How Long Can Fish Survive Without A Filter?

A filter keeps the aquarium running and is necessary for most of the settings. It mimics the ecological environment that fishes are habitual to. So, how long can a fish live without a filter?

Fish can survive in an artificial environment without a filter for about 3 days to a maximum of a week. The number of days is mostly dependent on varying factors such as the number of fish, measures you are going to take to ensure filtration, the resources you have, and alternatives.

Now, you might also think that goldfish do really well in a fishbowl without a filter, as well as few show-fish. Or is it just an iconic memory from a movie that shouldn’t be practiced? Do you really need a filter for your aquarium? Let’s get to the root of it all.

How Do Fish Live In Natural Environment Without Filters?

This is the very first question that would come to anyone’s mind if one has to debate on the need for a filter for their aquarium.

Isn’t clean water enough for them? Don’t they just need water to ‘breathe’? Actually, no. This would be simplifying their problem.

Fish don’t just need water but the oxygen that they get from water. Still waters hardly ever have fish in it.

You can find fish in rivers or even oceans too where water circulates. But shallow ponds can also breed fish better than still waters, why? Isn’t it interesting? We’ll get there too in a while.

Role Of The Process ‘Cycle’ In Artificial Setting

Now, let’s try to understand what we are exactly trying to mimic in an artificial setting (fish tanks and aquariums) through the process called cycle.

• Fish produce ammonia and if that gets accumulated in a fish tank, it will get lethal for them to survive. It can affect their life expectancy and health.
• To counter this problem, live bacteria are added to the aquarium. These live bacteria attach themselves to the sponge and other filtering material – your standard filter. Once they start to live and breed, they consume this ammonia and create nitrite.
• Then, a second set of bacteria makes their home in the filter and consumes nitrite to produce nitrate. This whole process is called a cycle.

Since ammonia and nitrite are highly toxic for fish, it is essential to ensure there is a bacteria growth in your aquarium before you put them in it.

A filter pumps air and circulates water inside of the aquarium. When the filter stopped working for any reason, the first hit is always caused to the bacteria living in the aquarium – they will start dying off.

Still, water doesn’t have enough circulation to produce oxygen. Hence, your fish will be swimming up to get some ‘gasp’ of air. Those fish who cannot do that will suffer more.

How Do Fish Survive In Shallow Ponds?

Rivers, oceans, and freshwater lakes all have natural filtration available to them via live bacteria, water circulation, etc. However, if there are many fishes in a shallow pond, they tend to live to a quite much extent.

It is because the movement of fish in shallow water creates enough air and oxygen to circulate in the shallow pond. Also, since the space between water and air isn’t so far, thick or deep, they can get oxygen much more easily.

However, it is not an ideal environment to live in and they do not tend to survive for a longer period because of other factors such as predators, water evaporation, no frequent change of water, etc.

Do Fish Like Goldfish And Betta Fish Do Good In Fishbowls With No Filter?

The short and simple answer to it is – they don’t. Any new fish-keeping hobbyist might be in such an illusion.

Doing this will either make your resolve stronger in maintaining the fish better or leave fish-keeping as a hobby altogether. Maintaining fish is not an easy or cheap job.

As we have cleared it before, clear water is not enough for fish to survive. People generally tend to keep fishbowl with the idea of saving space and money. Why buy filters when you can fill it up with clean water?

Without a filter, you will have to regularly filter water, changing it, and refilling it – maybe every day or at least every 2 days. Otherwise, you will observe your fish dying. In such cases, it is better to have a fish or two in a bowl, nothing more than.

Moreover, it is never a great idea to fill the fishbowl close to its brim. In every aquarium, it is always beneficial to fill the bowl or a tank till half or little over half if there is no filter there. In case we have a filter, then you can fill it close to the brim.

We all remember iconic stills in movies where a hero or heroine will be observing a fish in a bowl, swimming, all clueless – while our protagonist muses over it. But as a fish keeping practice, this is tedious work and even harmful.

After all, they never show what happened to the fish in the bowl as the movie ends. Did it ever have a happily ever after? These are the questions we need to ask.

How To Save Your Fish During A Power Outage?

The downside of having a filter would be keeping it vulnerable to a power outage. If your area has power outage issues, this is going to create havoc for the fish.

Your fish can survive this if you are ready to save them on time. Let’s first tell you the simplest and basic solution to it.

Getting a generator or inverter will help your filter, heater, and everything running smoothly. Inverters are generally cost-friendly for a longer term than generators as it needs fuel and the former needs batteries.

If you do not want to keep your fish vulnerable to the power outage, especially when you cannot be around to change the water and do the needful – it is good to invest in the inverter. If you want to go for generators, it can work out nicely as well.

Now, let’s get to the part where you cannot always afford to have an inverter or generator. There is nothing to feel bad about it but you have to be proactive about saving them.

You have a time window of 24 hours maximum to make the necessary arrangements!

This is how you can do it.

Buy an additional water tank where your fish can swim. Fill half the tank with the existing water and exactly half of it, nothing more.

Balance the population. The idea is to make fish swim in the water and induce circulation through their movement. If it gets overcrowded, shift half of them in another tank.

If you have larger fish, it is always a good idea to buy a kid’s pool (bathtub) and shift them there.

If you have plants in the tank, do not add them. Aquatic plants also need oxygen they get from water. This way, they will not be competing for oxygen. You can keep them stored in a plastic bag filled with water.

Do not feed the fish. They can live up to 2 weeks without food. The reason not to give food to them is that it will dirty the water. Filter always cleans food particles along with water circulation and pumping air. Leftover food will also deplete oxygen present in water.

Do not mindlessly add live bacteria to the new tank. The live bacteria may be able to eat ammonia, but it will not be able to properly form a second set of bacteria that eats nitrate. This will not produce a cycle that we are intending to create. Instead, it can get toxic for your fish.

The best thing to do would be to check the ammonia level in the water, pH as well as water temperature. It should be according to the needs of the fish. Just when the ammonia level rises in water, you would need to change it.

In case you are doing this for bigger fish and shifting them to a kid’s pool, make sure that you cover it with a net so that they do not jump out of water.

If these things get really tedious for you, you can ask your friends for help and shift your aquarium to your friend’s place who has an inverter or generator available to them.

Make sure that when you refill the water again in the tank, do not put the fish and wait for it to create a cycle. It is better to add ammonia in the water and wait for it to create a cycle, and then add fish back to the tank.

