How To Set Up A Betta Fish Aquarium

How to Set up Betta Fish Aquariums

Aquarium Size
Betta Fish Aquariums usually vary in size, ranging from small fish bowls to bigger, full-sized tanks. To fully comprehend the requirements of a betta, we must look at their natural territory as a basis. Bettas are in fact from the slow moving streams, ponds, and rice paddies of Asia. And those conditions should be replicated in order to effectively rear bettas. So, to mimic those conditions, Betta fish aquariums should range from 5 to 10 gal.

Though you can have moderate success in using small fish-bowls to house a betta, the size of a 5 to 10 gallon tank would be beneficial to both you and the betta, since the temperature in a bigger body of water tends to be more stable and would only change slightly when ambient temperature changes. The larger tank would also benefit you since that means less frequent water changes.

Aquarium Water
With the size of the tank out of the way, we need to settle the other aspects of our betta fish aquarium. The type of water is also critical to a betta's survival. Contrary to popular belief, using distilled water isn't the best for bettas because of the filtering process that removes most minerals in the water. Tap water is usually adequate for bettas provided that you treat the water to remove chlorine or let it sit for over 24 hours before adding it to your tank.

Aquarium Filters
Filtering the water could also be an issue. Bettas are quite used to the tranquil or slow moving water in ponds and rice paddies, which means that using a high flow filter inside your betta fish aquarium is already out of the question. These types of filters might cause too much turbulence and the betta would find it hard to come up to the surface to catch a breath (Bettas have a specialized organ called a labyrinth that allows them to breathe air).

Aquarium Gravel
You must also obtain a natural looking substrate or gravel to place inside your betta fish aquarium. Taking pebbles from your backyard simply isn't going to be the best replication of its natural milieu. You must also sustain the tanks' temperature to closely resemble the sultry climate of roughly 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Final Thoughts
Building appropriate betta fish aquariums is not that difficult a task. You just need to have a tank that is satisfactory in size. Keep in mind though that the recommended size is for a single betta fish. If you would like to add a well-suited fish, you may have to upgrade your tank's size so that they can be properly accommodated. Aside from the proper betta fish aquarium, you must also understand how to maintain the right levels of ammonia, nitrites,
and ph. You must maintain these levels in the water so that it doesn't become noxious to your betta. You should also learn about the right food and feeding schedules so that your betta remains healthy and lives for a long time.