DOLLAR STORE FISH TANK - How to Make a Complete Betta Aquarium for Less Than $15
Betta 7 years ago 328,893 views
This is a DIY guide to setting up a cheap home suitable for a betta fish using common items from the dollar store etc. This is intended as a last-resort alternative for people who can't afford large tanks to have an appropriate home for their fish while still spending as little money as possible. These items were all found at my local Dollar Tree/Walmart/Target stores and thru Craigslist, but I'm sure people outside of the USA can find similar items for an equally low price. SUPPLIES USED -5 gallon plastic* storage tote (or 2.5+ gallon bucket) -Plastic* water bottle -Plastic sponges/pot scrubbies -Gravel/pebbles -Plastic drinking straws -Silk fabric flowered lei -LED clip-on light (optional) -Airline tubing -Small aquarium air pump -Airstone (optional) -Aquarium heater (optional if your room temperature stays consistently 80 degrees F) -Small terra cotta flower pot (optional) -Small plastic or silk aquarium plants (optional) Things not included in the cost which you will still need to care for your fish: -food -water conditioner -a thermometer -a water test kit -a siphon or turkey baster to clean the tank floor and do water changes Other optional items: -enough gravel to use as a tank substrate -live aquatic plants like java fern/moss or anubias etc -live terrestrial plants like pothos or lucky bamboo whose roots can be suspended in the water to help remove nitrates OR, IF YOU WANT A PROFESSIONAL TANK SETUP FOR CHEAP, check local classified ads or sale/trade apps for used tanks and equipment at a low price, watch chain pet stores for sales on complete 5.5 or 10 gallon starter kits (I've found them as low as $20) and watch for the Dollar Per Gallon sales at Petsmart and Petco. Thanks for watching and I know I have like two subscribers but lmk if you want more fish/pet videos or have any questions lmao :) *NOTE: make sure the plastic you use (including the water bottle) is a food-safe polyethylene or polypropylene (recycling numbers 2, 4, or 5) so it won't leach chemicals into the water over time. This video is intended as a low cost alternative to people who can't get their fish a better home, but my intention for it is still a more temporary rather than permanent setup. It would be best not to use plastics like this to hold water for longer than 6 months because it could begin to break down and stress crack, but you could replace the storage container with a new one, or reinforce it like you would a larger container to keep it from bending. MUSIC: PACIFIC SUN by Nicolai Heidlas Music https://soundcloud.com/nicolai-heidlas
Edit: for a video of how to clean/maintain the diy filter featured in this video look here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq6rkWJR1og
So I frantically looked for alternatives and found this. Because "people like her" thought to post it.
But I guess I should've just left the fish there, right? Severely emaciated, atrophied muscles, popeye in both eyes, the most severe fin rot I'd ever seen in person, red and inflamed gills, difficulty breathing, velvet, and ick, he was totally better off there than with someone who couldn't afford a proper set up for him.
Maybe I'm the weird one, but I'm actually not hugely cool with animal abuse. I mean, some people are, and if you're okay with it, that's your thing, I guess, but maybe don't condemn people who offer viable alternatives for those who want to care for fish AND eat at least every other day.
You know, just a thought.
10. comment for DOLLAR STORE FISH TANK - How to Make a Complete Betta Aquarium for Less Than $15
Do it yourself!
20. comment for DOLLAR STORE FISH TANK - How to Make a Complete Betta Aquarium for Less Than $15
plastic tank plz tell me
At least 50 bucks for all you need for a betta.
i'm glad it could help <3
30. comment for DOLLAR STORE FISH TANK - How to Make a Complete Betta Aquarium for Less Than $15
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Aqua-Culture-10-Gallon-Aquarium-Starter-Kit/35326017
PS: No matter what the reviews says I have not had a problem with this aquarium.
My daughter received a Betta for her 2 yrs birthday with a ez care marina 0,7 gallon. He was looking so bored in that tiny tank. I did the same as you're videos with a 5 gallons plastic tank. Now i'm waiting for the cycle to be done :-)
I also removed the deco after one week to plants anubias nana, anubias barteri, lemna minor, bacopa, marimo and one that was supposed to be java fern but since i'm a newbie the seller told me it was java fern but i think it's the african sword plant ;-) I also bought a led light clip lamp for the plant ( 36 white and 12 blue )
I can't wait to put the betta in it lol
Thank you so much again and have a great day :-)
50. comment for DOLLAR STORE FISH TANK - How to Make a Complete Betta Aquarium for Less Than $15
I have a question: is Dollar tree box plastic safe for fish?