These steps should help you save your fish in time and give them a happily ever after (unlike those innocent and clueless fish prisoned in a fishbowl).

Can Fish Sleep With The Lights On?

Not all fishes have eyelids to indicate they are sleeping, except for sharks. They sleep with their eyes open (a technique that would have been so useful to us humans in boring situations). So, can fish sleep with the lights on?

The short and quick answer to it is no, they cannot. It disturbs their biorhythmic cycle, as light is a big indicator of their sleep and wake cycle. Keeping the lights on will keep them ‘awake’ and it will lead to sleeping, behavioral, and health disorders. Hence, they should be getting their beauty sleep at night just like we all do.

Since fishes sleep with their eyes open, people who are new in the fish keeping community might consider them to be awake all the time. But how do fish ever sleep if their eyes are always open? Would your room-light disturb their sleep? Let’s explore all these aspects.

Keeping Their Eye Open For Threat

One of the reasons why fishes do not look like they are sleeping is because they do not have eyelids. We can perceive others to be sleeping when their eyelids are closed.

Since fishes do not have it, it is common to mistake them as being ‘awake’ all the time. However, there is a distinction to make here – they never have their REM sleep.

To understand their ‘sleep’, you have to understand their brain structure and survival mode. Fishes, especially smaller ones, are prone to be eaten by any predatory animal. Hence, they have to be more alert than the other species.

They are fully awake and alert in the daytime. But at night time, they prefer to hide anywhere they find to be safe and ‘sleep’.

Now, some fishes will form a group and go in hiding together to feel safer when they sleep. Some will be lone rangers. They will go to the bottom of the sea or aquarium and hide behind plants and lush.

The idea is to be swimming gingerly in one place and take naps. They do not sleep as we do. They are prone to sleep in breaks than at full stretch.

When they are in their deep sleep time, they tend to go ‘blind’ to their surroundings – just like when we daydream. You can even catch a fish (without disturbing it or touching it) and shift it to another tank –and it will still be sleeping.

An alert fish will be swimming and showing some kind of movement or resistance to the move.

Just like us humans, fishes are prone to get irritated, get jittery, or get insomnia when their sleep cycle is disturbed.

Fishes deliberately wreck their sleep cycle if they are migrating or spawning or when they are taking care of their fry. This can make them aggressive for a while but it is rather temporary and small in impact.

Chronic sleep deprivation can make them lethargic, lose orientation, affect their health, and pick up a fight with other fishes in the tank. A lot of it has to do with the light they get in their aquarium.

Sleep And Its Relation To Light

Light affects most of the living organism’s biorhythmic cycle on the earth, including ours. Daylight indicates the body to wake up and be alert and the absence of it prepares the body to rest.

The main aim of sleeping (or even taking continual naps when we talk about fishes) is to replenish the body and mind. If one gets too much or too little of it, the body and mind suffer. This holds true for fishes as well.

Keeping the lights on for too long or keeping the lights too bright for some of the sensitive species can cause them to feel disoriented. Not only that, algae will start to flourish at twice the speed.

At one point, fishes and algae will be fighting for their spot in the aquarium. Some lights might even cause a change in temperature and this can affect your fishes as well as aquatic plants. Too much sunshine indeed creates a desert.

Fishes will sleep when you turn the lights off. Just make sure they get 12 hours of daylight and prepare for sleep by nighttime.

Interior fish lights are necessary for some species of fishes and aquatic plants, especially when your area doesn’t get a sufficient amount of light indoors.

Goldfishes are known to lose color if they do not get sufficient light. If you have corals and plants in the same setting, the requirements can get even more specific. We shall jump into that topic next.

But before we get there, there is one more question that one might be curious to know – do fishes get disturbed by your room’s light? Does light and sound from your television cause sleep disturbance to your fishes?

It depends mostly on the species of the fishes and the environment you create for them. If you have fishes that are habitual of riverside and seaside, they may be able to tolerate a quite decent amount of television volume and sleep comfortably.

But if you have fishes who come from more quieter areas, they might need more peaceful silence.

Even though sound travels faster in water than in air, it will not cause any disturbance to the fishes, as there is a barrier between the two medium – the glass tank.

If you create any noise source inside of the tank, they will get highly disturbed, but they cannot be much disturbed by the outside noise. However, you shouldn’t be listening to deep bass, as its effect can penetrate in water and disturb their sleep.

When it comes to room lights, do not keep it on when they are sleeping. If it is absolutely necessary to put the light on in the same room they are sleeping, put a thick blanket over the tank so that they do not get disturbed.

Types Of Lights For Your Aquarium And How To Choose The Best One

There are 2 types of tanks that a hobbyist mostly keeps:

1. Freshwater tank
2. Saltwater tank

There are subtypes to both types of water tanks:

1. Fish only tank (only fishes and no other aquatic species. Level: Beginner)
2. Fishes with only live rock tank (introducing plants, sponges, invertebrates, and others in the tank. Level: Intermediate to expert)
3. Reef tank marine aquarium (little to no fishes, mostly corals, and invertebrates. Level: expert)

You can mix and experiment with the lighting system only when you have full knowledge of the species you have in your tank and if you have a genuine enthusiasm for it. Else, improper lighting can ruin everything.

Find lights that are in your budget and are relevant to the dimensions of the tank.

A fish-only tank will require a simple lighting system without getting too fancy. However, fishes with only live rock and reef tanks need very specific light requirements.

There are four main types of aquarium lights available.

Normal Output Fluorescent Lighting

Normal output fluorescent lighting or standard fluorescent lighting is ideal for freshwater and fish-only saltwater tanks. They are enough to illuminate a tank efficiently.

There are other popular variants of these fluorescent lights that have different light-emitting qualities.

1. Actinic White Bulbs – Helps in mimicking marine type light and environment. Helps in coral growth for reef tanks
2. Color enhancing bulbs – Ideal for a fish-only tank (both saltwater and freshwater). It helps in enhancing the glow of the whole aquarium and the fishes.
3. Plant bulbs – Ideal for fish with live rock settings or settings where there are plants that need photosynthesis.
4. Daylight bulbs – Used to mimic natural sunlight. Ideal for both saltwater and freshwater aquarium
5. High-intensity bulbs – Ideal for marine aquariums and stimulates deep marine light conditions.

Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL)

CFL produces double the amount of light as compared to standard fluorescent lights and is more operating friendly.

You get the same benefits as the former but with less amount of lighting equipment. It is ideal for both freshwater and marine aquariums.

