Biotope Rescape

I have been considering for a while now about rescaping my 9g Fluval Flex and just before the weekend started researching biotope setups for my betta with little to no bottom for ease of maintenance. Thinking some sort of leaf litter or maybe just some large rocks and driftwood to fill the bottom but I am so over rooted plants in this tank.

That being said I don't want to go totally without plants. I see driftwood for sale at my LFS with plants already attached through drilled holes and such and thought that would be a neat idea so I don't have to deal with substrate. Usually these plant are things like mosses or Anubias, I also have plenty of java ferns and floating anacharis as well as a clump of moss I just have weighed down with a rock "freestyling" wherever it goes. I'd like to try the Anubias but am not sure what kind would do well in this setup, I also saw one tank that used a type of green myrio but not sure how well it grew in the long run. Does anyone have this type of setup for a betta, and if so what plants work best? Any recommendations on plants are appreciated.

 

I recommend lilies. I found you don't need substrate. I just dropped a bulb inbetween some stones and driftwood, and voila!

 

I recommend lilies. I found you don't need substrate. I just dropped a bulb inbetween some stones and driftwood, and voila!

Any kind of specific lily? They sound pretty good and I like how the leaves grow to the top surface, sounds great for a betta to provide cover and bubble nest foundation.

 

I might put just a small layer of black sand to seat some river stones in around the driftwood. That way it makes it look a tad better but should still be really easy to clean. No more then an inch if that.

 

Any kind of specific lily? They sound pretty good and I like how the leaves grow to the top surface, sounds great for a betta to provide cover and bubble nest foundation.

Nothing specific. I bought a bulb at Petco as Nymphaea sp. They are the ones you see usually sold in a bag and targeted for bettas.

FYI, anything that says sp. following a genus name means it's an unknown or unspecified species, and spp. is the plural form.

 

Nothing specific. I bought a bulb at Petco as Nymphaea sp. They are the ones you see usually sold in a bag and targeted for bettas.

FYI, anything that says sp. following a genus name means it's an unknown or unspecified species, and spp. is the plural form.

Lol as much as I try to stay away from Petco and Petsmart I might have to check out their plants for the occasion. Good to know about the sp., thanks!

 

scarface these by any chance, or are these more for ponds?

 

scarface these by any chance, or are these more for ponds?

I believe that's the exact one I got. I just set the bulb between some spiderwood and stones, and it eventually attached itself. I think most species of lilies do fine in an aquarium. I have mine in a 20 gallon long.

 

I believe that's the exact one I got. I just set the bulb between some spiderwood and stones, and it eventually attached itself. I think most species of lilies do fine in an aquarium. I have mine in a 20 gallon long.

Awesome! Mines just a 9g but I might try all 3 and see what sticks. My brothers 30 gallon could take the other 2 if its overwhelming. I'm going to go by my LFS before pulling the trigger on these and see what they have but this Petco is right up the road if they don't have anything. Would you suggest any ferts and do you use brighter or dimmer light?

 

Awesome! Mines just a 9g but I might try all 3 and see what sticks. My brothers 30 gallon could take the other 2 if its overwhelming. I'm going to go by my LFS before pulling the trigger on these and see what they have but this Petco is right up the road if they don't have anything. Would you suggest any ferts and do you use brighter or dimmer light?

I do recommend ferts, especially if you have plans of not using substrate, and therefore root tabs. So it definitely helps, I think. I use a liquid fert by Dennerle, but can't recall the specific product. I don't believe it has any nitrogen, phosphorous, or potassium, though, but micros. But my tank is relatively heavily stocked by most members' standards here, and I think that's why it works fine for me. For lights, I use the Finnex Stingray. If you're going to check out your LFS, they might have other species of lilies worth considering. My favorite is actually Nymphaea minuta. It has the tiniest little flowers which I love. It's quite rare though. I got mine from SeattleRoy. He might have better advice as well. I'm not the most well-versed in terms of plants.

 

I have some flourish left though questionable, I prefer and have been using NilocG ThriveC but this past week Easy Green has peaked my interest due to how many more nutrients it has. I'll have to see what I'm working with tomorrow when I plan a layout, I have my java fern mat on a large piece of driftwood and my java moss but that'll be it in addition to lilies. I will definitely see if they have that, I love my red root flowers because of the tiny white flowers. How tinted is your water?