100. comment for DOLLAR STORE FISH TANK - How to Make a Complete Betta Aquarium for Less Than $15
how can i get my aquarium to be at 24 - 28 degrees Celsius
???
Personally, my first betta was rescued after learning his previous owner was keeping him in the store cup for a few weeks without frequent water changes or using a water conditioner. Funds were really tight, so I could only afford a 1 gallon betta acrylic cube before being able to purchase a 10 gallon glass aquarium. My second betta was a pure impulse buy (yep, I got sucked in). Couldn't put him in the 10 gallon, so he's in the 1 gallon acrylic cube but with a DIY filter and ambient temperatures keeps his water at 76-78F. His water parameters keep steady at 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite and 10-15 nitrate so asides from having little swimming space, he's actually in pretty good condition and much healthier than my first betta. With a bit more experience behind me, I'm confident he'll be fine where he is until I get my newly acquired 20 gallon aquarium set up.
Just sharing for those who immediately judge others without knowing the full story of why someone may have a betta, but why they may not have a minimum 2.5 or 10 gallon (depending on who you ask) aquarium yet. This video is great for those who want something better than a bowl before they can transition to a proper set-up. Also sharing for those who don't think a 1 gallon can be cycled and maintain decent water parameters because that can definitely happen. I wasn't expecting to buy my second betta at all but even if he's not in the perfect home yet, his 1 gallon cycled cube is WAY better than the cup he was in at the pet store which was spiking ammonia at 8ppm.
So glad you recommend 5gal! Bettas ideally should have at least 5gal.
I don't recommend this for larger fish like goldfish, though. You'll be hard pressed to find a 20gal tub to suit one fancy goldfish or 40gal for a common. Best to save up and buy a proper tank plus filters and whatnot, or don't own a goldfish.
Really simple to rinse it out during your weekly water changes! I hope this is somewhat helpful lol :)
But honestly, don't get a pet if you can't provide it with proper living conditions. Its life is your responsibility and if you're not willing to get the necessary utensils, then don't get a fish.
What you offer them is their whole life, they depend on you. So please, do your research before you get any living creature to move in with you!
and an internal filter for $10 https://www.petsmart.com/fish/filters-and-pumps/aqueon-quietflow-internal-power-filter-44839.html?cgid=300202
or you could use the same filter media i used in this video and put it in the compartment with the pump that comes with the tank (it's an 'aquaponics tank' but you will still need supplemental filter media aside from just the plants)
I have a part-time but its graveyard hours. Other than that I am home all day. I can't afford much but my neighbor gave away a small bird cage and a 2.5 fish bowl. I was thinking of getting a pet rat but my parents hate that animal the most. Also my Dad can be loud and rowdy at night. I thought having a small fish would be nice. It's got some zen to it and it makes me feel relaxed. I also enjoy staring at fish for hours.
I think a betta would be a great option for your 2.5 gal bowl as long as it has filtration and heat. Nothing else can really fit in a space that small. Or if you like reptiles a leopard gecko or crested gecko would be great. They can live in a 10 gallon tank (preferably 20 or larger though) and are easy to care for, you just need to research what they need of course :)
Great job
I don't know how many fish can be there.
but replace the plastic decoration with some real water plants. the plastic sends toxic particles to the water and this is deadly for the fish of course. but i found this "tutorial" very nice for beginners they won't spent to much money on their first aquarium :)
I can't seem to find a lei anywhere since it's winter over here I was gonna buy silk plants and put them in there. Anyways my beta's are super happy in their new tanks {Thank you <3}
Maybe i could only get a 9 gallon because I still live with my parents and i have a tiny bedroom for everything I own and dont have the space for a 20 gallon tank. Seriously, my room is a tin y cube, the single bed takes up half of it, then my tiny computer table goes right up to the other wall. All the space I had was my bedside table...
also just another tip from my experience, if you don't want to do salt baths you could try baths in methylene blue, it really helps disinfect fins and heal them as long as you keep up with the tank water being super clean and all. it does harm nitrifying bacteria too though so you should just like take him out and give him a bath in a cup once a day instead of using it the main tank if you want to keep the filter cycled
Oh and you know what's funny? My science teacher is using those blue buckets for a potato growing project... COINCIDENCES! XD
but i agree that people should always go for investing in a getting proper aquarium set up before even considering bringing fish home and i highly recommend doing so. unfortunately that is not always the case though so thats why i made this video, to help the people who sadly skipped that first step
or you could put like two or three of these small ones in the tank
I'm not downgrading people, I'm standing up for the rights of these animals to a proper home.
