What Are Betta Beads? They Can Save Your Betta’s Life!
Betta fish is one of the most popular aquarium fish out there. Eager to have a one of their own, many people keep them in tiny bowls or tanks, although we don’t recommend this.
We like bigger tanks with a filtration system for your fish, but if you don’t have a filter, you should get some Aqueon Betta Beads – they may save your pet fish’s life!
So, what are betta beads?
Betta beads by Aqueon are biodegradable balls that contain beneficial bacteria for your betta tank. The beads are for unfiltered tanks. Filtered tanks get beneficial bacteria by other means so the beads aren’t necessary and are ineffective for filtered tanks. However, beneficial bacteria are necessary for Betta Fish, so make sure you have either a filter or betta beads.
Betta beads are good to have in your tank because your fish will enjoy playing with them since they are shaped like balls. Plus it will also encourage their natural foraging behavior.
What Do Betta Beads Do?
- Aqueon beads contain live beneficial bacteria and enzymes that make the water clear.
- The beneficial bacteria help with nitrogen cycling by converting harmful ammonia into less harmful chemicals.
- The beads enrich the environment in the aquarium, allowing your bettas to play with the soft balls and encouraging their innate foraging behavior, providing the bettas with mental stimulation.
- The beads help keep the aquarium healthy by disintegrating organic waste for a balanced environment.
- Acts as soft biodegradable gravel for bowls and small tanks. Watch as your bettas bury themselves into the beads.
- Betta beads shrinking too fast is a quick indicator that the water is too hard for your betta – in that case, you should replace the water with soft betta water that is deionized or specially filtered.
Betta Beads Colors
Aqueon PURE Betta Beads come in five choices of colors:
- Blue
- Purple
- Pink
- Green
- Black and White
How Do You Use Betta Beads?
Put one pouch of beads per gallon of water in your unfiltered tank. You should put the beads in your tank at least once a month, replacing the beads already there.
Change at least 25% of your betta’s water every two weeks. Make sure to put the betta beads in your aquarium after you change the water and not before.
Do Bettas Need a Filter?
Bettas need filters, just like most fish. A filter is a vital piece of equipment in most aquariums. It helps clean the tank and maintain proper conditions for your fish.
It’s hard to get a filter for a bowl or small tank. However, smaller tanks need a filter more because the smaller volume of water can get dirty fast. Harmful chemicals can build up within the blink of an eye and kill your bettas.You can work around this by using betta beads, which have beneficial bacteria that break down toxic compounds like ammonia and nitrite while providing enzymes to clear the water
Are Betta Beads Good as a Filter?
Betta beads provide biological filtration for your aquarium but not mechanical filtration. This means they can help prevent the build-up of toxic compounds such as ammonia and nitrite but do not remove solid waste particles.
That means you have to clean your tank manually to get rid of solid waste such as uneaten food, fish feces, etc.
Do Betta Beads Replace Gravel?
Betta beads can replace gravel but you are not supposed to have betta beads and gravel together in the same tank. Only use betta beads in an unfiltered tank.
Can You Use Betta Beads in a Filtered Tank?
No, you should not use Betta beads in Filtered Tank
A tank with a filter already has a mechanism in place for nitrogen cycling, so you do not need to add any beneficial bacteria.
That’s not all. Betta beads can get stuck in the filter causing it to malfunction. There are countless betta beads reviews out there that complain how the beads messed up their filter. This is because they haven’t read the product label properly. Do not use betta beads with a filter!
How do You Dispose of Betta Beads?
Just throw them in the trash. Betta beads are made up of biodegradable material, which means they disintegrate on their own. They are not toxic and you do not need any special considerations when disposing of them.
Are Water Beads Safe for Bettas?
No, water beads – otherwise known as Orbeez – are not the same as betta beads. They are made up of super absorbent polymers and may be toxic to your betta or your betta may swallow them.
They may break off into small pieces and be eaten by your fish, which might clog your fish’s digestive tract, leading to a slow and painful death.
Use betta beads instead for the same visual effect while also enjoying other added benefits such as nitrogen cycling and crystal clear water.
Do Betta Beads Replace Gravel?
Betta beads can replace gravel for bowls and small tanks, but not for big ones. Bigger tanks have a lot of area, so you may have to exceed the recommended betta bead amount to cover it all, which is not advisable to do.
It is possible to use them in an aquarium that already has gravel, but avoid using betta beads in a filtered tank.
Why do Betta Fish Need Beneficial Bacteria?
All aquarium creatures produce waste in the form of poop, which is the main bad guy in your aquarium because it produces ammonia. If the ammonia levels are left to wreak havoc, it can eventually kill your precious betta fish – that is why bettas need a filter.
You can also get ammonia in your aquarium from uneaten fish food, dead plants, and from not cleaning your filter.
Lucky for you and your fish, there are three types of beneficial bacteria that will grow in your tank.
One type of beneficial bacteria converts waste into ammonia, which can kill your fish even at low levels. But another type converts ammonia into nitrite, which is also bad, but there is yet another beneficial bacteria that converts nitrite into nitrate.
Nitrate is not harmful to your fish unless there is too much of it. Weekly or bi-weekly water changes prevent nitrate from accumulating too much.
If you replace some of your water, then you bring down the level of nitrates while leaving some of the beneficial bacteria in the tank. If you changed all of your water then you would risk losing all of your beneficial bacteria.
Conclusion
Betta beads are a beneficial addition to your betta tank if you don’t have a filter. Not only will your betta fish enjoy playing with them, but they also can encourage your betta’s natural foraging behavior. They also provide beneficial bacteria and enzymes to keep the water healthy and clear.
If you don’t have a filter you can use betta beads in place of gravel for small tanks. The only catch is you have to keep replacing them on a regular basis.
Betta beads are a wonderful addition to your tank and will enhance your aquarium experience by providing entertainment for both you and your betta fish – at the same time, saving them from certain death.
Thanks for reading
