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If a fish lives in a bowl how often should you clean it2007-11-24 23:35:56

Let me add..GOLDFISH DO NOT BELONG IN FISH BOWLS.

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It depends on the type fish, size of fish, the size of the bowl, and if you are over feeding. Note that if you don't have any aeration you need to clean the gravel when you change the water.

Betta:

1-2.5 gallons- every 4 days

2.5+ gallons- every week

5-10 gallons- every week

1 Goldfish:

1-2.5 gallons- every day

2.5-5 gallons- every 2 days

5-10 gallons- every 4 days

Note that goldfish aren't very good fish for bowls. A filter and a 5-10 (2.5-5 for betta) gallon tank will make your life easier. A quick weekly gravel vacuum that removes 10% of the water is all you need.

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The simple answer is to change it before toxins like ammonia and nitrite build up to detectable levels. The rate at which these toxins build depend on several things including tank size, type of fish, fish waste and other decaying matter, the presents of plants, the bioload, the filtration, substrate and the individual fish鈥檚 metabolism. Because there are so many factors involved the only way to really know how often you should change your tank water is to test it. In an uncycled tank I would start by doing a 100% water change. Test the water for ammonia once each day. Once your test kit detects ammonia you know exactly how many days you can go between water changes. If it takes 6 days for ammonia to show trace amounts then you want to change your tank water every 5 days from that point on. If it takes 10 days then change your water every 9 after the initial test.