High-Intensity Metal Halide Lighting

Metal halides lightings are efficient for lightening aquariums that are deeper than 24 inches. Other light sources may not be able to illuminate effectively at deeper levels of water and this is where metal halides lightings come in handy.

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

LED lights are almost new in the aquarium lighting field but they are doing an efficient job in emitting light at less amount of energy. It may be a little costly initially but it saves your money and energy in the long run.

It is good for a fish-only tank for both freshwater and saltwater tanks. More research needs to be done if they are really efficient for other types of tank given that we can also control the color temperature with LED lights.

In any case, make sure you make an informed choice about the lights you choose with respect to the aquatic species you have, tank size, tank type, and your budget.

Are Aquariums A Lot Of Work? What You Need To Do

Many of us dream about having an aquarium in our homes but are worried that it is too much work. I have also looked into getting an aquarium and did some research as to how much work it really is and which aquarium will suit me best.

Aquariums are, in fact, not that much work to keep, depending on the type of fish that you decide on, the size of the aquarium, and whether it’s a freshwater or saltwater aquarium. Many see the initial setup of the aquarium as the most work.

You should also start your tank off right to ensure that you don’t begin your aquarium with water that is unhealthy or even toxic to your fish. To do this, you need to first decide what type of aquarium you want.

In this article, we’ll look at both freshwater and saltwater aquariums and how to start them the right way so that your fish will have a healthy habitat to live and grow in.

The Differences Between Freshwater And Saltwater Aquariums

The basic difference between freshwater and saltwater aquariums is that a freshwater aquarium mimics a freshwater habitat (like you’ll find in a lake or a dam, for instance).

A saltwater aquarium, on the other hand, mimics a saltwater habitat, like that found in coral reefs in the ocean, for example. The fish, animals, and plants you’ll find in these different types of aquariums, therefore, differ a lot.

Because of the difference in habitat, there is also a difference in the cost between freshwater and saltwater aquariums.

Because of the more specific and (sometimes) harder to mimic habitat, a saltwater aquarium is more expensive to set up and look after than a freshwater one as other equipment is necessary.

Most aquarium keepers agree that freshwater aquariums are easier to start with when you want to get your first fish tank.

However, if you really want to start with a saltwater one, the best idea is to have a fish-only saltwater aquarium and to rather leave a reef aquarium for later when you have more experience.

If you are unsure about the types of fish that you can keep in home aquariums, here are the most popular ones. Of course, there are some fish, like piranhas, which are sometimes also kept as pets!

The freshwater fish that are mostly kept as pets are probably also the most well-known and popular fish.

Popular freshwater fish include:

• Neon Tetra
• Guppies
• Goldfish
• Angelfish
• Zebra Danios
• Oscar
• Bettas
• Kissing Gourami

Freshwater fish are generally speaking hardier than saltwater fish as they can better cope with changes in water pH, for example.

This is another reason why freshwater fish is sometimes a better place to begin your fishkeeping adventures — they are a lot more forgiving if you make mistakes!

Saltwater fish being kept as pets have become a lot more popular over the years. This is not only because of the movie Finding Nemo (2003) but also because newer technology makes it a lot easier to mimic an ocean environment for the fish using specific equipment.

Saltwater Aquarium

Popular saltwater fish include:

• Clownfish (these days also often called “Nemo”)
• Green Chromis
• Wrasses
• Damselfish
• Tangs
• Diamond Watchman and Orange Spotted Gobies
• Butterflyfish

Saltwater fish live in water with a 7.8 — 8.4 pH, meaning that there isn’t that much room for making mistakes when you have a saltwater aquarium. However, with the correct tools, you’ll soon be an old hand at it!

Which Equipment Is Necessary To Start An Aquarium?

It’s very easy to go out and buy one of the all-in-one aquarium kits, but you should be careful to make sure that it contains everything you need to set up the aquarium.

You should also make sure that the brands used in the kit are trusted ones — even though it may mean that you will need to pay more. In the end, you’ll have the peace of mind that the equipment won’t break soon after buying it and place your fish’s lives in danger.

Here’s a list of everything (except the fish and food) that you will need to set up your basic aquarium. Of course, you can also add plants, some underwater “castles” or even a “sunken pirate ship” if you like!

Saltwater Aquarium	Freshwater Aquarium
Aquarium	Aquarium
Substrate (sand or gravel)	Substrate (sand or gravel)
Live rock	Filters
Salt filters	Lighting
Filters	Water testing kit
Powerhead	Hospital or quarantine tank
Protein Skimmer	Thermometer
Lighting	Chlorine neutralizer
Water testing kit
Hospital or quarantine tank
Thermometer
Chlorine neutralizer

As you can see, there is some equipment that is necessary for a saltwater tank that you don’t need for a freshwater aquarium. It is usually this equipment that push the overall price of the aquarium up.

The fish you decide to buy can also range drastically in price. Some freshwater fish you can get for as little as $1-$2, while some saltwater fish can cost upward of $100.

How To Prepare An Aquarium For Fish

Although it’s very tempting to just fill your new aquarium with tap water and add the fish, this is the worst thing you can do. Before you can add fish, you first need to prepare the tank correctly to ensure that your fish have a healthy environment to live in.

An aquarium can be made ready for your fish in just a few steps:

• Plan the size of the aquarium and which fish you’ll keep
• Clean the aquarium
• Add the substrate and water
• Install the aquarium equipment
• Add the plants and other decoration
• Cycle the aquarium and add your fish!

Next, we’ll look at each of these steps in detail.

Plan The Size Of The Aquarium And Which Fish You’ll Keep

First of all, you need to decide which type of aquarium you want and the species of fish that you want to keep. This will dictate the size of the aquarium that you’ll need.

There are various online calculators that can help you figure out the size of the tank you’ll need depending on the species and amount of fish you want to keep.

The larger the aquarium, the happier your fish will be; it’s untrue that fish “grow to the size of the tank”. In fact, if the tank is too small for the fish, they will be stunted in their growth which causes health problems.

The fish can also become aggressive because of the stress and lack of space.

Also, keep in mind where the aquarium will be kept — and keep the weight of the filled aquarium in mind as this can be hundreds of pounds depending on the size of the tank and the amount of water and substrate.

The aquarium furthermore needs to be kept away from direct sunlight and a lot of noise. Basically, you can’t, for example, put the aquarium next to a window and beside the TV.

Make sure first that you can afford to buy the size of the aquarium that you will need for your fish, all the equipment that goes along with it, and also that you have a suitable place to put it.

