I Got A Tank For Christmas

So for Christmas 2016, my wife got me a 1/2 gallon fish tank. I couldn't wait to set it up and get a fish! So I started my research. I looked up every bit of information on Betta fish that I could find and man!, I've learned so much! I learned that the tank she got me for Christmas was to small. So I explained that to her and we went and got the minimum size tank that everything recommended to me. (After more research I feel I should have still gotten a larger thank) I got everything I thought I would need. Filter, heater, thermometer, gravel, fake plants, and a pH test kit. *note to self: complete research before you start spending money* I then learned that that's not all I will need. So, my research continued. In my latest research I discovered aquascapes. Having live plants in the aquarium with your fish is not only beneficial to the tank due to the plants using some of the toxins from fish waste but it also calms the fish down and gives them tons of things to play with and lay on and hide behind. So my research turned to that. What plants were safe or good for Betta fish. What plants could survive in such a small tank. How in the world do I grow underwater plants in the first place?! I bought a piece of MopanI driftwood from my LPS and thought it would be perfect for my small tank. They are also trying to help me find the specific Betta that I want. Research led me to the Chocolate Butterfly Half Moon Betta. It's black and sometimes blue with black and yellow half moon fins. It's such an amazing looking fish! I also found out that Anubias Nana, Java Fern, Java Moss, and Marimo Moss Balls are all perfect for Betta. It does seem like a lot of plants to put in such a small tank tho. The Anubias is a small plant that I can attach to a small rock to keep like toward the side of the tank and if I keep it trimmed down it won't get to big and the Betta will use it's leaves as a bed. Java Fern is a tallish plant that I need to do more research on. Along with the Amazon Sword. The Marimo Moss Balls come in a multitude of sizes. I will be looking for the small or nano size, probably 2 of them. Java Moss on the other hand is a free growing moss that can be attached to driftwood, rocks, decorations or can be tied down with mesh to create carpets and walls. I'm planning on using some to attach to my driftwood that is currently on it's 3rd day of soaking in the sink. Still leaching tannin's, but not nearly as bad as that first night. I'm going back and forth on creating a section of moss carpet for like one side or half of the bottom of the tank. I like the looks of it and the moss will catch any food or waste making it slightly easier to clean during weekly water changes. I plan on next Friday ordering the API Master Freshwater Test Kit, and possibly going to get a few plants. This way I can get it all set up that Friday to start the nitrogen cycle and maybe get my fish the next week. I might even give it two weeks just to ensure the tank is perfect for him when I bring him home. I've got a good little ways to go, but my excitement grows with every day. I had no idea I was this interested in fish! I do know that the moment life and funds and demands are met I will be upgrading my *hopefully* planted tank to a 10 gallon. Please if I have any of this wrong or even slightly incorrect, please correct me. I want to raise a happy healthy Betta and have an addition to my family of 3 female cats!

 

You are on a good path.

 

Thanks!

 

Good luck! Your story sorta started like mine. Now I am the proud owner of 3 tanks. A 29 gallon and 2-10 gallons. Lol

 

I don't even have my 2 gallon set up and I'm already driving my wife crazy with wanting a bigger tank! Or 2 or 3 tanks..

 

My WantaBe Chocolate. I don't really care that he didn't turn out well. I love him.

 

He looks awesome! I found some on ebay but they are $46.

 

He looks awesome! I found some on ebay but they are $46.

My wallet was having a hard time opening at $20. (He's not my only betta, I have 6 so I know the fin a tail problems that they have. I wasn't going to pay anymore than that only to find out a month later that he was a tail biter. lol That actually happened to someone on here recently that had paid a huge amount for a fish on AquaBids.)

 

Good luck! Your story sorta started like mine. Now I am the proud owner of 3 tanks. A 29 gallon and 2-10 gallons. Lol

You suffer from MTS... multiple tank syndrome.

 

I promised my wife I would set my limit at $15 for the first one.