Well only RESPONSIBLE adults understand that taking care of a pet, any pet (even fish) takes some amount of responsibility and trying to give it the best care possible.
Could a child survive when you keep it in a small room and never let it discover more? Probably, but is it best? Probably not...
Making nests doesn't mean a betta is healthy or thriving and breeding them and giving them to children is only going to end up with most of those fish being abused and dying. Fish don't deserve that just because they're fish.
1. This goes for all fish - you should NEVER decorate their tank with any ornaments that aren't specifically made for aquarium use. There are chemicals, oils, dust, and other residue that reside in plastic and ceramic objects (like the plastic water bottle, the pot, and the lei flowers). These elements can dissolve in water and leech unwanted chemicals that your fish will breathe. Buying ornaments that are already fish-friendly will ensure that your pet doesn't breathe in anything unsafe. Also, keeping a fish in a plastic bin is an extremely bad idea! Unless it was specifically made for aquatic use, sealants and other primers used in the plastic will wear off from the bin over time and dilute throughout the water which will slowly poison your animal. Honestly, I thought all of this was common sense, but I guess you thought it was okay to put a Hawaiian lei from a DOLLAR STORE in a plastic bin and call it a "tank".
2. If someone doesn't have enough money to properly care for and house the fish to fit its needs, they should NOT OWN A FISH. Buying a fish and sticking it in a plastic bin is a not only dangerous to the fish's health in a number of ways, but it's a selfish thing to do because you're only thinking of what you want and not about the animal's wellbeing. If you only have $15 in your wallet, you have no business owning a fish. Bettas need a proper tank, at least 2.5 gallons, made of PET FRIENDLY plastic/acrylic/glass, not some storage container you could barely afford from the dollar store. In addition, they need gravel and PET SAFE plant coverage, in addition to proper filtration (not a plastic water bottle stuffed with kitchen sponges).
3. DIY projects DO NOT WORK FOR YOUR FISH!!!!! You can make a stuffed toy for your guinea pig, or sew a blanket for your dog, but fish LIVE AND BREATHE in the conditions you provide for them. It should clear to anyone that this should never be acceptable for any kind of fish. Even though they are small creatures, doing the bare minimum for their habitat is cruel and if you're going to accept the responsibility of owning a pet, you need to acknowledge the financial aspect of care as well. You wouldn't buy a cat, and fill up a cardboard box with dirt from outside in place of a litter box. You wouldn't buy a bird and feed it leaves and berries from your backyard instead of formulated bird food. Why would you do the same for a fish?
The idea might have seemed cute or fun at the time, but if you care about your fish and want it to thrive, I would NEVER suggest introducing it to a setup like this.
although I wouldn't use random silk plants I have no idea what they are made out of.cause the dyes could be toxic.but really besides that non of this is harmful.
also this kind of filer is also low flow which is much better for a betta and young fish.
just cause something cost more or is store bought doesn't make it better.
Yes it is. Read the above comments. Seriously because the video creator explains how everything IS fish safe
really everyone uses a filter for bacteria to grow on to help the nitrogen cycle. fish poop has ammonia, bacteria grow to eat the ammonia and turn it into nitrite, then other bacteria come to eat nitrite and turn it into nitrate! then you do water changes to get rid of the nitrate since nothing comes along to eat it :/
the sponge in the filter is a great place for the bacteria to grow because all the water is pushed though it so they just sit on the sponge and munch away.