Once this has all been figured out, it’s time to go out and buy everything you need — leave the actual fish for now, though — and get the tank fish-ready.

Angelfish in a freshwater aquarium

Clean The Aquarium

Once you get the aquarium home, you will need to wash it, but be careful as you should never use any chemicals like cleaners on your tank.

Use warm water and – if the tank is dirty (for example if it’s second-hand), use white vinegar to wipe it down before rinsing it very thoroughly with warm water.

Remember to always keep the cloths, etc. that you use for the aquarium separate and only use it on the tank. This will ensure that no chemicals get into the aquarium’s water by accident.

Adding The Prepared Substrate And Water

Once the aquarium has been cleaned thoroughly, you can add the prepared substrate (gravel) and water.

To prepare the substrate, you will need to wash it — but, again, only using warm water.

The easiest way to do this is to place the substrate into the bucket you’ll use for the aquarium and add water. Swirl the water, discarding the dirty water.

Repeat this process until you find that the water is completely clean when you swirl the gravel around.

Add the substrate to the tank, creating a layer at the bottom.

Next, add the dechlorinated tap water to the tank. If it’s going to be a saltwater aquarium, you can also prepare the saltwater. Once you’ve added all the water, you can begin installing the equipment like the filters, thermometer, etc.

Installing The Aquarium Equipment

Following the instructions on the packaging, install the filter, thermometer (somewhere that’s easy to keep an eye on), and you can also install the heater now if one is necessary.

You can also add the protein skimmer, etc. if you are planning a saltwater tank.

Make sure, however, that you first rinse equipment that will be in the water with some water as well to remove any dust which may have collected on them.

Add The Plants And Other Decorations

Next comes a very fun part — adding the plants and decorations. Again, make sure that you’ve washed the plants (rinse them in clean water) and other decorations (that pirate ship) before placing them in the water. Note that both live and plastic plants should be rinsed beforehand.

If you’re using live plants, you should always plant the roots gently below the surface of the substrate, leaving the crown — if the plant has one — above the substrate. You can also use an aquatic plant fertilizer on the live plants.

Have fun while planting, decorating and creating a happy, healthy habitat for your fish. Just be sure to leave enough space for your fish to swim around in – don’t overdo it!

It’s always easier to add some more plants later rather than filling up the tank with plants and have your poor fish always swimming in a labyrinth of leaves.

After adding the plants, you need to cycle your aquarium.

Cycle The Aquarium And Add Your Fish!

Cycling the aquarium is one of the most important steps in getting your aquarium ready. Be sure that this is completed before adding any fish.

This is where your patience will be tested as you wait for the nitrogen cycle to complete naturally and for enough good bacteria to build up in the biological filter.

This is essential for the health of your fish as the bacteria will turn ammonia into nitrites and then nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites are toxic to fish, so you really don’t want these building up in the aquarium! Your regular water changes will take care of nitrate build-up.

How To Cycle Your Freshwater Aquarium

First, add some ammonia that you got from the fish store to the tank. Be sure to follow the directions on the bottle to a T regarding doses.

Leave the tank, but test once a week to check the levels of ammonia and nitrite. You’ll see that the levels spike first and then drop. Once the levels reach zero (0ppm) it means your tank has been completely cycled and is ready.

How To Cycle Your Saltwater Aquarium

To cycle a saltwater aquarium, you will need “live rock” where the bacteria can build up. Choose light rocks that have a lot of nooks and crannies for the bacteria.

Be sure to transfer the rocks as quickly as possible to keep too many of the bacteria dying off.

If needed, you can also add ammonia to the water to kick-start the cycling.

It’s important to know that cycling can take around 6-8 weeks before it’s finished. Once the levels of ammonia and nitrites reach 0ppm, do a 50% water change to get rid of a build-up of nitrates.

The video below shows some more tips on how to cycle a saltwater aquarium.

When To Test The Aquarium Water After Cycling

For new aquariums like the one you’re prepping, you will need to also check the water daily.

Check the following:

• Water pH level
• Ammonia levels
• Nitrites levels
• Nitrate levels
• Water hardness

You will still need to check and test the water every few weeks in an established aquarium to ensure that there are no compounds that can affect or even poison your fish. When the nitrate levels spike, you will need to change some of the water.

Now that your aquarium is fully prepped, you can add the fish! However, you can’t just put the fish in straight from the container in which you brought them home. You need to acclimatize them first.

How To Acclimatize Your Fish

Make sure that the aquarium lights are off and dim the lights in the room (or draw the curtains/close the blinds).

Take the bag with the fish that you have bought and float it in the aquarium. This will ensure that the water inside the bag is adjusted to that in the aquarium. This will ensure that you don’t shock your fish during the next steps.

Open the bag and add half a cup of water from the aquarium to the bag with your new fish. Repeat this step every 5 minutes until the bag is filled with water.

Pour out half the water that’s in the bag into a separate container – not into the aquarium.

Start adding aquarium water again, half a cup at a time every 5 minutes until the bag is full again.

Now you can use a net to carefully pick your fish up out of the bag and add it to the aquarium. Discard the bag and water into a separate container.

Be sure to watch your fish closely over the next 24-48 hours to ensure that they settle in well, are eating, and aren’t showing any stressed behavior.

Final Thoughts

Now, we have to add that, if this sounds like too much work and something that will just take too long, that you should either re-think getting fish and an aquarium in the first place, or either opting for a species of fish and size of aquarium that you will be able to manage.

Just remember that large amounts of water — and, therefore, larger aquariums — are much more forgiving when it comes to changes in the water chemistry; so you should also not go too small.

Also, an aquarium will not only teach you patience but will also open up the underwater world for you. Watching an aquarium and looking after your fish is even stress-relieving and calming.

Making sure your aquarium is set up right from the start will also give you peace of mind when you add your fish to their new habitat.

In the end, what you get out of keeping fish more than make up for the patience you needed while the tank was cycling and you were waiting for your fish to come to their new forever home.

With a little elbow grease and finding out as much as you can about keeping an aquarium, you will find that aquariums are actually not that much work!

12 Amazing Bottom-Dwelling Fish For A 10-Gallon Tank

Now that you have purchased a 10-gallon tank, you need to think about its inhabitants, and how you will make that corner of your house interesting, which was previously occupied by your grandmother’s coat stand.

To have a well-rounded ecosystem in your 10-gallon tank, you need to have all sorts of colorful fish that beautify the corner.

