · Feb 13, 2012

I appreciate all your replies!

I feel like there's still so much I have to learn.

I bought my little fishy friend yesterday, and in turn I bought him a moss ball for him to keep as a pet. I don't think he likes it too much since he just kind of ignores it. :/ I also got him a tiny heater that is placed under his gravel. It seems to work well, but I have to monitor it often because it easily heats up the tank.

Soooo...here's an issue. He hates the filter. A lot. I'm beginning to believe that it's too powerful for him, because the current (which I didn't even see before I placed him in his tank) makes his fins move too much and he seems to thrash and swim around a lot more when the filter is on. But...I don't wanna just leave it off you know? It feels nasty that way.

Here's a picture of him too! I hope he's happy. I'm really trying. lol.

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