Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've been keeping my betta in a 5-gallon tank with a sponge filter and live plants. I do weekly water changes but wanna cut down on maintenance. Any tips to keep the tank stable with less work?

Live plants are a great start. I'd add some floating plants like frogbit or salvinia to help with nitrates. They also shade the tank, which cuts down on algae. A timer for your light helps too, 6-8 hours max.

yo, skip the water changes, just top it off. my fish been chillin like that for months, no probs.

daxilix wrote: ↑Mon Jul 14, 2025 10:40 am yo, skip the water changes, just top it off. my fish been chillin like that for months, no probs.

That's not advisable. Even with plants, waste builds up. At least do a 25% change every two weeks to keep params stable.

I've had luck with a dirted tank capped with sand. The plants grow like crazy and the tank stays balanced. I only do water changes every 3 weeks, and my betta's colors are vibrant.

Get a snail or two. They're like little cleanup crews, gonna save you from scrubbing algae. Just don't overfeed or they'll take over.

nah, snails are sketchy. they poop too much, mess with the balance. just stick to plants and a good filter.

What about feeding? I heard bettas can go a few days without food. Would that help reduce waste?

knighto4 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 14, 2025 5:45 pm What about feeding? I heard bettas can go a few days without food. Would that help reduce waste?

They can, but it's not ideal. Feed small amounts daily, like 2-3 pellets. Overfeeding is the real issue, not the frequency.

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll try adding more plants and maybe a snail. Gonna stick to weekly changes for now but might stretch it to two weeks if things stay stable.