With a tank this huge, you have the opportunity to fill it up with as many species as you want. However, since bottom-dwelling fish are an important part of the aquarium, the question here is ‘what type of bottom dwelling fish can you keep in your 10-gallon tank?’

The answer to what type of bottom-dwelling fish can you keep in your 10-gallon tank is not a definite one. Bottom-dwelling fish play an important part in the ecosystem, and that is the part of cleaning up their homes.

Therefore, you need to think carefully about the choices you make because there are over a dozen species that can keep your 10-gallon tank populated and attractive.

Before we get to the list, here are a few more things you need to know:

Knowing Your Fish

When you step into a pet store, more often than not, you get confused when it comes to selecting the inhabitants for your aquarium.

The staff at your local store may present you with a lot of options but keep in mind that most of them might just be trying to increase the sales and earn their commission without really listening to your needs.

Even worse than this is following the name tags on the display tanks that are supposed to clear your doubts but may be flat out wrong.

Therefore, the question remains… How are you going to fill up your 10-gallon tank? Here are a few tips:

• Do your own research (This article can serve as a guide)
• Learn in-depth about aquarium care and the different species of fish
• Keep in mind that some fish may be appropriate for your 10-gallon tank but they may not be easy to take care of

12 Bottom Dwelling Fish for Your 10-Gallon Tank

1. Cory Catfish

This species of bottom-dwelling fish is one of the most popular ones. They remain tiny and do not normally grow longer than a few inches. They are highly compatible with other species, but most importantly, they are omnivores.

This means they not only keep the tank clear of algae, but also eat any dead fish and anything else found at the bottom of your massive tank.

2. Otocinclus Catfish

These can be another great addition since they only grow up to 2 inches. They are called by several other names like Oto cats, algae scrapers and dwarf suckermouths.

Brown algae are their personal favorite – so there goes your worry of cleaning up the tank often.

They are also a bit sensitive and tend to do the best when they are added to an established ecosystem.

3. Siamese Algae Eaters

As their name suggests, Siamese algae eaters love algae no matter what the type is, therefore any algae that might be toxifying your tank may not be found the next morning.

As these fish age, they will need alternative food like pellets, but rest assured algae will not be a problem anymore.

You should not confuse them with Chinese algae eaters that grow more than the Siamese do.

4. Snails

Another popular species of bottom feeders that enjoy sucking on smooth surfaces so you will always find the sides of your 10-gallon tank clean.

They are highly efficient at their jobs so you will find them sucking day and night. However, you need to be careful since some snails reproduce faster than others do.

The Mystery Snail is one of the best choice since they do not reproduce fast and are compatible with other fish.

5. Amano Shrimp

The Amano shrimp is adaptable to various tank environments and are one of the most productive algae eaters in the family of shrimps.

Another cool characteristic of the Amano shrimp is that they will eat any leftover food that will otherwise turn into bacteria.

They only grow to an inch and a half, and are a great friend to other fish.

In addition, they are beautiful to look at with their spotted translucent bodies.

6. Crayfish

While this will sound odd to many fish enthusiasts, Crayfish are actually excellent bottom feeders. They even devour dead fish.

Apart from that, they are colorful and vibrant with their bright blue color, so it makes sense to keep them in the tank to do the dirty work.

One thing about crayfish that you need to know is that they get insecure if they do not find a hiding spot; therefore, you need to make sure your tank has plenty.

7. Kuhli Loach

Loaches have a unique personality and love to live in groups with other species of fish, so there is passion and it is seen in their movements around the tank.

They really enjoy digging in the gravel of the tank and find their meal.

They are so dedicated and persistent with finding their food that they may even move decorations and are often found stuck under those items at times.

One thing you need to take care of is to prevent them from crawling out because they are sneaky and like their time out as well.

8. Plecostomus Catfish

The Pleco fish lives between 20-30 years and may grow as long as 2 feet. It not only constantly feeds but is nocturnal too.

The moment you switch off the lights is when Pleco fish starts its day.

However, when it grows to 12 inches, it will eat a lot and poop a lot, too, but rest assured your algae problems would not remain.

9. Corydoras Catfish

They are cuter than Cory Cats and flit around and scour the bottom of the tank all day.

Usually, they stay small, but other species in the family may grow to different lengths.

They are also quite peaceful but you might notice some squabbles unless you keep them in a big group.

10. Synodontis Catfish

They are really active but also shy at times.

Like the Synodontis Catfish, they may squabble amongst themselves but they are peaceful and ignore the smaller fish in the tank.

The best part about these species is that they are fun to watch when they wiggle out of their hiding to cruise around the tank for food.

11. Botia Loaches

Their small appearance is interesting and their behavior is quite intriguing too, but some of their species can grow to a certain length that may not be suitable for a 10-gallon tank.

They are fun to watch since you will find them manically scouring for substrates at times or lounging like a kid in front of a TV at other times.

They prefer being in big groups if you want them to be non-aggressive.

12. Geophagus

The name of this species literally translates to earth-eater or sand-sifter.

They are known for taking mouthfuls from the ground, sifting through it and then spitting out the rest.

They have several species, amongst which some of them might grow too long to fit in a populated 10-gallon tank while others may be too aggressive.

Here is some advice that may come in handy – surround the plants by big rocks to avoid them plowing through.

Other bottom-dwellers

Like the 10-gallon tank that you might not want to overpopulate, without overloading you with information, here are a few other bottom-dwelling fish that might interest you:

13. Adolfo’s Cory
14. Bandit Cory
15. Pictus Catfish
16. Kribensis
17. Twig Catfish
18. Fresh Water Shrimp
19. Panda Cory
20. Weather Loach

How Many Fish to Get for a 10-Gallon Tank?

While there is no definite answer to this question, the best way to go about it is to do your own research on the different fish species you like. Learning about them will help you evaluate whether or not they will go well with the other species.

The Rule of Thumb

The general rule of thumb in such cases recommends one adult fish per gallon. Therefore, for a 10-gallon tank, you can stock around 10 fish (if you choose to follow the rule).

However, rather than relying on a basic method or a simple formula, it is better to do your own homework and find out more about the fish species you intend on getting for your tank.

Comparing them will help you come up with the right combination of species to inhabitate your tank. While you’re at it, don’t forget to come up with a backup plan as well in case the fish species you get do not mix well.

Just think smartly before selecting the different types of bottom-dwelling fish you want in your 10-gallon tank and you will be a proud owner of a beautiful ecosystem consisting of numerous exotic fish species within no time!

