4-5 Gallon Nano Planted Ideas

I’m stuck.

I just got a used tank about a week ago, it’s just a tad smaller than the fluval chI tank so I’m assuming it’s around 4 gallons.
My plan is a no filter, heavily planted Betta (or small singular nano fish) tank; However, I have no idea how to get there. I want to put dragon stone or grey stone in the back to make it look like mountains and create a sense of scale but I’m totally lost as far as plants goes. Substrate I wanted to dirt it and I don’t want to get as complex as mineralizing. I have in my garden planter box 1/2 organic compost, 1/4 peat, and 1/4 miracle grow organic. It’s been there for about 6 months in heavy rain, humid hot Florida weather. Is it safe to use or should I use something like miracle grow organic store bought from the bag. I want to cap it with something natural looking, maybe fine black sand that won’t break the bank? Or would it mix with the dirt? Would something like gravel be a better option for a cap? In the front of the tank I want to grow real carpet, but without pressurized Co2 (I have flourish and a couple other liquid fertilizers.) Is something like a carpet of Monte Carlo or baby dwarf tears possible in a tank without a filter and pressured co2? If I did grow it I would want to start from seeds because no LFS grow Monte Carlo and I’m not looking to spend a fortune on shipping. I’m going for a foo the flowerhorn inspired tank. I have a cycled year running 36 gallon in can start the tank from. What plants would be best attached to dragon stone or in the substrate in the back? Thanks
Attached pictures are the tank and soil from the planter box

 

I’m stuck.

I just got a used tank about a week ago, it’s just a tad smaller than the fluval chI tank so I’m assuming it’s around 4 gallons.
My plan is a no filter, heavily planted Betta (or small singular nano fish) tank; However, I have no idea how to get there. I want to put dragon stone or grey stone in the back to make it look like mountains and create a sense of scale but I’m totally lost as far as plants goes. Substrate I wanted to dirt it and I don’t want to get as complex as mineralizing. I have in my garden planter box 1/2 organic compost, 1/4 peat, and 1/4 miracle grow organic. It’s been there for about 6 months in heavy rain, humid hot Florida weather. Is it safe to use or should I use something like miracle grow organic store bought from the bag. I want to cap it with something natural looking, maybe fine black sand that won’t break the bank? Or would it mix with the dirt? Would something like gravel be a better option for a cap? In the front of the tank I want to grow real carpet, but without pressurized Co2 (I have flourish and a couple other liquid fertilizers.) Is something like a carpet of Monte Carlo or baby dwarf tears possible in a tank without a filter and pressured co2? If I did grow it I would want to start from seeds because no LFS grow Monte Carlo and I’m not looking to spend a fortune on shipping. I’m going for a foo the flowerhorn inspired tank. I have a cycled year running 36 gallon in can start the tank from. What plants would be best attached to dragon stone or in the substrate in the back? Thanks
Attached pictures are the tank and soil from the planter box

I love foo the flowerhorn’s tanks!I would say that you can cap the substrate with black sand as long as the roots touch the nutritious substrate.Dwarf baby tear carpets are gorgeous. Maybe add some water wisteria in the back like trees in the mountainous rocks. A little bacopa and hornwort in the back would also look really cool. Just make sure you have a strong enough light for the plants to flourish. This could be a really awesome Betta tank!

 

I love foo the flowerhorn’s tanks!I would say that you can cap the substrate with black sand as long as the roots touch the nutritious substrate.Dwarf baby tear carpets are gorgeous. Maybe add some water wisteria in the back like trees in the mountainous rocks. A little bacopa and hornwort in the back would also look really cool. Just make sure you have a strong enough light for the plants to flourish. This could be a really awesome Betta tank!

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What is the best fine black sand around? I have imagine white sand from petco but its really course so I don’t like it. Do you know of any good fine black sand, online or in chain pet stores? Not looking to spend over $15 on sand. Thanks.

 

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What is the best fine black sand around? I have imagine white sand from petco but its really course so I don’t like it. Do you know of any good fine black sand, online or in chain pet stores? Not looking to spend over $15 on sand. Thanks.

CarbI Sea has some really nice fine sand. If you are willing to go up to $19 they have a sand that is full of beneficial bacteria to jumpstart new tanks and is full of nutrition for live plants! You can get it from petco or amazon!

 

In case anyone is following this tank: for substrate I shifted miricle grow organic over a fine pool screen and dirted the bottom. I then used stony rivers black sand (amazing stuff great diameter not too bulky but still heavy) and made a 1 inch barrier around the edges of the tank to hide the dirt. The dirt was about an inch and there’s another half inch cap of black sand on top. When I finished I was left with 3 gallons of water volume approx. I did this about a month ago. I also added a small jar of moss I didn’t care about to help the cycle and a moss ball
First 2 weeks:
Ammonia: 2-4ppm
Nitirite: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 20ppm

Present: I added micro sword (4th week)
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 1-2ppm
Nitrate: 40ppm

Now I need help with setting up a quarantine. I have a 20 gallon filter up and running for a month in my main set up. If I get a Rubbermaid bin with my main setup water and that 20 filter can I keep a Betta in qt for 2-3 weeks (if need be) to treat for all the illness? (“Buying” a nasty beat up Betta from chain store)

It would depend on the disease (ick, fin rot, maybe early dropsy) but does anyone know of great meds/ tips to help Bettas heal best? Thanks!
In case anyone is following this tank: for substrate I shifted miricle grow organic over a fine pool screen and dirted the bottom. I then used stony rivers black sand (amazing stuff great diameter not too bulky but still heavy) and made a 1 inch barrier around the edges of the tank to hide the dirt. The dirt was about an inch and there’s another half inch cap of black sand on top. When I finished I was left with 3 gallons of water volume approx. I did this about a month ago. I also added a small jar of moss I didn’t care about to help the cycle and a moss ball
First 2 weeks:
Ammonia: 2-4ppm
Nitirite: 0.25ppm
Nitrate: 20ppm

Present: I added micro sword (4th week)
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 1-2ppm
Nitrate: 40ppm

Now I need help with setting up a quarantine. I have a 20 gallon filter up and running for a month in my main set up. If I get a Rubbermaid bin with my main setup water and that 20 filter can I keep a Betta in qt for 2-3 weeks (if need be) to treat for all the illness? (“Buying” a nasty beat up Betta from chain store)

It would depend on the disease (ick, fin rot, maybe early dropsy) but does anyone know of great meds/ tips to help Bettas heal best? Thanks!