🐠 Mr. Bubbles Aquarium Maintenance Playbook

☀️ Daily Routine

⏱️ Time Commitment: ~1–2 minutes

Feeding Protocol (Morning & Evening)
- Drop in 2 pellets in the morning and 2 pellets in the evening.
- ⚠️ The Golden Rule: If he misses a pellet and it hits the gravel, scoop it out within 2 minutes so it doesn’t rot.
Quick “Eyeball” Checks
- 🌡️ Temperature: Glance at the thermometer to ensure it’s steady at 78°F.
- 💧 Clarity: Ensure the water is crystal clear with no cloudiness or haze.
- ⚙️ Flow: Confirm the filter is flowing smoothly and not sputtering.

⏱️ Time Commitment: ~20 minutes (15 minutes passive wait)

Remove: Scoop out 2 Jason’s Deli cups (~0.5 gallons) of old tank water.
Prep: Fill 2 cups with fresh tap water, add 1 drop of Betta Aquatan conditioner to each cup, and match the temperature to ~78°F.
First Cup: Slowly pour in 1 cup of the fresh, conditioned water.
Temperature Pause: Wait about 15 minutes to let the water temperature in the tank stabilize.
Second Cup: Slowly pour in the last cup of conditioned water.
Top-Off: If the water level is still low due to evaporation, top off as needed with conditioned water to bring the tank back up to the fill line.

Add 5 drops of starter liquid directly into the tank right after the fresh water is in.

Pick one day a week (e.g., Saturday) to completely skip feeding to reset his digestive tract and prevent bloating.

⏱️ Time Commitment: ~10–15 minutes

Filter Cartridge Rinse

⛔ CRITICAL: Do NOT throw the cartridge away, and NEVER rinse it under tap water!
- Swish the cartridge around in a bucket of saved old tank water from your weekly change to knock off gunk, then slide it back in.
Gravel & Decoration Inspection
- Check the pineapple, 3D-printed accessories, and plants.
- If algae or waste is building up, rinse under hot tap water (no soap!) and scrub with a clean toothbrush.
Water Quality Check
- Dip a 5-in-1 test strip to verify Nitrites ($\text{NO}_2^-$) and Nitrates ($\text{NO}_3^-$) are sitting safely at 0.

⏱️ Time Commitment: ~1–2 minutes

Water Conditioning Rule
- ⛔ CRITICAL: NEVER add raw tap water directly to the tank. Always condition fresh water before it enters the tank to neutralize chlorine.
Betta Aquatan Dosage Cheat Sheet:
- 1 Jason’s Deli Cup (32 oz / 0.25 gal): 1 drop
- 1 Gallon: 2 drops
- 2.5 Gallons: 5 drops
Action: Whenever topping off evaporated water between scheduled changes, treat the fresh water with conditioner and match the temperature (~78°F) before pouring it in.