Every Betta enthusiast knows that Bettas need a specific water condition to thrive. And one of the things to be constantly taken care of is the water condition. Betta Water Parameters are very simple, and we will be discussing them in detail in this article.
Betta Water Parameters, what are they? It is a set of conditions that are required to make the Betta fish thrive in an aquarium. There are a lot of things that come under Betta Water Parameters. One needs to keep in mind that these parameters have to stay stable to ensure that the fish does not feel uncomfortable.
Bettas are susceptible fish and need to have a stable water conditions. If not, they will feel stressed and make their immunity weak, making them susceptible to various diseases. To ensure the Betta has a happy, comfortable life, these betta water parameters need to be followed.
Overview of Betta Water Parameters
| Fish Type | Betta Fish |
| Tank Size | 10 gallons or bigger |
| Temperature | 23.8°-27.2°C (75°-81°F) |
| pH | 6.5-7.5. |
| Filtration | Necessary |
| Heater | Necessary |
| Ammonia and Nitrate | 0 ppm |
| Nitrate | <20 ppm |
| Gh | 3-4 dGH (50-66.7 ppm) |
| KH | 3-5 dKH (53.6- 89.4 ppm) |
Betta Water Parameters
While setting up a tank for a Betta, it is essential to keep in mind what makes your Betta Happy and set the tank accordingly. The tank parameters which should be followed will be discussed in this article.
1. Tank Size
One common misconception among people is that since Betta fish are small, they can be housed in small tanks; however, that is far from the truth. Bettas are beautiful fish with gorgeous fins, and these fins need a lot of space to move around. Therefore putting a Betta in a small tank is nothing short of punishment for these beauties.
They also get bored easily, so putt9ing them in a small tank could make them very unhappy, affecting their appearance and health. Tiny tanks could also mean the tank will get filled with ammonia and nitrates fast, affecting the fish’s health.
They are much more active and happy in bigger tanks and roam around patrolling the tank; however, they will look sad and in pain in a small tank.
2. Filtration
Bettas need a filtration system for their tank. While some believe they can live without a filtration system, it is not recommended, even though that is true.
A tank without a filtration system could get filled with ammonia and nitrates fast, which is never good for your fish, especially not for sensitive fish such as Betta. Filtration helps keep the tank clean. If the tank does not have a proper filtration system, one would have to change the water often, which will be tiresome and unpractical.
However, while setting up the filtration system, one needs to make sure the outflow is regulated or uses a sponge filter as heavy water movement caused by the filter could make the Betta uncomfortable.
Filtration is vital in keeping the water conditions stable in the tank.
3. Temperature
This is the heater I use to keep my betta fish warm in cold temperatures.
Bettas are tropical fish, and they find it more comfortable if the aquarium they live in replicates the real-life habitat of the fish. As they are tropical fish, their natural habitat has warm water, and this temperature has to be recreated in the aquarium.
Any temperature fluctuation in the tank could result in the Betta getting stressed easily, so it is important to keep the temperature stable.
To measure the temperature of the water I use this thermometer.
Having a heater in the aquarium helps the water have a stable water temperature, and it is recommended to every Betta owner to get one.
4. Decoration
As mentioned before, Bettas feel more comfortable in a tank that recreates their natural habitat, and decorations go a long way in making these fish more at home. Hiding places and decorations, and resting places are important to keep the fish happy and entertained.
Also, I use a leaf hammock to make the aquarium more pretty. The most commonly used resting place is a leaf hammock for betta fish, plus it gives a decorative look to the aquarium.
The Betta could be shy or sometimes feel threatened, and if there are no hiding places, that will make your fish feel vulnerable and stressed. Bettas also need resting places as they get tired easily and need resting places to rest their gorgeous heavy fins.
Natural plants set in the aquarium could help the Betta remain happy and have a comfortable life.
5. Lights
Bettas are tropical, and their aquarium conditions need to replicate that. To recreate the water conditions, light needs to be provided for 6 hours a day. Light will also help the plants in the aquarium.
6. Lids
Bettas are good jumpers, and for this reason, it is important to make sure they do not jump out and hurt themselves. Putting a lid on top of the aquarium helps keep the fish inside the tank and thus ensures its safety.
The lid also prevents any other animals from reaching inside the tank and attacking the fish, and keeping them safe that way as well.
7. Substrate
Smooth gravel or sand makes a good substrate for the Betta. However, one needs to keep in mind that aragonite sand is avoided completely.
You can read our in-depth article on the 5 Best Gravel for Betta Fish. To find the best gravel substrate for your beautiful fish.
These sands are made of calcium carbonate CaCO3, which will slowly start dissolving with the water and increase the general hardness of the water, which is commonly referred to as GH, and the carbonate hardness of the water known as KH.
KH and GH need to stay within a particular limit. Otherwise, it will affect the health of the Betta fish. These types of substrates will also affect the pH and increase the pH level of the tank, which is also never good.
While preparing the tank, one needs to use a substrate that does not affect the water’s chemical composition, which is vital in ensuring Betta lives a happy and comfortable life.
How often should I condition my Betta fish water?
Condition refers to the removal of chemicals from the water inside the tank. Most experts recommend that conditioning should be done every week to ensure the tank and water stays clean for the survival of the Betta. However, if it gets dirty often, the water needs to be conditioned and changed more often.
How to test Betta fish water?
Various testing kits can be bought to test the conditions of the water in a Betta tank. One can buy these kits online or at the nearest pet shops. One needs to make sure that they use these test kits often and test the conditions of the water to ensure a comfortable life for the Betta.
Commonly Asked Questions Regarding Betta Water Parameters
What are the needed water parameters by bettas?
Bettas are seen to prefer calm waters with a pH between 6.8 and 7.5. They sure can tolerate cooler temperatures, but they are seen to be very inactive in them. They are also more susceptible to diseases under such water temperatures. So to keep your bettas healthy, it is better to keep the water temperatures between 76° and 85°F.
What is the preferred water hardness for bettas?
It is recommended to keep bettas in soft water as they prefer it over hard water. They can tolerate a wide range of GH that is between 5 – 20 DH or 70- 300 ppm. It is seen that tough water is quite harmful to bettas.
Do bettas prefer hard water or soft water?
It is seen that bettas prefer and thrive well in soft water than hard water. So making sure to keep the dH below 25 is very important to keep the bettas healthy in fish tanks.
Conclusion
Bettas are not as easy to take care of as one might think. A betta owner needs to be vigilant and regularly observe the fish ensure they live comfortably and happily. There are certain things to keep in mind about the Betta water parameters. To make the life of our Betta fish the most comfortable we can is the responsibility of every betta owner.
The parameters one needs to follow while taking care of a betta or setting up a Betta tank have been discussed in this article. I hope it was useful!
