CoryFan’s 5 gallon betta build!

A while ago I had a topfin retreat 5 gallon tank, it was all glass and rimless! I loved it! It had integrated filtration and the pump quit running! I couldn’t find a replacement and couldn’t get ahold of the company so I put it into storage and bought an aqueon 5 gallon bowfront, which has been used as a temporary tank for neon tetras and most recently glowlight tetras. I wanted it to be nicely aquascaped but never got around to planting it more. Welk I neglected it for a long time and I hated the plastic with the stupid filter that doesn’t make sense. So I decided to take the old 5 gallon out of storage, but I still had that stupid filter compartment taking up the whole side of the tank, so I slowly chipped away at it with a chisel and heavy duty cutters. It took 2 hours to remove that stupid thing! And I ended up taking most of the seal with it so I resealed the tank with a tube of silicone with the corner cut! Lol! I must admit it doesn’t look pretty, but it will do the job! So I netted the tetras and removed all the plants. Then drained the tank, rinsed the Fluval stratum (i have a new bag I will be using mostly), and washed the ohku stone. I will hopefully set up the new(old) tank soon. i have an overhead clip light and an hob filter coming.
the end goal is a densely planted betta tank for one of philam ’s bettas!
(The pic of the bowfront is when I first set it up, and the pic of the other tank is from a year ago

 

NICE!

 

I think i seen that tank on another thread. Hmmm.

 

That’s a sleek looking tank! Don’t worry about the silicone and just hide that with the plants I’ve also seen my local petco selling an aqueon rimless tank before this virus

 

That’s a sleek looking tank! Don’t worry about the silicone and just hide that with the plants I’ve also seen my local petco selling an aqueon rimless tank before this virus

Now that it is completely cured I’m going to clean it up a bit with the razor blade.

 

Ok I scaped the tank and I’m pretty happy with the outcome before plants. I’ll add plants when the tank clears up, I’m working with an ozelot sword and 4 Amazon swords that have been pruned to be small and therefor they are stunted a little, I also have tons of mixed crypts, micro sword, water sprite, Anubias nana, and salvinia for the surface. I stuck the old filter from the bowfront on the edge and it actually worked! I’ll use it to clear up the silt and cloudiness until my new hob comes.

 

What did you fill it with rootbeer? j/k

 

What did you fill it with rootbeer? j/k

You would think! Half the stratum is 6 months old and the older it gets the more easily it turns to dust/silt. So when I was moving rocks it broke up many of the little beads.
It wasn't clearing up fast enough so I took out a second one of the same filter I am already using. A relative gave me an old 2.5 gallon bowfront and it has the same filter as the 5 gallon bowfront. I will start planting tomorrow once it’s clear.

Does anyone have any good suggestions for 5 gallon filters? I don’t want a sponge filter because I don’t have the space and I don’t want to buy another air pump.
i ordered 2 5-10 gal hob’s but the flow can’t be too high since it’s for a betta so I’m going to try out both and see if either one of them have a low enough flow.

 

My top fin that came with my 5 has super low flow. I get bio film buildup in my filter....

 

My top fin that came with my 5 has super low flow. I get bio film buildup in my filter....

I wasn’t able to find it on amazon but I just checked and one filter I ordered has a flow rate of 25 gph so it should work okay.

 

I think that ur tank looks really good!

 

Ok, the tank cleared up overnight, and tonight I’m going to plant it.

 

It's looking good so far! I'm excited to see how it'll look with the plants in there.

 

Ok I drained 75% of the tank and planted it with what I had in hand.
Not that you can see the plants because the tank got stirred up again!


I just placed a $45 order at Jacobs aquarium (highly recommend, he has great prices) And they will be here by the end of the week. Not all of those are for this tank though, many if them are for my 36.
I ordered:
2 crypt reds
Aponogeton bovinianus
Marble sword
Ruffle sword
Cardinal plant
Anubias hastifolia
Broad leaf sag
And rotala indica
(shipping is $9, so I had to make it worth my money)
And this pic is for StarGirl15


thats right! More beef and noodles!
The insta pot timer just went off, gotta go!

 

Ok I drained 75% of the tank and planted it with what I had in hand.
Not that you can see the plants because the tank got stirred up again!
View attachment 687337
I just placed a $45 order at Jacobs aquarium (highly recommend, he has great prices) And they will be here by the end of the week. Not all of those are for this tank though, many if them are for my 36.
I ordered:
2 crypt reds
Aponogeton bovinianus
Marble sword
Ruffle sword
Cardinal plant
Anubias hastifolia
Broad leaf sag
And rotala indica
(shipping is $9, so I had to make it worth my money)
And this pic is for StarGirl15
View attachment 687339
thats right! More beef and noodles!
The insta pot timer just went off, gotta go!

I cant believe you are eating that again!!!!! hahaha

 

I cant believe you are eating that again!!!!! hahaha

It’s not a food, it’s a lifestyle!

 

Ok here’s some pics of the plants, the tank is still a little cloudy.


ozelot sqord



Amazon swords- I’m hoping they will in and get bushy in that whole corner.




crypt corner- they are all babies but the will fill in and carpet that whole corner.