 

My wallet was having a hard time opening at $20. (He's not my only betta, I have 6 so I know the fin a tail problems that they have. I wasn't going to pay anymore than that only to find out a month later that he was a tail biter. lol That actually happened to someone on here recently that had paid a huge amount for a fish on AquaBids.)

Often tail hitting is a symptom of other issues. You may want to monitor.

 

Obviously time to step up your game and just get a 125g tank.

 

Often tail hitting is a symptom of other issues. You may want to monitor.

What is tail bitting? I haven't come across that yet.

 

Often tail hitting is a symptom of other issues. You may want to monitor.

Mine don't bite their tails.

 

You may well find yourself suffering from M.T.S. a common ailment among fishkeepers.
Multiple Tank Syndrome, highly contagious and virtually no known cure.
We've all done it, you start with a small tank then upgrade to a bigger tank, a community tank with half a dozen different peaceful fish. Then before you know it you're in the fish shop and you see some fish that can't possibly mix with the ones you have, maybe cichlids or some notorious fin nippers but you just have to have them anyway so you get a second tank, a dedicated species tank. It's the beginning of the end, you just repeat the same process a number of times and you find your whole house has been taken over by fish tanks.
Perhaps someone ought to start a self-help group for those of us fighting this debilitating condition.

 

What is tail bitting? I haven't come across that yet.

The bettas actually bite (shred) their fins, so all that finnage you paid for is gone. (The caudal fin at least)

 

What is tail bitting? I haven't come across that yet.

Some Betta's bight their tails. The issues are often caused by:

1. Stress
2. Bad water
3. Infection on a torn tail
4. We have no idea. Maybe genetics???

We can deal with the top three. Stress can sometime be lack of hiding places. Sometimes dither fish actually help Bettas, as it shows they are safe (which is one of the reasons I argue FOR dither fish in a five with Bettas) just like you use them for Cichlids. Bad water and infection can both be dealt with as per normal. The last is an unknown, but simply usually something more realistic that 1-3 need to be double checked.

 

You may well find yourself suffering from M.T.S. a common ailment among fishkeepers.
Multiple Tank Syndrome, highly contagious and virtually no known cure.
We've all done it, you start with a small tank then upgrade to a bigger tank, a community tank with half a dozen different peaceful fish. Then before you know it you're in the fish shop and you see some fish that can't possibly mix with the ones you have, maybe cichlids or some notorious fin nippers but you just have to have them anyway so you get a second tank, a dedicated species tank. It's the beginning of the end, you just repeat the same process a number of times and you find your whole house has been taken over by fish tanks.
Perhaps someone ought to start a self-help group for those of us fighting this debilitating condition.

My wife is keeping a cast iron will to hold off my MTS. However in a year, we should have a home where I can build a shed for a fish room. Then all bets are OFF!!! Killifish pond and fishroom coming up!

 

My WantaBe Chocolate. I don't really care that he didn't turn out well. I love him.

What are those plants on the left side of the tank? Saw it today at Petco but don't know how to care for it so I decided not to buy it.
Beautiful setup by the way.

 

What are those plants on the left side of the tank? Saw it today at Petco but don't know how to care for it so I decided not to buy it.
Beautiful setup by the way.

Thant you. The one tall plant on the left is an amazon sword that I did get at PetCo. It wasn't a tissue culture. When I removed the foam from around the roots, I found these small brown bugs inside so the whole PetCo plant purchase got disinfected with bleach. I usually buy tissue cultures when I can and skip the disinfecting.

 

Nice setup for your chI by the way. Please let us now how the light works out. Wondered on the chi. Have a spec v personally.

 

Nice setup for your chI by the way. Please let us now how the light works out. Wondered on the chi. Have a spec v personally.

I really like the Spec V! I like the longer swimming area, My betta seems to like the ChI just fine. I probably wouldn't have bought it but the store was not going to be carrying Fluval any longer so they were selling it for $42. I'm probably not the best judge on the lights. Most of my plants are easier. I don't use CO2, only API Leaf Zone. The tank is also by a window with a southern exposure so it does get natural light too. No algae problems so far so the plants must be using the nutrients.