From fixer-upper to dream home

[lunarix]

Hey fishforums!!!

So glad dusshera break is here, means I can focus on my fish for a bit. Need your help though, my betta ace's tank is a mess and I wanna fix it.

Tank situation -
1 betta with fin rot (not healing), but he's swimming around fine
3 albino tetras
Cubical tank (no idea how many gallons)
No plants, no filter (tank's way too small)
1 small rock

Light's on, one albino nips another that's always at the bottom
One albino only swims at the bottom, comes up just for food

Lost my gourami recently, had him for 3 years. Can I get a R.I.P from you guys?

Thanks for reading this, appreciate it
Love y'all

Moony 42

[coltin]

Would be great if you could post some pics of your betta and tetras, even if it's just with the camera on its lowest resolution setting. That way the pics should fit on here no problem. Just make sure to check them on your pc first and pick a couple that are clear and show what's going on. Oh, and don't forget to turn the resolution back up afterwards so your other pics aren't all small.

Finrot's usually caused by poor water quality and a dirty environment. I've found the easiest way to treat it is with daily 75% water changes and gravel cleans for a couple of weeks. Just make sure any new water you add is free of chlorine and chloramine.

If you haven't cleaned the filter in the last couple of weeks, give it a good clean. Just wash the media in a bucket of tank water and reuse it. Also, give the inside of the glass a wipe down with a clean fish sponge before you do the water changes.

I'm guessing the tetras are nipping at your betta's fins and stopping them from healing. Tetras really need to be in groups of at least 6, preferably 10 or more of their own kind. Some tetras are just fin nippers and shouldn't be kept with fish that have long fins.

[SeaBidder]

Hey coltin,

Thanks for the super helpful advice and the condolences for my gourami. A picture of my betta and the tetras is a great idea - I'll try to get some clear shots and post them here. I'll make sure to adjust the camera settings so they're not too big for the site.

I've been meaning to do a major tank cleaning, and your post just gave me the push I needed. I know finrot is usually caused by poor water quality, so I'll start doing daily 75% water changes and cleaning the gravel for a couple of weeks. Problem is, I don't have a filter - my tank is way too small for one. But I'll make sure to wipe down the glass with a clean sponge before each water change.

I'm starting to think you might be right about the tetras nipping my betta's fins. I've noticed they can be pretty aggressive when the light is on. Maybe I should consider rehoming them or getting more to keep them company. Do you think that would help solve the problem?

[sSjey]

Hey fishforums!!!

So glad dusshera break is here, means I can focus on my fish for a bit. Need your help though, my betta ace's tank is a mess and I wanna fix it.

Tank situation -
1 betta with fin rot (not healing), but he's swimming around fine
3 albino tetras
Cubical tank (no idea how many gallons)
No plants, no filter (tank's way too small)
1 small rock

Light's on, one albino nips another that's always at the bottom
One albino only swims at the bottom, comes up just for food

Lost my gourami recently, had him for 3 years. Can I get a R.I.P from you guys?

Thanks for reading this, appreciate it
Love y'all

Moony 42

Thanks for the welcome back SeaBidder. coltin, love the pic idea, but I'm not too great with tech - I'll try to get some up for you, though. Also, I've gotta correct you - I don't have a filter, it's just too small for one.

If I get the measurements, can someone please help me figure out the volume of the tank?

[lunarix]

Would be great if you could post some pics of your betta and tetras, even if it's just with the camera on its lowest resolution setting. That way the pics should fit on here no problem. Just make sure to check them on your pc first and pick a couple that are clear and show what's going on. Oh, and don't forget to turn the resolution back up afterwards so your other pics aren't all small.

Finrot's usually caused by poor water quality and a dirty environment. I've found the easiest way to treat it is with daily 75% water changes and gravel cleans for a couple of weeks. Just make sure any new water you add is free of chlorine and chloramine.

If you haven't cleaned the filter in the last couple of weeks, give it a good clean. Just wash the media in a bucket of tank water and reuse it. Also, give the inside of the glass a wipe down with a clean fish sponge before you do the water changes.

I'm guessing the tetras are nipping at your betta's fins and stopping them from healing. Tetras really need to be in groups of at least 6, preferably 10 or more of their own kind. Some tetras are just fin nippers and shouldn't be kept with fish that have long fins.

I've given the tank a good clean recently to get rid of the algae, and it's looking really clear now. I have seen the tetras nipping at my betta's fin sometimes, though. Unfortunately, I don't have a spare tank to move them to, so they'll have to stay together for now. Sorry about the photos, they didn't turn out great.

[lunarix]

My tank might appear a bit hazy but trust me, the water's clear.

[lunarix]

Hey guys, I've finally measured my tank and it's a 1.7 gallon Essjay. Thanks Deanasue for the warm welcome back, it means a lot.

[sSjey]

A tank that small is just about manageable for a betta, but it's a real challenge without a filter. Daily water changes are crucial to prevent poor water conditions, which can easily lead to finrot. To be honest, a bigger tank is essential for the betta's well-being as soon as possible, and the tetras or barbs need a much more spacious environment.

It's not suitable for any other fish, and definitely not with a betta in the tank. I'm a bit confused - in your initial post, you mentioned albino tetras, but in the photo, they appear to be normal-colored cherry barbs. Whatever they are, tetras and barbs require a larger group, and having only three is likely causing them stress. This stress can lead to abnormal behavior, such as aggression, and it's probably why one of the tetras/barbs is being picked on. However, it's not possible to get more of them due to the tank's limited size.

[lunarix]

I'm not sure if albino tetras and cherry barbs are the same, I thought they were different names for the same type of fish. Anyway, I have a slightly bigger tank, 2.9 gallons, that I haven't set up yet.

For my current 1.7 gallon tank, what kind of plants would you recommend? I'm looking for packaged ones, not from active aquariums.

[sSjey]

Cherry barbs and tetras are not the same thing. Cherry barbs are a specific type of fish, Puntius titteya, whereas tetras are a general term for hundreds of species mainly from South America.

That 2.9 gallon tank you mentioned will be perfect for your betta, but only if he's alone. Cherry barbs need a lot more space, at least 15 gallons, to thrive.