 

Beautiful tank so far! Looking good

 

Nice! I had a problem with my swords when I first put them in where they both melted back almost all the way, but they've been putting out new leaves like crazy since then so if they do die back just give em a bit and they'll probably spring right back!

 

Nice! I had a problem with my swords when I first put them in where they both melted back almost all the way, but they've been putting out new leaves like crazy since then so if they do die back just give em a bit and they'll probably spring right back!

These 3 have been moved around several times and always start growing in at least 2 weeks. Most swords melt at first because the were grown emersed.

 

Ok, I received the light and filter a day and early, and the light looks great!

 

im pretty sure this filter has to high of flow, but what do all you betta experts out there think?

 

I believe you said you're getting one of philiam's bettas correct? His are short finned, so they should be okay. If you put the fish in there and happens to find the flow too strong after being in there for a few hours, then you can try a baffle with a water bottle.

 

I believe you said you're getting one of philiam's bettas correct? His are short finned, so they should be okay. If you put the fish in there and happens to find the flow too strong after being in there for a few hours, then you can try a baffle with a water bottle.

I have another filter on its way I'll be trying out.i don't want to use a baffle because I want everything too look clean and astetically pleasing. The long term goal is to have one of philam 's betas, but I may get a betta from petsmart in the mean time just to see how/if I like the idea of keeping a betta in this tank and to keep it cycled. But I don't know if I will be going to a pet store anytime soon.

 

I have another filter on its way I'll be trying out.i don't want to use a baffle because I want everything too look clean and astetically pleasing. The long term goal is to have one of philam 's betas, but I may get a betta from petsmart in the mean time just to see how/if I like the idea of keeping a betta in this tank and to keep it cycled. But I don't know if I will be going to a pet store anytime soon.

Have you thought about using a sponge filter instead? The filters current seems to be a little too strong but you could also baffle it with some plants to make it look sort of natural.. like some java moss perhaps.

 

Have you thought about using a sponge filter instead? The filters current seems to be a little too strong but you could also baffle it with some plants to make it look sort of natural.. like some java moss perhaps.

Space is a premium in this tank so I didn’t want a sponge filter taking up any room and I want this to be my one “show” tank. I have another filter coming though so I will see how that one is.

 

Space is a premium in this tank so I didn’t want a sponge filter taking up any room and I want this to be my one “show” tank. I have another filter coming though so I will see how that one is.

How about using some floating plants as a natural filter?

 

How about using some floating plants as a natural filter?

I know they suck up nitrates rediculously but I’ve never thought they actually could filter a whole tank.

the second filter is coming on Saturday and it is much smaller with a gph rating of 35 and adjustable flow rates. This filter is overkill, it’s huge for a 5 gallon!
But if this one coming doesn’t work like I need it to I have modified the one I have now. It’s amazing what you can do with the devider of a breeder box and double sided tape!

 

I have 3 betta tanks. Two of them are 5 gallon. I use a small hob filter from Penn Plax (the cascade 20)...that has an adjustable flow. I do use a betta bed under the flow, and that breaks it down even more. It filters about 20 gallons an hour. It comes with a cartridge, but I added some extra filter material and an in-take sponge. If you don't like that one, there is one that is the next level up that also has an adjustable flow. I plan on trying that one once everything goes back to normal. That one is the cascade 80. I get them from Amazon.

 

Ok I moved the grouping of swords and the ozelot sword (still might move it around more). And here is the plan for the plants.
Purple circle: cardinal plant( how tall does it get? in all the pics I have seen it’s no more than 4-6 inches. The
Red circle: anacharis
Blue circle: rotala indica
Orange circle: broad leaf sag? More crypts?
and possibly in between the swords and blue circle a ruffle sword.

 

The tank is looking better with anacharis from Addictedtobettas !
The rest of the plants will be here on Saturday!

 

The filter that came today was smaller than my hand! So I’ll will not be using it.
I ended up cutting the intake tube so it would work where I want it one the back of the tank. Plants arrive tomorrow!

 

I got the plants today and they are all in terrible condition. They have been in transit for 5 days so it’s understandable.
But the tank does look better. I probably will be ordering more plants somewhere else.

 

I got the plants today and they are all in terrible condition. They have been in transit for 5 days so it’s understandable.
But the tank does look better. I probably will be ordering more plants somewhere else.View attachment 689794

Do you mind if I ask where you got them from? I'm in the market for some plants later this week.

 

Do you mind if I ask where you got them from? I'm in the market for some plants later this week.

I got them from Jacobs aquarium.
sometimes the plants come in smaller than stated or dead, but he is amazing about refunding anything that has a problem, as long as you keep them in their original packaging, send pictures within 12 hours of receiving your order.

 

I’m going to order a green gecko crypt tissue culture and bacoba Carolina from aquarium plants factory. The bacopa is going in the corner and the crypt is going In front of the rocks.

 

I’m getting some algae on the glass so I scrubbed it off with a tooth brush and I am now only leaving the light on for 6-8 hours instead of 12. I have a green gecko crypt tissue culture along with bacopa coming tomorrow.

 

The bacons is going in the corner

OMG you have Bacons in your tank! I love bacons. ......lol

 

OMG you have Bacons in your tank! I love bacons. ......lol

You dont? Lol

 

I just got on here so I'm a little late, but I LOVE your tank!