The most important thing when keeping fish is water maintenance or cleaning your fish tank. Betta fish are often mistreated because they are kept in tiny bowls which would mean you would have to clean their water almost every day!
We personally believe that betta fish shouldn’t be kept in tiny bowls.
Regardless of how big a tank you keep your betta fish in, let us explain how often you need to clean your betta fish tank and why.
If you have a smaller tank of 5 gallons or less you will need to change 30 percent of the water weekly and 50 percent of the water once a month. If you have a larger tank of 10 gallons or more then you only need to change 30 percent of the water every two weeks if you only have one fish per 10 gallons. Check your water with a test kit weekly and it will let you know how often you need to change your water.
Keep in mind that maintenance depends on the size of the tank and the number of its inhabitants. Naturally, bigger tanks with more fish would require more frequent cleaning. The reason is that we are trying to mimic the natural world of the betta fish where it was captured.
When betta fish poop it causes ammonia to build up in the tank. We take the place of nature and have to clean the waste of the water since betta fish are now trapped in a tank.
The more fish, the more poop, and the less space, the more waste per space. You get the drift.
How Often Should You Clean A 4-Gallon or Smaller Betta Fish Tank?
A 4-gallon or a smaller tank is a very small tank size. Keeping only fish in there would make maintenance easier and less demanding.
A general rule is that such a tank should be cleaned once – every week or every two weeks, depending on how quickly impurities pile up. Remember to test the water with a test kit to be sure.
You can find these kits on Amazon or your local pet store.
If you keep only one male betta, you could clean the tank once every two weeks but not less.
How Often Should You Clean a 5-gallon Betta Fish Tank?
A 5-gallon betta fish tank is still a small tank and it is recommended that you clean it a minimum of once a week.
In fact, one of the factors that keep your fish happy and healthy is a clean and nice living environment. That is why it is essential to know when exactly it is time to clean the tank.
Cleaning the betta fish tank once a week will prevent the harmful buildup of ammonia that can be lethal to the fish.
Steps to Clean Your Tank
Whenever you add new water, make sure you replace it with fresh water from a different source. Never, ever add used water from another aquarium without treating it first, meaning without purifying it and making sure no old bacteria are left.
The weekly cleaning involves removing any food remnants from the gravel and making sure there are no apparent impurities in the tank altogether.
Usually, if the tank is unclean your fish will not die all at once. In case you notice your pet being lethargic or lacking energy, this may be the first sign of an unclean environment.
The first thing you should do if you notice such symptoms is to clean the tank thoroughly and observe whether your fish goes back to normal after that.
It is recommended to perform a thorough and deep cleaning of your tank once a month.
That involves removing your fish and scrubbing and cleaning everything that’s inside the tank, including its walls, bottom, and decorations.
Avoid using soap or any detergent that may be harmful to the tank’s aquatic inhabitants. Make sure you rinse everything properly with hot water before introducing the tank back to the betta fish.
Important Factors When Cleaning A Betta Fish Tank
Below, we are going to discuss a couple of important factors to keep in mind when caring for your betta fish tank.
- Keep the Water Parameters Optimal.
That means keeping the water in the tank up to the highest quality levels. If you fill the tank with tap water, make sure you treat it with a special water conditioner that will neutralize chlorine and chloramine. Obviously, if you notice any visible impurities, remove them at once.
- Remove Debris from the Gravel or Substrate.
Debris is those little remnants of food or fish poop that have the bad habit of getting stuck into the gravel. In fact, gravel is a great environment for collecting debris easily because of the stones’ rough surface. You can clean the gravel by using a gravel vacuum. Directly place the tip of the siphon over the gravel to suck up the debris. The vacuum acts as something similar to a vacuum cleaner but for tank bottoms.
- Keep An Eye On the Algae.
The algae are probably the greatest enemy of all tank owners. Algae are a natural part of life but in big quantities, they can be very harmful to your fish. Generally, if the algae start to spread too much then it means that there is something wrong with the natural balance of the aquarium. Keep the algae in check and do not let it slip out of control.
How Often Should You Clean Bigger Tanks?
Naturally, the bigger the tank is, the less frequent cleaning it will require. Also, it matters how many fish there are inside, how much gravel, and how many other plants and decorations are presented.
If your tank is bigger than 5 gallons, then it probably doesn’t need to be cleaned once a week, but every two weeks.
However, keep an eye on it and test the water quality with a test kit weekly. A test kit will come with instructions.
In Conclusion
Generally, cleaning a betta fish tank is not that different than cleaning any other fish tank.
In fact, bettas are amongst some of the easiest fish to take care of.
The most important thing to do is to constantly test your water quality with a test kit weekly, even if you aren’t changing the water. Testing will help you catch bad water quality in case something out of the ordinary happens.
Depending on the size of the tank, once a week or more cleaning may be necessary.
Keep an eye out for food remnants, high levels of algae, and your fish’s behavior. Lethargic or less energetic behavior may be a sign of an unclean environment.
Following those simple steps will keep the living environment in the tank healthy and clean, resulting in happy and lively fish!
