Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have been reading your posts about the jars and want to set up something similar. I am not that farmiliar with filters and their lingo yet as I've just started working with this, so please forgive me if I sound like a 5 year old :-P
I have just started breeding bettas, my fry are just over three weeks old and I haven't even moved them into the grow out tank yet, but was thinking of the future when I will have dozens, maybe even hundreds of bettas to jar individually. I saw a device on ebay that was similar to what you suggested, only it involved a vacuum to change the water, and individual filters in each one. I origionally was going to do what you did, set up a row and just syphon from one jar to the next, but as soon as I started thinking of the details like overflowing, and levelness, and thickness of tubes I got very overwhelmed. It would definitely have to be a trial and error technique for me, since I can envision what would happen. At first thought, I didn't even think filtration would be necissary. I planned on having a jar with clean water, the row of bettas, and at the other end an empty jar and just syphon from each one until the jar with clean water is empty, and the empty jar was full. But I have NO clue if it would work. Then I read you talking about airstones and filtration and assumed it probably WOULDN'T work lol. My biggest concern was how fast it would syphon and the empty jar would fill up in like 5 minutes. That definitely wouldn't work.
My other idea, was to have a whole bunch of 2.5 gallon tanks with two dividers in each one, so it would hold three fish. I would have an undergravel filter in each tank and a tube running from each one to a vacuum. I would vacuum the water out of them, and then reverse the vacuum and put water back in.
Now my problem is, which Idea is better? Or rather, which would work better? Any advise ANYONE can give me would be greatly appreciated! Thanks a bunch!

Here is a photo from a post in a crayfish forum. They call it crayfish condos. You may be interested in something like this.

The link will go to that post

Blue Crayfish

I planned on having a jar with clean water, the row of bettas, and at the other end an empty jar and just syphon from each one until the jar with clean water is empty, and the empty jar was full.

How fast the water moved between jars would depend on the diameter of the siphons. Larger diameter would move water faster. But, your first jar would not be empty when youre done. When you connect a siphon between 2 containers, when the water stops flowing both containers will be level.

Now if you set the first container so the bottom of the container was above the top of the other containers it would work.

Using the siphons wouldnt actually change all the water though. When the water flows into the first container, it will mix with the water already there, and the water being pulled into the next container will be a combination of clean and dirty water.

Siphons can be a lot of work too, unless maybe if you leave them in all the time. Getting them primed is a big hassle, unless you have an air valve in the top to suck all the air out of them. Having a long tank with dividers like the crayfish condo, and letting the water constantly flow between them would be much more efficient.

If you decide to build with plexiglass (acrylic), dont try siliconing it together, it doesnt work. You need acrylic bonding cement, which has the consistency of water. You apply it with a syringe and hold the 2 pieces of acrylic together, and it bonds tight. Looks a lot better than silicone too. You cant even see the adhesive.

Just because the pet stores keep bettas in dixie cups, doesnt mean they should have to live in a space that small. I once kept a betta in a 55 gallon aquarium, and he loved it. Just because an animal can SURVIVE in a small area doesnt mean its supposed to. Just imagine how happy a dog at the pet store is living in that little 2x2 cage. Thats how happy the bettas are.

Thanks so much! I know what you mean about those little cups. I would never do that. I origionally was going to use 2 liter bottles for each one, but I probably won't since I will need an undergravel filter. Those condos look great and are exactly what I need and will probably build my own. I see what you mean about the levelness. The mixing of water would be ok, as long as each container was constantly getting SOME clean water, but like you said, it will result in the first container being the cleanest, and the last being the dirtiest. I will probably go with the aquarium vacuum idea. It sounds like the neatest way to go about it. I just want my fish to be happy and healthy.
Thanks for the advise!

If you're planning on keeping bettas in close quarters, they'll feel much safer if they can't see their neighbors. Might look into acrylic that isn't clear.

And, umm... don't ask about the picture. My computer's all messed up...

Jessie I didn't know you hang out over here too