When people are talking about their fish, any non-fish hobbyiest can pick up that ammonia is a bad thing. They may even get the feeling that nitrites and nitrates are bad. They might not understand the how's and why's of it, but they definitely know it's bad. First, definitions: Ammonia is … Read more about Ammonia, Nitrates & Nitrites OH MY
The Native Betta Habitat – Separating Fact from Fiction
My Sad Introduction to the Betta Myth I recall the first time I ever laid eyes on Betta splendens. Like most people, I was wandering about a local pet store and thought I’d pop through the fish section. I had not owned fish since the deaths of my tropical fish in a grossly overstocked 10g (40L) … Read more about The Native Betta Habitat – Separating Fact from Fiction
A Warning About Distilled Water and Betta Fish
Unlike tap water or spring water, distilled water has gone through a process that strips it almost completely of all minerals. Like RO water (reverse osmosis), it is essentially pure and no longer contains any of the trace elements that would be found naturally in water. Fish kept in distilled water … Read more about A Warning About Distilled Water and Betta Fish
Aquarium Chemistry, Including Redox for Bettas & Other Fish
Much of this information I will provide is condensed and more basic, but comes a from a couple of very in depth and researched articles on this subject (which readers can read if they desire a more in depth understanding). I will not address the organic chemistry aspect (the Nitrogen Cycle), … Read more about Aquarium Chemistry, Including Redox for Bettas & Other Fish
Betta Fish Life Span
Betta fish life span is based on a few simple factors. Environment, diet, genetics and a little luck all play a role in how long your betta fish will live. Domesticated bettas, when cared for properly, have an estimated life span of about 3 years. It is not unusual for a betta to live longer than 3 … Read more about Betta Fish Life Span
10 Reasons to Cycle your Betta Tank
Tank cycling is when we assist our aquarium in growing a colony of beneficial bacteria that will consume dangerous ammonia and nitrite, the byproducts of fish waste and other decaying organic debris. This is a naturally occurring process that, given the right conditions, would occur anyway in your … Read more about 10 Reasons to Cycle your Betta Tank
Summer is Here – Fighting Algae Blooms
Summer is finally here and with it generally comes a more stable pH. Water treatment facilities will often do a flushing of the system in the spring causing spikes in chlorine and chloramine levels and unstable KH and pH levels. By the time summer rolls we tend to find less fluctuation in the water … Read more about Summer is Here – Fighting Algae Blooms
Can PH Fluctuations Lead to Illnesses in Betta Fish?
DSCN9841, originally uploaded by starlessdesigns. Q: C wrote, Remember me? I emailed you awhile back about my male fish named Sushi. He had the mysterious disease. He finally had gotten better with the inside/outside anti bacterial food. He was all back to normal. But that only lasted about 3 … Read more about Can PH Fluctuations Lead to Illnesses in Betta Fish?