Understanding and testing your water parameters are essential for successful betta fish keeping, as bettas are a lot less tolerant to the dirty water than you may have heard!
Featured Articles
How to Cycle (Without a fish)
This is a guide for cycling your aquarium before you get your first betta fish.
I have a fish and I haven’t cycled!
If at all possible, cycle your tank without a fish in it! But sometimes it’s unavoidable, so this guide will help you carry out a fish-in cycle with minimal harm to your fish
How to test water
This is a guide to what you should be testing your water for, why. and how best to test it
5 Things To Know Before You Get A Betta Fish
5 things to make sure that you know about betta fish to care for them properly!
Weekly Tank Maintenance
These simple steps on a weekly basis will keep your tank clean, your water perfect, and your fish healthy!
Water Hardness Problems
Water hardness is the amount of calcium and magnesium salts in your water, and varies depending on location.
Carbonate KH Hardness Problems
KH is one of the lesser known water parameters, but has a direct link with the stability and level of the pH in your tank
Nitrate Problems
Ammonia is dangerous in any level to a betta fish, and is a commonly found chemical in an aquarium that needs to be tested for regularly
Phosphate Problems
Phopshates aren’t harmful to your fish directly, but they do encourage algae growth
Chlorine Problems
Chlorine is present in most tap water, so it’s essential to treat it with de-chlorinator before you add any water to your aquarium, of fish to your tank.
pH Problems
A safe pH for a betta fish is between 6.5 and 8, which is around the neutral area.
Water Care
If you can make sure that the water your betta fish is living in is healthy, clean and clear, you’ve done most of the hard work to keep them happy!
Nitrite Problems
Nitrite is a harmful chemical that often follows on the heels of an ammonia spike, and can cause your fish to struggle to breathe
Ammonia Problems
Ammonia is dangerous in any level to a betta fish, and is a commonly found chemical in an aquarium that needs to be tested for regularly
Water Testing Kits
There are a range of different types of test kit, but here are a few highly recommended ones to keep an eye on your water parameters
Cycling a tank to a deadline
I too sat down, laying the spear between us, and tried to explain how I came to Pellucidar, and wherefrom, but it was as impossible for him to grasp or believe the strange tale I told him as I fear it is for you upon the outer crust to believe in the existence of the…
Cycle, cycle, cycle
What is cycling? What is the nitrogen cycle, and why should I care?
What if I don’t wait to cycle?
Read this if you’re thinking of adding your betta without cycling the tank!
My Better Betta 