I have recently decided that I would like to have a fish tank in my room and I bought a 3 gallon tank with a filter and a hood light. I populated it with 2 swordtail fish and two glofish. After only one week the water in my tank is cloudy and is showing no signs of clearing up. I have already replaced the water filter and swapped out 25% of the water in the tank. Any other suggestions?????
How do I keep my water clear??
- Thread starter Brian2
- Start date
Hey Brian2, welcome to the forum.
As mentioned above, the 3g won't work for anything except ONE betta fish (or maybe a couple endlers or shrimp). If you are committed to keeping fish and want some flexibility with what you can have, you might want to consider getting a 10g or larger - the larger the better, actually.
Even if you do stick with the 3g and one betta, you still need to 'commit' to learning about your fish's needs and put in some effort to keep the environment properly maintained for your fish's health. Otherwise you will experience lots of frustration and dead fish. No fun.
So, do you have room/money/desire for a bigger tank? If not, take all four of your fish back to your store right away, and we'll gladly give you advice on how to get set up for a lovely small betta tank.
PS - the reason your water is cloudy is likely a bacteria bloom from having too many fish in that small a tank, without the tank being properly cycled. It won't just clear up, sorry.
As mentioned above, the 3g won't work for anything except ONE betta fish (or maybe a couple endlers or shrimp). If you are committed to keeping fish and want some flexibility with what you can have, you might want to consider getting a 10g or larger - the larger the better, actually.
Even if you do stick with the 3g and one betta, you still need to 'commit' to learning about your fish's needs and put in some effort to keep the environment properly maintained for your fish's health. Otherwise you will experience lots of frustration and dead fish. No fun.
So, do you have room/money/desire for a bigger tank? If not, take all four of your fish back to your store right away, and we'll gladly give you advice on how to get set up for a lovely small betta tank.
PS - the reason your water is cloudy is likely a bacteria bloom from having too many fish in that small a tank, without the tank being properly cycled. It won't just clear up, sorry.
Ahhh...reminds me of me. I started with a 3 gal tank myself (with about 10 fish....)
But yea, it is too many fish. To even try to keep that tank clean will mean daily water exchanges and regular water testing because many fish and small water = fast changes in chemistry.
A betta fish would be comfy in there. And you could probably throw in a couple of shrimp but beyond that everything else is pushing it.
Trust me....been there done that. Overloading the tank will make the tank a chore instead of an enjoyment.
(and once you get a good sized tank you will realize how tiny 3 gals is.)
But yea, it is too many fish. To even try to keep that tank clean will mean daily water exchanges and regular water testing because many fish and small water = fast changes in chemistry.
A betta fish would be comfy in there. And you could probably throw in a couple of shrimp but beyond that everything else is pushing it.
Trust me....been there done that. Overloading the tank will make the tank a chore instead of an enjoyment.
(and once you get a good sized tank you will realize how tiny 3 gals is.)
Yeah, the reason that I do not have a bigger tank is due to the fact that I am currently living with my parents while I go to college and I am only allowed a tank that will comfortably fit on it. The reason that I bought the three gallon one I just got was because I had a 1 gallon tank with those same fish in it. They seem to be living happily since the new tank(which I got two weeks ago) and there is no other problem than the water not being clear. I have had the fish now for over 6 months as well. But if it is cruel to the fish to leave them in the tank then I can take them back to the store and they will take them back. Should I keep them, or take them back to the store??
My vote goes for taking them back to the store. Fish *can* live in less-than-ideal conditions, but as their caretakers, it's our responsibility to give them the best accomodations possible. Think of keeping those fish in a too-small tank like you living in a closet. You can live in a closet, but you wouldn't be comfortable or happy.
+1 on bassbonediva - and good on you Brian2 for being willing to make the responsible choice, even if that's probably NOT what you wanted to hear when you posted on this site.
There are lots of betta specialists on this site - would you like to make your tank a lovely home for one beautiful betta? They'd love to help!
And I can't believe you had those same four fish survive in a 1g tank for six months! Seriously? Wow. If so, props to you and your fish, but please don't try it again
There are lots of betta specialists on this site - would you like to make your tank a lovely home for one beautiful betta? They'd love to help!
And I can't believe you had those same four fish survive in a 1g tank for six months! Seriously? Wow. If so, props to you and your fish, but please don't try it again
I used to think my ten fish were happy in 3 gallons so I know what you mean.
But, after I got the 38g tank, I noticed the changes in their habits. Then I realized what looked like happy fish was not what I thought. In the bigger tank, the different fish were able to hide, swim only at night, school better, rest -in general do more of what they wanted to do instead of being living in tight conditions where they were (now obvious to me) on guard all the time.
Maybe you could do 2 cories at the bottom with the betta on top. I love my cories they are a real joy. My first two were named Ponch and John..... the two of them always swam side by side along the bottom making me think of those two motorcycle police cops patroling around. But remember - they love a good hiding spot for when they aren't out on patrol!
But, after I got the 38g tank, I noticed the changes in their habits. Then I realized what looked like happy fish was not what I thought. In the bigger tank, the different fish were able to hide, swim only at night, school better, rest -in general do more of what they wanted to do instead of being living in tight conditions where they were (now obvious to me) on guard all the time.
Maybe you could do 2 cories at the bottom with the betta on top. I love my cories they are a real joy. My first two were named Ponch and John..... the two of them always swam side by side along the bottom making me think of those two motorcycle police cops patroling around. But remember - they love a good hiding spot for when they aren't out on patrol!
Lol. What about a snail in there with a betta in the three gal bass? Its reccomended to do what, two gallons per snail and ALDEAST a gallon for a betta(More is better, yeah)
But if you got a small one wouldn't that work in the beginning?
They do grow fast, but I find that when I try shrimp they either die really fast or get eaten. I have a betta in with one of my snails and she loves it. She is always teasing and flairing at it.
And LFS will take the larger snails (they sell for more and better) and mabye you can trade it out for a smaller one to switch it up for your betta or something?
or would the snail produce too much waste?
But if you got a small one wouldn't that work in the beginning?
They do grow fast, but I find that when I try shrimp they either die really fast or get eaten. I have a betta in with one of my snails and she loves it. She is always teasing and flairing at it.
And LFS will take the larger snails (they sell for more and better) and mabye you can trade it out for a smaller one to switch it up for your betta or something?
or would the snail produce too much waste?
I adore my betta kids! They all have such different, vibrant personalities. One of my little girls in the 55gal was "hunting" a bug that had gotten trapped on the surface of the water. I watched her for probably a good 15 minutes as she "stalked" it and then pounced. It was way too big for her to eat and you could just SEE her disappointment. lol (Don't worry...they all get fed every day and get bloodworms and brine shrimp once a week, so they aren't starving...it's just like my dog who gets fed every day and gets leftovers from Sunday dinner on Sunday, but still insists on hunting any rodent he can find).
So Brian, does that mean that you are going to take your fish back? That's really hard, but you are doing the right thing. I'm sad for you, but, kinda sorta happy for your fish. Good on you. Very much the right call.
And now, yay! You get to think about an awesome betta living in that tank. Keep us posted!
And now, yay! You get to think about an awesome betta living in that tank. Keep us posted!