you can definitely have no filter and a fish can do just fine if you do frequent water changes. It's just easier to have a filter so that there's less of a chance that your fish will suffocate on its own waste ;;
it also lets you go longer without doing a water change because instead of of the ammonia just building up it turn it into other things so everything is more stable. it's almost like a food chain. :D
and keeping betta in unheated water is like grabbing a south Texan and plopping them into Canada without a jacket lol. Betta are just used to warmer waters and colder waters are just plain uncomfortable for them. :P
Water conditioner removes chlorine and harmful chemicals that cities put into their water to make it "safe" for humans! While us giants can take a lot of those chemicals without dying, most pet fish are small and can't take the same amount that we can. :(
I dont know if this is a joke to you, but if it is. Wow, you have some pretty sick fetishes if making people angry on the Internet where your protected by a screen gets you off
Look, I tried to tell you, and so did the creator of the video. And yet you just wanna have a fucking reason to be angry. I tried to be nice. But nope. And the creator is still being nice. Why the fuck is this such a hard thing for you to understand?
all the plastic materials in this video are proven based on their composition to be nontoxic and okay to house fish in, and the other materials like the silk lei and scrubbers etc are fish safe anecdotally at least, as i and others have used them in our own tanks and filters long-term with no problems. with the lei flowers though i would advise to make sure what anyone gets is 100% silk or other fabric though as different stores obviously have different products
I don't want to be mean about it, but holy shit chick. Where are you from, and how old are you cause Jesus Christian woman. Fucking listen to people when they are trying to help. I bet you think fish are not real animals cause they don't have large brains
water conditioner removes chlorine and other things that aren't safe for fish from the water. some water conditioners such as Prime also bind to ammonia/nitrites and temporarily detoxify them as well, which is why it is very important to use a good water conditioner, especially in smaller tanks or ones without a filter because otherwise the fish could be harmed by the fast buildup of their own waste in such a small space.
I enjoy how much you don't want to listen to anyone and you just want an excuse to be just so fucking angry at someone for no good Damn reason.
My betta in a 34 liter storage box each
then DON'T FUCKING BUY A FISH. If you cannot afford to care for an animal YOU CANNOT HAVE ONE, END OF STORY. you do not have the right to buy the animal anyway and then lament that you cannot look after it properly because you're poor.
TurtleDude 48: A bit angry aren't we? Go outside take a deep breath and calm down.
Are you fucking retarted? Actually I don't need an answer it's pretty obvious what you are
Your first statement is normal. But he isn't controlling people, it's called advice.
Bettas have survived for long without filters in bowls or planted environment.
Of course they fucking can. But who says its humane. They would eventually die from the ammonia buildup. By putting a fish in a bowl you pretty much signing it up to its death. Your torturing it.
Shit happens.
That's the point where I realise I'm not talking to a civilised person but a retard
De eand.
And a 10-20 gallon container
Now, if it is just for housing the fish until you can afford a new, bigger tank, or can find a bigger tank, then I guess I'm fine with that.
Betta fish care
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sDB9eOQs9Fg
Betta fish myths
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_756808153&feature=iv&src_vid=sDB9eOQs9Fg&v=TLcqa0fXCEI
Just to inform ya'll.
I love her channel, as well.
Actually the size of the tank is big enough
It would be around 10 or more gallons, while the usual minimum for a betta is 5
Many people use plastic bins like this to house goldfish as makeshift indoor goldfish ponds
This may be for wintering (bringing the fish in in the winter in case it's too cold for them) or just for aesthetic reasons
fish are completely fine in these things, provided you get the right size and plastic
And besides, "tiny" is a relative term. 10 gallons or less is tiny to me. When I said tiny, I didn't mean 1 gallon, I meant less than 10 :-P
A betta still has instinct to protect its fairly large territory, if you place it in a bowl it will likely get stressed because
1. The territory is to small for him to "guard"
2. Bettas are very smart and need mental stimulation
3. It will get dirty to fast
There is SOME things that you want to replicate in your bettas tank that a betta would do in the wild to make them happier, stuff like:
You want a heavily planted tank or a tank with plenty of hideouts
You want them to "work" for their food to keep them busy(have them chase your finger around the tank)
You want to keep the tank fairly clean with a 20% water change every week(i change my water like this for my bettas 5.5 gallon tank)
The tank should be faily warm(even though they arent wild they still orininate from the tropics and their body functions wont work without warm water)
They need a "territory" to guard of at least 3 gallons
^
|
|
All of that stuff is needed to ensure your betta will be happy and healthy
Nice attempt at trying to seem intelligent though, troglodyte.
