Divided Tank Question

So many are talking about divided tanks and I would really like to have both of my male bettas in a divided tank, and both of my females in a divided tank. Or, I could have 1 female betta and 1 male betta in each tank.  My question is, can you have otos or catfish in the tank with them? If so how many on each side? I would like to have 2 otos or 2 catfish on each side.  If I did, would it make my 10 gallon tank too crowded?  I figure that there would be a total of  no more than 12 inches of fish in a ten gallon tank.  Is that possible if I do more frequent water changes?  ??? Also, is there more than 1 type of tank divider? If so which divider works the best?

CherryRose 

 

((cherryrose))

I have a 10 gal too and, for me, that would be too crowded. I don't count on 10 total inches of fish though. I think you need to deduct some for the plants, decoration and gravel (I did). For my tank, I've decided that I have 8 total inches of fish that I can add.

See what others here have to say. Maybe it'd be ok (like with the extra water changes you're willing to do, don't know).

I don't use a divider, although I bought one. I do know from reading here that a very important consideration with dividers is that there be no room at all for the Betta to jump from one side to the other. You'll hear that again when others post to your thread I'm sure.

 

In a 10 gallon tank that would work I think with Otos (not cories or other cats, they get too big and 2 cories and one betta are enough for that sized tank.) Now I am going to have some people disagree with me on this and we will welcome a debate of sorts but I have 2 otos and a betta in each of my five gallon tanks so how do I say it won't work when it does at my home every day. There are a good 50% water change done on each tank at least one time a week and the gravel maintenance will be important to keep up or you will have fin rot problems. Ammonia testing needs to be done about 3 times a week until you are sure that they are not building up more ammonia than they can deal with or you will need to do 2 water changes a week.

It is going to be a squeeze but I do believe it can be done. Just takes work.

Rose

 

I agree with Rose that you should be okay with a couple of Ottos and one Betta on each side of a divided 10 gallon. It basically becomes 2 five gallon tanks... I wouldn't go with more than 2 Ottos on each side (4 altogether) and one Betta on each side. I prefer to be a little more conservative and go with the 1 inch of fish per 2-2 1/2 gallons of water rule, even though many places will tell you 1 inch per gallon. This is especially true for Bettas who don't like to be crowded. Also if you are going to have this many fish, you NEED two filters, one for each side. I have found that I need a small underwater filter for each of the two sections of my 3 way split female tank (and one section has the main filter in it), otherwise it gets pretty dirty. With a 2 way split 10 gallon you have room for two HOB filters but for smaller tanks or 3 way split the Whisper 3I or 10I is quite small and completely in the water and just suctions to the back of the tank. They are super quiet, don't disturb the water surface and keep things clean.

 

Thanks for the answers everyone. I have been gone all day and have just now gotten onto the computer. I will put two otos and one betta on each side. Should I do a boy on one side of the tank and a girl on the other? Also, I still need to know about tank dividers. Is there more than one kind and if so which is the best?

CherryRose

 

Definitely put one boy and one girl in each tank. While two girls will be just fine in a divided tank, two boys will just flare and stress each other out so since you have two of each, you can do boy/girl tanks.
The only tank dividers I've ever seen are the ones made by Penn Plax . They're good because they go up high and if you get a glass canopy there should be no space to jump through. There may be other brands out there but I've never used them so I couldn't tell you if they were good. The Penn Plax divider has tiny holes in it so the water flows through freely. I wouldn't get anything that is solid with no holes. Put your heater right next to the divider and put an airstone under or beside it and it will distribute warm water on both sides. You shouldn't need more than one heater. Have thermometers on both sides to monitor temp.
If you have the standard rectangle shaped 10 gallon tank the smallest divider will fit. You'll need to trim the side a little as I found it about 1/2 inch too wide. If the divider fits snug you may not even need the metal holding clips. The clips will prevent you from fitting the top on properly, which is why the glass canopy is better. Just make sure the divider IS snug and can't be pushed over by a fish. They aren't that strong so they shouldn't be able to.  I've heard that the dividers for the larger tanks don't fit (are too short) but the ten gallon ones do fit with a little trimming.

 

Thank YOU for posting this topic!
I've been wanting 2 5 gallon tanks.. but if it comes out cheaper (and easier to maintain) just to get a 10gal and divide it.. I'm gonna do that instead

 

Good Idea!! I think I am going to sticky this post to the top of the Board so others will read and get the benefit of it. (the one about homemade tank dividers with mesh plastic canvas)

Rose

 

LOL I saw my post in the sticky note area and wondered what on earth I had done wrong that made it appear up there. What a relief to find that I hadn't done anything wrong and it was supposed to be up there! ;D ;D ;D

I am glad that my idea will be able to be used by other Betta lovers. Thank you very much, and enjoy! 8)

CherryRose

 

Okay, I am new to the world of Bettas (usually stick with puffers) and I have a couple of questions, so hopefully someone has a moment to help

I have a ten gallon that I'm setting up at the moment. My plan is to divide it into two 5 gallon tanks (to hold two bettas). After I get that tank going, I am going to be setting up a 20 gallon tank. I plan on dividing that into three sections - also for bettas.