 

I have some flourish left though questionable, I prefer and have been using NilocG ThriveC but this past week Easy Green has peaked my interest due to how many more nutrients it has. I'll have to see what I'm working with tomorrow when I plan a layout, I have my java fern mat on a large piece of driftwood and my java moss but that'll be it in addition to lilies. I will definitely see if they have that, I love my red root flowers because of the tiny white flowers. How tinted is your water?

I used leaf litter I collected from outside, so it used to be quite tinted. It honestly looked blackwater. But since then I've pretty much removed them all. I haven't seen any difference from before and after.

 

I used leaf litter I collected from outside, so it used to be quite tinted. It honestly looked blackwater. But since then I've pretty much removed them all. I haven't seen any difference from before and after.

I was going to use some cattappa leaves mixed in with the sand depending on the stones I can find, or perhaps no sand and just stones and leaves. Still a little undecided.. any drawbacks to using leaf litter?

 

I was going to use some cattappa leaves mixed in with the sand depending on the stones I can find, or perhaps no sand and just stones and leaves. Still a little undecided.. any drawbacks to using leaf litter?

Since I collect mine from outside, I get quite a few varieties. Some deteriorate faster than others, which isn't really a bad thing. But the smaller pieces do get sucked up into my filter intake. A lot of it, actually--or seemingly. I'm not really sure. When it came time to clean my canister, it was surprisingly not that bad. I think most of it dissolved inside the filter is my guess. Also, during water changes, the leaves can get in the way a bit, but it was never a big deal for me.

 

scarface I have the rescape done as of last weekend, still letting the water clear up from adding new sand. The leaf litter settled nicely to the bottom and this morning saw some tannins starting to leech into the water. I did put all three of the lilies in the tank buried about half to 3/4. Before putting them in I rinsed them in old tank water and made sure they were all firm and didn't show anything questionable. 2 of them are staying put but one keeps coming loose and floating to the top, I fixed it once yesterday or the day before but this morning came loose again. I also noticed they have a bit of the white mold on them you usually see on new driftwood, is that normal? Also about how long until I might start seeing signs of growth? Starting to feel like they were a gamble haha

 

It shouldn't take long to see growth. I think I saw mine sprout within a week. Not sure if the white mold you're seeing is normal. Don't give up on them yet. For the one that keeps floating, you could try super gluing it on something, like a small rock. I personally think it'll sink on its own eventually.

 

It shouldn't take long to see growth. I think I saw mine sprout within a week. Not sure if the white mold you're seeing is normal. Don't give up on them yet. For the one that keeps floating, you could try super gluing it on something, like a small rock. I personally think it'll sink on its own eventually.

I was going to just let it float until my next planned water change on Sunday then maybe anchor it. I assume what might be the mold is just a dried out bulb being around moisture like that and that maybe it just isn't saturated enough. Is there a top and bottom to identify? Maybe I planted wrong..

 

I was going to just let it float until my next planned water change on Sunday then maybe anchor it. I assume what might be the mold is just a dried out bulb being around moisture like that and that maybe it just isn't saturated enough. Is there a top and bottom to identify? Maybe I planted wrong..

Nope, it doesn't matter. If it doesn't grow within 30 days (which I doubt should take that long), at least the seller has a guarantee.

 

Nope, it doesn't matter. If it doesn't grow within 30 days (which I doubt should take that long), at least the seller has a guarantee.

Indeed, I should still have the receipt. If not it was only $6, I'll live.. most plants at my LFS are that if not more anyways.

 

Pics for reference. Looks exactly like what's on my driftwood.

 

So those bulbs were a bust. I took the first one out last weekend cause it came out of the sand and started floating still. This weekend during a cleaning I tapped the other 2 a bit and same thing, they started floating pretty easily. Upon further inspection, i.e. giving them a good squeeze or two, they oozed some really foul smelling yellow junk. Tossed them in favor of planting some crypt lutea, a couple of the girls who do the plants at my LFS recommended them (crypts) so we'll see how they go. Also still clearing up the mold during cleanings but the snails have been doing good work and it's definitely starting to go away.