EDIT: Cyni beat me to it. :P
EDIT 2: Sorry for being offensive, I'm not a fan of, what I've dubbed , "Google scientists". Do you research before you try to grasp at your few seconds of feeling intelligent.
I used to keep a betta in a 20x12x12 (50x30x30 cm) tank, and it stayed in the right side of it, unless there was food in the left side.
To you, your bettas main existance is to please you. You dont give a crap about what type of quality life he has so you decide to shove him in the smallest tank you could possibly get to please yourself. THEN you lie to YOURSELF by saying "hes happy" its impossible for a living creature to be happy when it spends all of its life in an area wear it can hardly swim a few inches.
NEWSFLASH: just because your betta has survived doesnt mean its "happy" or thriving. It just means its one of the unlucky ones that didnt get the luxury of a quick death right from the start. I honestly dont care how "many books" you read. I care about your direction to follow the books. And please tell me what betta book you stumbled across and said "bettas are very happy in a tank barely 0.50 gallons as opposed to a 5 gallon tank with a heater and filter" im pretty sure there isnt an article anywhere that says that. You know why? Because bettas liking small spaces is a myth. Its something small tank suppliers tell their buyers to make them feel at ease for putting a living creature in such harsh conditions.
Let me do a quick comparison for you to know what im talking about. Lets compare.... a dog and your betta together! The equivelent for a dog in the size tank your betta is in, would be... a dog crate. Now imagine somebody locks the dog in the dog crate it has some room to turn around and it can also take 2 small steps forward, thats it. Now give the dog food and water everyday. But NEVER take the dog out! Pick up his pee and poo every week. So by the end of the week he is muddled in his pee and poo waiting for you to clean it out. Would this be ok? If your a normal person you will say "no" now if i ask " if this is not ok then why is it ok to keep a betta in a small tank?" Im curious to hear your answer. The only reason you think its ok for a betta to be in a small tank is because of the lies you have heard.
With all that being said you will probaly tell me another lie and then tell me im wrong. Just do me a favor, quit wasting my time and just show me PROFESSINIOL studies that say "bettas dont deserve a big tank and they are happy in a small tank without a heater and filter"
though
All of it is, and airline tubing is sold at petsmart specifically for fish.
I think a 2.5 is better as a standard "oops" for new owners of fish to go to rather than 1 gallon and smaller. I personally don't go smaller than a 3 gallon now for just one fish and a snail but I also make sure there's a live plant too. I think 5 or 10 gallons are nice though. But yeah they won't won't suffer if you keep up with them. I do believe that there is such a thing as too big of a tank for fish that are small. It could stress them like african dwarf frogs. You can get them a big tank but I hear if you don't fill it with hide huts they are bored and can't feel safe. They love to explore. Just an example.
face palmALSO he did say that he used a food grade, bpa free container that will not leak toxic chemicals
Oh and the nitrogen cycle helps to keep your fish healthy by killing and preventing diseases in the water
Edit, yes i was right. Fiddler crabs need brackish water at all times and are semi aquatic so you should have it in a ten gall with itself and maybe another if it is a social crab or the betta and neons.
Ya but the filter
and of course with a bigger tank and goldfish you'd need to scale up the filtration capability by using a bigger bottle and more media. i recommend checking out the king of DIY's channel and videos on how to make moving bed filters for better instructions on doing this on a larger scale :)
second if you have acces to a garden store that sell common pond plants buy a cheap bunch of hornwort should be about $1-2 my fish at least love the stuff.
Because it is lit, duh
I provide all of it to give him the best life possible. (i don't go on vacation, but I have friends with experience to help care for them when im unavailable) I also have 5 snakes, 2 chickens, a horse, 2 rats, a kitten, a tarantula and a cockatiel. All of them have the best care available and I am able to stick to their vet schedules and vaccines and parasite prevention ragularly.. I work from home and I do fairly well, well enough to provide and spoil all my pets. Now, dont get me wrong, I am not ungrateful for the opportunity to have so many, and keep them so healthy but thats not my point..
My point is that all a fish needs is food, and a life time investment in a good sized tank, a proper filter and a heater. on top of that we have hacks like this to make it even cheaper. if someone is unwilling or unable to give proper care to an animal, then they should not take on the responsibility of the animals life and well being.
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Graded now. There showcased in my videos :)