My first question is how separated must they be? I am planning on using those screens they sell at the pet stores to divide them and I am wondering if there will be problems (or if they'll be stressed or unhappy) if they can see one another? If so, could I attach java moss to the screen and let it grow into a nice 'privacy curtain' for the bettas?

My second question is, I plan on having live plants only. However, what I need to know is do the bettas prefer a lot of wide open space or dense plants? My dwarf puffer tank is a jungle of lily, java fern and java moss which I could easily transplant some of those into the betta tanks but they grow CRAZY, lol, and I don't want to crowd the bettas.

I hope those made sense - it's 1:30 in the morning and I"m fried, lol. Hope to hear from you all - thanks in advance!
Tiffany

 

I have a divided tank and at first, my crown-tail would flare up looking at my veil-tail, but he eventually got over it. after about 2 weeks, its like the other betta doesn't even exist.

 

my boy tarzan likes DENSELY planted tanks better, but that's just tarzan
I guess it depends on the betta

 

Ok, thanks so much!

 

Here's a link to an easy and cheaper way to divide a tank for Bettas
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfi...ing-a-tank-for-bettas-fun-and-low-cost.46452/
Bettas love live plants as long as they have plenty of room to get to the surface to breathe.
Carol

 

LOL Butterfly you beat me to it. I had just copied and pasted.

 

LOL Butterfly you beat me to it. I had just copied and pasted.

 

remember when dividing any bettas, that after 2 weeks they are still stressed/flaring, they are not going to work in a divided tank without being not able to see one another..that's very important ....but some of the mesh comes with very dark colors and I also double up the mesh for the nawty boys/girls who don't relax

 

Shawnie could yu put plants in front of the plastic to keep them from seeing each other?
Carol

 

Shawnie could yu put plants in front of the plastic to keep them from seeing each other?
Carol

absolutely....fake or real...just remember if you do that, don't have the plants go up to the top of the divider or they will use them as a trampoline to get on the other side ;D
(nice visual wasn't that carol )

 

(nice visual wasn't that carol )

I can believe it after seeing my little girls I had go from side to side without any help. Even with the water down they did it.
Carol

 

I have java moss growing out the wazoo so I figured if they didn't quit stressing one another after that amount of time, I'd hook the moss to the screen in the center and let it attach - thereby creating a visual block without creating the "trampoline"!

Also, I've seen mentioned a few times that it's good to have a place for the bettas to rest near the surface to breathe and I was curious if something would work (looking for input, I guess). I have a couple of shot glasses as hiding spots/caves in my other tanks and got to thinking the other day doing dishes - what if I put a margarita glass with some sand in it in the betta tank - it would provide a nice high bed for the betta to be near the surface? Has this been done and would it work?

THanks for all the help and I'm heading over to check out that link now!

 

I am thinking of taking my current 15 gallon long and buying another one, then dividing them both 3 ways with glass and silicone. My thought is to individually filter each section, so that disease can not spread. As far as heating, I was thinking 2 25 watt heaters, one on each end, and the middle compartment would be heated from it's neighbors, and if not I would find a compatible heater.

I know it would be a lot of plugs - I am mostly concerned about the water temperature, and how I would keep it stable.

I am not so sure I would be willing to drill into my tank to have a custom filter flowing into all compartments. I'd really like to keep it as separate as possible to prevent disease spread if there is an outbreak.

My question is, does this sound like a setup that will work, or is there anything I am overlooking?

 

Why not get individual 5 gallon tanks and put them next to each other, Amy?

 

Well, the one thing that comes to mind with that is I would then have 5 more plugs for lights. An idea to think on for sure though

 

I think that with the possibility of spillage over the sides, you'll end up with some shared water anyway, so I wouldn't bother with their own filters, etc.

Instead, I would set up a quarantine tank. Give each betta a long period alone in that before adding them to the apartments.

 

Another reason for more filters is that when I had the divided tank thing already, I had an outbreak of velvet b/c the filter was only filtering the water in one section of the tank, there was not enough movement in the other sections. So whether I'd divide the tank or use separate tanks, I would have multiple filters running.

 

Are you going to use HOB or sponge filters? Personally I like the sponge filters in all my smaller tanks because they don't disturb the water as much and are a breeze to clean. I have four 10 gallon tanks setting side by side with custom glass top and light I built myself and only had to leave about ¼ inch open in the back for the air tubing and heater cords. These are my fry tanks.

Now on my maternity tank I use a HOB that draws the water from outside the v-trap and puts it back inside the v-trap so that I have constant water changing out inside the v-trap. Water goes in the top and out the bottom and into the rest of the tank.

These two set ups work great for me.

 

I was actually planning to use internal filters. I've tried diy sponge and just am not happy with them.

I think I've decided to go the plastic divider route - easier to obtain and attach.

