Kennedy

I only have one betta in the 10 gallon tank, no other fish. Is a hospital tank still necessary?

I had to wait to receive my beneficial bacteria in the mail, and I just got it yesterday. I don't currently have an established hospital tank but I do have an unused 5 gallon with a heater and filter that I could set up. But I only have one filter in my 10 gallon currently, so I don't have an established filter to add to the hospital tank. I say this because I was watching some videos on hospital tanks and they suggested adding a filter from an already established tank. Would it be possible to add beneficial bacteria to new hospital tank water (and dechlorinator, etc) or would that be considered a complete water change? I'm sorry if this doesn't make the best sense. I'm just really don't want to stress my fish out to the point of death!! Also, I added some plants back in and did more frequent water changes and it seems like the algae is already getting better. I appreciate your help so so much. Thank you.

Thank you for your comment!! PH test shows 8 (which is high but I've been trying API PH down), Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrites 0ppm, Nitrates 5ppm, KH is 4dKH, and GH is 3dKH. I think those (besides PH, little high) are all in good range for a betta, but maybe not for treating the issue I have. Thank you so much for your response!!!!

Thank you so much for your comment!! I really appreciate all of you taking time to help me!!!

Thank you so so much for your thorough response and help!!! I am definitely going to try all of this. I greatly appreciate you!!!

Hi all, I recently purchased the Aquarium Co-op Coarse Sponge Filter for my 10 gallon single Betta aquarium. I also got the USB nano air pump, check valve, airline tubing, airline holders, and the air stone from here as well. I installed the new filter system into my well cycled aquarium on Sep 17 with the old filter still in there for a few days. After a few days I took my old filter out, and over the past three weeks, I've been having terrible algae problems. I've had to water change every few days to keep a carpet of algae from forming. My fish is suffering from fin rot, so I had taken out any plants because the aquarium salt could potentially hurt them, so the algae isn't coming from any plants. A carpet of algae is growing all over the sponge stopping it from filtering at all. Does anyone have any suggestions? I really really wanted to like this sponge filter, and am hoping it's user error. I use Fluval Stratum for my substrate as I was hoping to get plants in there again soon. This may have something to do with it...