5 Reasons Why Your Fish Stay Near The Filter

Your fish will give you indicators that something isn’t right in their tank even if everything else seems to be fine.

Why are my fish hanging around the filter? There are several reasons why your fish are spending time together around the filter. It could be in their nature to do so or there could also be an issue with the tank itself.

Analyzation of the situation is needed to help your fish. Look at their behavior and the type of fish that are staying near the filter. To help you out below are questions that need to be answered.

Read further to discover the reason your fish are hanging out near the filter and what you can do to help.

What the filter does and pinpointing the issue

First, we have to look at exactly the filter does in the tank. Its main purpose is to clean out the pollutants from uneaten food, decaying plants, and the various chemicals caused by your fish.

This vacuum also creates a current in the tank mimicking their natural environment. The cleanest and most oxygen-rich water will be near the filter.

There are a variety of reasons why your fish might be spending time near the filter.

To determine the reason we need to ask some questions.

• Are all of your fish staying near the filter?
• When was the last time you cleaned the aquarium?
• If it is only a few are they the same species?
• What is the gender of the fish that will not move around the tank?
• What size of the fish is near the filter?
• What size is your tank and how many fish do you have?

Answer these questions will narrow done the issue. Also look at when this behavior started, if they have always been near the filter or if it is a sudden change.

Just because your fish are staying near the filter doesn’t mean they are sick, but if it is a sudden change then it does mean that there is something wrong either with the tank or their health.

Reasons why and what to do about it

While some issues are obvious, all of your fish near the filter or the top of the tank points to an issue with either the tank, filter or water chemistry.

Smaller numbers of fish point to something behavioral such as territorial behavior or mating. Some issues are interconnected if you have a bully in the mix, they might not be compatible with the other fish or the tank itself is too small.

Some others are less obvious, such as the feeding process for each particular fish.

Corydoras pygmaeus

Below are the top reasons for this behavior and ways that you can fix it, read each one thoroughly to get the main reason instead of what may be just a symptom.

1. They need a breath

The main purpose of the filter is cleaning the toxins from the water it also creates a current in the tank. This is for two reasons, it mimics the fish’s natural environment and the disruption of the water gives the fish oxygen to breath.

When the water flows by their gills it gives them a chance to take a breath.

If all of your fish are handing out near the filter it has something to do with the tank itself, most likely that they are not getting enough oxygen. Your fish are suffocating. Since the current is faster near the filter it will create the opportunity to catch a breath.

There are a few ways to help get more oxygen in the water. First, you want to make sure there is a current flowing throughout your tank.

This can be done by either increasing the speed on the filter itself or if you have low current fish adding a pump to another section of the tank. Or you can add a bubbler to the tank to break up the surface of the water bringing oxygen down into the tank.

Adding plants strategically around the tank will also create oxygen by absorbing the toxins in the tank created by your fish.

If you have a lid to your tank make sure there is some space between it and the surface of the water.

2. It’s a fast meal

Life in the water is a harsh environment for those who inhabit it. A lack of food being one. So your fish are naturally opportunistic when it comes to eating.

The big fish will eat the small fish because in their mind they don’t know when their next meal will come so you might as well eat now. A part of the opportunist attitude is getting food the easiest way possible.

If they can just hang out and have food brought to them they will.

If the filter In your tank is causing a high current smaller fish will be sweep away in the waters allowing larger fish to just hanging out by the filter to snatch them when the smaller one passes by.

It’s like a delivery service for your fish. Make sure your fish are compatible with one another or of a similar size.

Fish have an array of ways to feed. Some eat pellets or smaller fish, scavengers, and filter feeders. If there are only certain species that are hanging near the filter it could be due to how they feed.

Some types of fish are filter feeders, meaning they have a specialized feeding system where they filter out food through the current. Sometimes filter feeders will hang out near the filter since it is the best food source.

3. How clean is your tank?

Another reason why all of your fish are hanging out near the filter could be because the water near the bottom isn’t clean. Since the filter is drawing in water that section of the tank is the cleanest.

If the bottom is dirty then they are drowning in their waste.

Check the bottom of the tank for any uneaten food or decaying plants. If this toxic matter is abundant first check the filter to make sure it’s working correctly. If your filter is working check the water by conducting tests.

You can buy a simple tester kit at your local pet store.

To prevent this from happening in the future don’t overfeed your fish so that there are little leftovers. Also, purchase compatible scavenger types such as shrimp to eat uneaten food.

Adding plants will absorb the toxins in the water created by your fish and will put out oxygen.

4. There is a bully in the group or it’s breeding time

Some fish can be territorial when it comes to space. Unfortunately, the bigger fish will pick on the smaller ones. If there is an inadequate place to hide they will go where they feel there is more cover. Sometimes that is the filter.

Look at the types of fish that you have and make sure they are compatible with each other. Sometimes introducing larger numbers of the ones that are bullied will create more of a balance in the tank.

Similar to bullied fish if all of your female fish are hanging out near the filter it might just be the best place for them to hide during breeding time.

Smaller fish need a place to hide and feel secure.

Adding plants, caves and decor provide safe places for the smaller fish to run to when the larger are becoming aggressive.

5. Your tank is overpopulated

Fish can be quite territorial so they need their own space to get completely comfortable in a tank. If you have a small tank or have too many fish for your tank it will cause the above issues from lack of oxygen to an unclean tank to bullying by larger fish.

Check the correct size for the varieties of fish that you own and for the number of fish. With community tanks the larger the better. Larger tanks allow all of your fish to have their own space with those of their kind which most fish enjoy.

Due to the communication barrier, your fish can’t tell you if something is wrong, but they will let you know in subtle ways. Pay attention to their typical behavior so that when they change you can get down to the issues quickly.

Issues can cause harm to them quickly, but familiarity will help prevent most problems. If none of these reasons fit contact your local pet store to get further assistance.

8 Reasons Why Your Fish Are Fighting + How To Stop It

Some fishkeepers love to see their fish thriving in harmony, then there are some who love to see their turning into a Roman colosseum! If you don’t fall into the latter category, you might be worried about your fish fighting or eating each other off. Good thing that we have the answer to that!

Why are my fish fighting? The sudden aggression among the fish can have various reasons – territorial fights, too many male fish living together, mating season tension, stress, scarcity of food, or natural aggression of the fish.

These are only the major reasons behind your fish being aggressive. There are a number of other secondary reasons. Polluted water, non-compatible tank mates, overcrowded tanks, the unsuitable water temperature can be the culprit too.