 

Sorry about this being long. Please bear with me. . .
I have a 20 gallon high aquarium. I have it divided, but only one side has a betta in it right now. The plastic canvas mesh I used is white-ish clear, and was meant to be temporary. I just cut it as a template so I could fit the permanent plastic canvas perfectly without taking the chance of messing it up. The problem is that I can't find dark colored plastic canvas in a large enough size, and it won't look right if I stitch 2 pieces together with fishing line. I have looked on the Internet, in craft shops, and on ebay, and I can't find a sheet big enough.
I have another betta in a small tank that needs moved to the 20 gallon asap. The tank is too small for him. Also, I don't have a heater for it, and it's getting way too cold for him. He is recovering from torn fins that he got somehow while I was out of town. The fish that is in the 20 gallon has some dorsal fin issues. I'm not sure what he tore it on, but one day his dorsal fin was just gone except for a little nub. He has white fuzzy stuff growing on his raw flesh around the dorsal fin now. I've been having some water parameter issues in that tank, which I think was to blame. I'm finally getting a slight nitrate reading, so I'm hoping that with some extra water changes, the water parameters will be acceptable soon.
Now my actual question: Do you think it would stress the fish too much if they can see each other because of the white-ish clear divider? They both seem to be very calm and are not overly aggressive. One of them is rather shy. I don't want to have them too stressed, especially because of the dorsal fin issue. I have no room for another tank, so that's not an option. I really wanted to wait until the water parameters are acceptable to add the other betta, but I think it's getting just too cold. I'll just have to do extra water changes with prime. So do you think it will be ok? If not, can you suggest something else? I think I've run out of better options.

 

Can you pick up some hanging ivy fake trellis plant? Is so, you could trail it over the divider and weight one end w/ a rock or decoration. I think that should solve the divider issue. As faras the fungus goes i'd medicate the one fish separetly first with some iodine or ant fungus meds.

 

Can you get another large piece of white? If your divider is made with report binders, you should be able to fit two pieces of the white in between them. I did, and my boys can't see each other. I've heard even if they can see each other, they should chill out after a few weeks, and if they don't, to block their view. I also have tall plants on both sides.

If you're not using medicine, and keep up with your wc schedule, you shouldn't have a problem, especially if you're only getting nitrate readings.

Good luck!

 

I used fishing line to sew pieces of craft mesh together when I had my 20G Long divided. It didn't look bad at all. Why do you think it won't look right? Honestly, I only had one sheet of white craft mesh dividing each of my bettas (I kept three in that tank) and my boys never had an issue with seeing the others in the tank. Never, ever did they flare. It all comes down to your boys' personalities.

 

If I were you I would block 2 plants in front of the divider. Or some decoration. I don't know if it stresses bettas out. I have a 10 gallon divided betta tank. They do flare at each other but they swim away after. It's not like they flare constantly. They only flare at each other when they get close to the top corner of the divider tank lol!

 

grow some moss on the divider

 

grow some moss on the divider

I'm actually going to try that soon, and if you want to try it for your bettas you should get two pieces of the mesh, cut out some 1x1" squares on it around the mesh in maybe 4-6 places on each mesh. Then, place your moss inbetween, tie it through the larger squares with fishing wire, or some sort of string, aaaaaand wait!

Your bettas won't see eachother and it'll look nice!

 

I used fishing line to sew pieces of craft mesh together when I had my 20G Long divided. It didn't look bad at all. Why do you think it won't look right? Honestly, I only had one sheet of white craft mesh dividing each of my bettas (I kept three in that tank) and my boys never had an issue with seeing the others in the tank. Never, ever did they flare. It all comes down to your boys' personalities.

I would love to see a photo if you can post one. I thought the seams between the two meshes wouldn't look the way it should.

grow some moss on the divider

I thought about this. Would that keep the water from flowing the way it should? I have an aquaclear filter in between the two sides.

 

Water flow would stay the same, filtration would be a problem, the only problem would be pruning and not letting it grow into your filter.

 

I would love to see a photo if you can post one. I thought the seams between the two meshes wouldn't look the way it should.

Hello! I don't have any pictures close-up of my divider, and unfortunately, I no longer have that tank. However, you could not tell that I sewed more than one piece of craft mesh together. What I did was overlap the two sheets by several of the tiny squares, and just looped the fishing line through each column of squares, and across two or so rows. I just made sure the seam was strong and no one was going through it! I hope this makes sense, I don't know how else to describe it.

 

Water flow would stay the same, filtration would be a problem, the only problem would be pruning and not letting it grow into your filter.

So it would be ok as long as I keep it from getting long enough to be sucked into the filter intake? I'd love for it to work! I'd like to grow a moss wall on the back of the tank as well.

Hello! I don't have any pictures close-up of my divider, and unfortunately, I no longer have that tank. However, you could not tell that I sewed more than one piece of craft mesh together. What I did was overlap the two sheets by several of the tiny squares, and just looped the fishing line through each column of squares, and across two or so rows. I just made sure the seam was strong and no one was going through it! I hope this makes sense, I don't know how else to describe it.

It makes perfect sense. Thanks!!

 

Yeah, and I meant filtration wouldnt be much of a problem*