2.5 gallon betta tank journal

So far it will be filtered and heated and hopefully will be setup starting today.  Watch this spot for updates.  Since I will be getting a store bought one I believe I will start off with room temperature and slowly bring the temp. up to 78 degrees to not shock him/her, sound good? What are some easy to find small plants that betta's would like, easy to find is a key word since I can't order any from the internet, I'm thinking crypts, maybe try combamba?

 

What about java fern?

 

If I can find it, only saw it once and it wasn't looking to great.

 

Aquarium Adventure should have some

 

Cabomba gets too big for a 2.5 and is a little more difficult to grow and doesn't look as good trimmed down. Some of what I have, which are fairly commonly availble, in my 2.5 are a bunch of Anacharis (ejeria densa), some wisteria, Anubias nana and pink dwarf lily bulbs. Any of the Anubias are great as they are low light plants, as are the crypts, but crypts tend to melt whenever they are moved and you have to wait for the regrowth. Dwarf sag is good, too, very hardy. You'll need to stick with low light plants.

 

atmmachine816 why not post this on plantgeek you probably would get better responces

 

it's a journal plants isn't a big issue and I probly won't hav any big issures either, I'll try and get crypts, anarchis whenever my lfs gets some and anubias but I have never seen any and thanks for the input.

 

Well you do realize that 2.5 gallon is not really big enough for a Betta so I wouldn't put an whole lot of stuff in there with him and as far as the temperature goes I wouldn't start out with less that 78 degrees as he will adjust by floating the bag when you bring him home. If you leave him at less temperature you are risking cool water diseases attacking him as he will be vulnerable from the stress of the move.

Rose

 

This morning I set it up on my sisters dresser, put in the gravel, two fake plants (temporarily) and a sunked anchor, themometer, put in the filter, and fiilled it up with water and now waiting for the heater to adjust to the water to turn it on. (following directons on that ) later I think I'll move my twisted val into there since it seems to get beat up in my big tank since it's still small and once it gets big I'll move it back.

 

I have one of my bettas in a 2.5 gallon that's heavily planted. He appears to be quite happy, although its hard to tell with fish since they don't smile. But I have mostly taller plants spaced for him to swim between and shorter ones in the front to give him an open swimming place. Funny thing is he likes to play limbo with the dwarf sag.

 

What type of plants do you have and what care do you give them, lighting, ferts etc.?

 

Anacharis (ejeria densa), Wisteria, Anubias nana, two pink dwarf lily bulbs and some narrow leaf chain sword.  I upgraded the lighting to a 10w CF bulb
( ) and use Flourish once a week and Excel every other day.  They are thriving, there's hardly any algae, and the betta and Amano shrimp appear to be very happy (the betta, Oscar, is building a bubblenest as we speak).

I recently added a 3 inch bubble wand to increase the water flow, which is better for the plants and helps to keep algae under control (it tends to explode in water with very little movement).  I also have a palm HOB filter - my tank is kinda old and used to come with a UGF which I hate.  I had an internal Whisper filter but didn't like it and after a friend's betta got chewed up by it, I threw it away and got the palm filter.  Works much better and there's more room in the tank than with the internal filter.

 

Ok well I got the betta and my sister named it Denny. My younger buy older sister said she couldn't sleep with the filter so I had to move it into the family room. My little little sister didn't like it much but what can I do. Hopefully all goes well. Boxermom do you find that your CF bulb heats up your water mine seems to a little.

 

Boxermom do you find that your CF bulb heats up your water mine seems to a little.

Only by more than a degree or so at most. The incandescent bulb that it came with heated it up a lot more.

 

I have another problem, since it's longer the reflector doesn't cover it completely so it is bright and my dad complains about it making a glare, what can I do to prevent this.

 

See, that's another reason I don't like live plants, you can never find what your lookin for. I've been looking for java moss and I think its a lanic for my betta. But noooo, I can't find any. I only have 2 lfs and then there's Petsmart. None have them.

 

HeHe I know how you feel, I was llooking every where for it then I finally found out it was illegal to sell where I live since it can get in the sewer systems and survive. Then all the dumb lfs sell are non-aquatic plants so I have to bring money with me every time I go so when they do happen to have some true aquatic plants I pick them up. When I see a crypt, I get it.

 

I think I'll stick with my silk plants. Atleast they never die, not even come close.