However, things can be deceiving at times. You might think that they are fighting, whereas they are actually playing together. So, you need to understand the difference.

8 Probable Reasons Your Fish are Fighting

Don’t Worry, It’s Just Natural Aggression!

Not all the fish are calm in nature. Some fish have the aggression coded into their DNA. Think of the breeds like Piranhas or African Cichlids.

These fish will obviously fight. If they don’t fight, then you should worry!

So, before seeking an answer, ask yourself, if you are keeping any breed that should fight naturally.

In most cases, the naturally aggressive fish are carnivorous. Here is a list of most aggressive fish breeds –

1. Arowana
2. Piranha
3. African Cichlids
4. Oscar Fish
5. Flowerhorn
6. Rainbow Shark
7. Tiger Barb
8. Red-Tailed Shark

Being Territorial

A lot of wild animals like tigers, wolves, and hippos tend to be territorial. The same can be said about a lot of fish.

As you are keeping them in a confined space in an aquarium, they can turn against other fish for the sake of territorial defense.

Cichlids, Tetras, Barbs, Goldfish are some of the common territorial fish. Maintaining and defending territory is the crucial trait of these fish.

So, it’s very common for them to attack other fish entering their territory of the tank.

Betta Fish are known for fighting against each other

Too Much Testosterone!

If there are more male fish compared to females in the tank, things can take a bad turn.

The male fish can fight other males to show dominance and strength so that the females see the male as a better mating partner.

Such clashes are even more common during the mating season. So, you should be aware of the male fish fighting and take the necessary steps.

On the other hand, if there are more male fish in the tank compared to the females, they can even attack the females during mating season.

Temperature and pH Level Fluctuations

As a fishkeeper, you should always keep a keen eye at the temperature of the tank.

For example, Betta fish or Tiger Barbs are tropical fish that prefer being in the 78°F sweet spot. In winter, the temperature can go way below that point if you don’t have a heater in the aquarium.

The colder water temperature can make them stressed, and they tend to behave aggressively, leading to fights.

The same can be said about the pH level in the water too!

So, we would suggest you keeping separate thermometer and thermostat so that you can maintain the tank temperature at a constant level.

Toxins in the Water

Are you familiar with the vicious nitrogen cycle in an aquarium? Well, this is an inevitable cycle that you need to be prepared to handle.

When fish poop, the fecal wastes turn into ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in different stages of the nitrogen cycle.

The same can be said about other kinds of rotten elements like dead leaves, plants, and dead fish.

If you don’t change the water periodically, the water contamination stresses the fish badly. In many cases, stress makes the fish aggressive.

Are the Tank Mates Compatible with Each Other?

Okay, here’s a simple fact most of the new fishkeepers tend to forget while designing the aquarium – they don’t plan out the fish compatibility issue.

Not every fish can live happily together. This is even truer with the carnivorous fish. It’s only normal for the “rival fish” to fight against each other.

For example, you can’t keep guppies and Koi together in a tank. Koi will definitely bully the smaller guppies.

On the other hand, guppies and bettas will live happily without having any quarrel.

Do the Fish have Enough Food?

Food scarcity can change the nature of many fish. The omnivore fish will attack other small fish for food if they can’t find enough food for survival.

For example, Koi will eat minnows and guppies if they can’t find other food sources. So, never leave your fish unfed or neglect their natural eating habit.

Having Too many Fish in a Small Tank?

You need to give enough roaming space for the fish in a tank. You should never stuff up your aquarium with too many.

Even if the fish are not territorial or naturally aggressive, they will attack each other to gain enough space for swimming freely.

For example, Koi will need at least 50 gallons of water for every fish. You can keep the young ones in a 30-gallon tank but not smaller than that.

Are the Fish Fighting or Playing? Understand the Difference!

Suppose, one day, you see one of your fish, chasing after another one. You might instantly think that they are fighting each other.

Hold on, that might not be the only case!

Fish can chase each other normally, often it is an act of playing together. Some fish socialize, some tend to show their affection with partners in such a manner.

Think of such an act as the mating behavior of the dogs.

Mating dog couples often wrestle with each other before mating. But it’s nothing more than a mating ritual.

So, how can you differentiate between typical playfulness and acts of aggression?

If one of the fish is being attacked, you will see the following incidents:

• Scars and visible injuries on the body, especially on the fins
• Smaller fish cowering in the corner or hiding behind any other covers

These are the only two normal parameters. Still, you should consult with a vet or an expert to be sure of the situation.

How Can You Prevent the Fish from Fighting?

Okay, now that you know about the probable reasons behind fish fighting each other, you need to know what could help in such a situation.

Here are some of the possible solutions that might do the trick for you:

Aggressive Fish Segregation

Try to separate the breed of fish, which are naturally aggressive.

It’s best to keep them in separate tanks altogether. While planning out your aquarium design, you should think of the probable tank mates to avoid future fights.

For example, no matter how much safety measurement you take, Koi and Sharks will fight each other. There is no way you can stop or prevent them from fighting.

Add Enough Hiding Places

If you are determined to keep more than one territorial fish breed in the same tank, at least separate their territories with rocks, plants, or other types of separators.

In this way, the small fish in your tank can have some kind of hiding place from the large ones. Moreover, you can enhance the beauty of the tank at the same time.

Get a Bigger Tank

It’s always better to give an ample amount of space for your fish to roam freely. Yes, bigger tanks will cost more, but it can save you from the grief of having your favorite fish from dying.

Moreover, if your fish die from the attacks of other fish, their death will be your responsibility – trust us when we say, that can hurt.

This table should give you a brief idea about the probable tank size for the fish:

Fish Breed	Minimum Tank Size
Koi	50 gallons
Goldfish	20 gallons
Betta	5 gallons
Guppy	5 gallons
Cichlids	30 gallons
Tiger Barbs	20 gallons

Change the Water, Regularly!

Changing water is a must if you want to see your fish thrive. No matter the quality of your filtration system, you can never escape from the duty of changing water.

It will save your fish from ammonia and nitrate toxicities.

The rule of thumb is to change 10% to 15% of the total water every week. In the case of a heavily stocked tank, increase the percentage to 20%.

If you don’t have a filter, you should change 25% of the water on a weekly basis.

Try to Maintain a Steady Temperature

Temperature plays a crucial role in the mood of your fish. Imbalanced temperature leads to stress that eventually leads to aggression among the fish.

