Well, since I came home with that unexpected
betta a few days ago, I've been trying to put tofether a tank for it. The tank itself and the decorations weren't a problem. The issue was that I didn't have a filter or heater.
I still don't have a heater and I'm planning to get one ASAP. I'm not sure why it took me so long to think of this, but today I thought, "Hey, what about getting some of those baby java ferns out of the puffer tank and using them to filter the betta tank? They'll already have the bacteria on them!"
So that's exactly what I did. I borrowed 7 small java ferns from their parent plants and since the substrate in the betta tank is large flat marble-type rocks, I felt like I could bury the roots without them rotting since the spaces between the pebbles are so large.
The readings right before I put the plants in were:
ammonia: .25-.50 (I did a WC)
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 5
We'll see how it goes!