But set the temperature according to the species of fish you are keeping. Obviously, not every fish prefers the warmth level.

For example, bettas prefer living at 78°F temperature while goldfish find a bit colder water more comfortable. Goldfish feel cozy in the 68°F to 74°F temperature range.

So, it always depends on the breed of the fish.

Offer an Adequate Amount of Food

Never keep your fish hungry for a long period of time. In fact, you should provide them food maintaining a strict timetable. You don’t want to agitate your fish for food shortage.

If you have omnivore or herbivore fish, have edible plants in the tank. In this way, they will never have any scarcity of food even when you are not in your home.

A Balance Between Male and Females

As we have said earlier, having too many males in the same tank, they will fight other males to gain affinity of the females.

We suggest having fewer males compared to females. This reduces the chance of the males fighting with other males over mating partners.

Separate Breeding Fish in Other Tanks

If you are planning to breed fish, you need to take additional measures. First of all, not all fish will mate in an open tank. They feel shy as the mating process makes them vulnerable.

During that process, you don’t want them to feel stress at all.

Besides that, you need to keep in mind that other fish might hunt and eat all the fry in your tank.

Female fish will protect their fry. This can result in having a very aggressive mother that attacks all the other fish in your aquarium.

Are Betta Fish Sensitive To Light?

In the wild, betta fishes are found in shallow waters like floodplains, rice paddies, and canals. So one might think that using artificial lights in their aquarium may not be too good for them. But, are betta fish sensitive to light? And if they are, what are the effects?

Betta fish are not sensitive to light. They thrive in natural lighting and need a proper day and night cycle. However, they can behave erratically when they are overstimulated by light. You can see this in their feeding behaviors. Therefore, there should always be a balance between light and dark.

In this article, we are going to discuss the proper light and dark cycle for your betta fishes. Also, we will talk about some of the effects of overstimulating them with light. So hush your worries as more likely than not, when you have the proper lighting, your betta fishes will do okay.

Do Betta Fish Like Light?

Yes, they absolutely adore the light! Given that they originated Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar, they are used to places with a lot of light as well as warm temperatures. Therefore, having natural sunlight for your betta fish will be perfect for them.

Just a word of caution, we are not talking about constant exposure to direct sunlight as this may also be bad for them. This is the case as the aquarium will be prone to overheating. More than that, there might be too much exposure to the ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

You really should not be concerned about your betta fishes burning in their aquarium, but constant exposure to natural sunlight can hurt their adorable but sensitive eyes. If you just place their aquarium in a room with windows that have curtains, they should be fine.

Effects Of Too Much Light On Your Betta Fish

Much like humans, too much exposure to light can bring some harmful effects. For us, we can get sunburned or even skin cancer, but for your betta fish, they become stressed and overstimulated. Take a look at some of the effects.

Refusal To Eat

As they are overwhelmed with light and cannot tell the day cycle from the night cycle, they can overexert themselves. Since they are so confused about what cycle it is, they will refuse food.

Illness And Injury

A stressed betta fish will surely have a lower immune system. Therefore, they are more prone to getting diseases. Also, in their weakened state, they cannot evade other fishes that are bullying them (if they live in a community aquarium) so the chances of them getting injured are high.

Lethargy

As your betta fish is confused as to when he is going to eat, play, sleep, etc. he will just keep on swimming and doing a lot of activity while there is too much light. You might just find him at the bottom of the aquarium when he is too weak to even do anything. Aww, the poor thing!

What Are The Lighting Needs Of Betta Fish

As we have already established that betta fishes are not sensitive to light, but they should also not be overexposed to light, it is a matter of finding the right balance.

More than that, it is also important to use the right lighting in such a case where you do not want to go natural in terms of lighting.

Natural Lighting

Although this type of light is good for betta fishes as this is what they are used to, it is not that highly recommended. The reason for this is that constant exposure to the natural sunlight causes the influx of algae in the aquarium.

This algae growth can pollute the water which can then lead to the formation of harmful bacteria in the aquarium. Also, as we have mentioned earlier, the natural light can affect the water temperature as the tank somehow acts as a magnifying glass (especially for small ones)

Unsteady water temperature levels can stress your betta fishes and can be even the cause of their deaths. So in the event that you plan to go the natural lighting route, it requires a lot of checking and maintenance.

You should also make sure that you put the aquarium in a place where there will be shaded areas so your fishes have an area where they can cool down.

Artificial Lighting

In the event that you want to use artificial lighting in your aquarium, the most important thing to note is that you should pick one that will not alter the water temperature in your aquarium. As far as temperature goes, it is okay for it to be between 74 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

If it goes higher, it can be dangerous to your betta fishes. So make sure that you keep the temperature in those levels. Here are some artificial lighting tips:

• Incandescent bulbs are not that efficient as they give more heat compared to light. It is as if they are “mini suns” They will not do well in small aquariums.
• LED lights are a good option as they mimic natural light, but they do not encourage the growth of algae. They also do not consume much energy, so your electricity bill will not suffer.
• Fluorescent light bulbs are also a good option next to LED lights. These are mostly used by people who have betta fishes.

Balance The Day Cycle And Night Cycle

Betta fish are diurnal fishes. This simply means that pretty much like humans, when the sun is up it means that we go on with our daily activities, and when the sun goes down, it is time to go for bed.

Therefore, your betta fishes should know when it is time to play and eat and when it is time to rest. This is why it is important to turn off the lights in your aquarium.

Your betta fishes need at least eight to 12 hours of light and 12 to 16 hours of darkness. So do not forget when you should turn on and turn off their lights.

For a lot of betta fish owners, they sometimes forget to turn on the lights as they leave it to natural sunlight. But you should keep in mind that too much darkness can also be harmful. It can affect their colors and the overall ph level of the water.

How To Maintain A Proper Light And Dark Cycle

By this time, you know that having a proper day and light cycle is crucial for the lives of your betta fishes. There should always be a balance as too much light and darkness can have some consequences for them.

Of course, you also have your life and you have to go to work or go on social events. So you really cannot always check on the light and temperature in your aquarium. What can you do?

You can simply purchase lights with a timer. In this way, all you have to do is to plug in your lights and set the time on when they should be on and off. You can go about your day without even thinking if you turned on the light in your aquarium.

A good artificial lighting system that comes with a timer is the Nicrew Full Spectrum LED Light. It has three different lighting functions and modes wherein you can fully customize the lighting based on the needs of your betta fishes. You can check out this product here.