Three Tanks For Bettas.

So now that my puffers are here, my 40G is good to go, I want to give the bettas some more room. I am very very limited. I currently have 3 bettas in 2 split 5 gallon tanks. I loved them at first but it seems much of their room is taken up by the filter that is enclosed in the back of the tank. I want to give them more room.

Ideally I would love to give them each their own 10 G, but I don't think they would fit.

I have a rack. The shelf they are currently on is where these tanks will go. I have no other room. The shelf they are on is 30 inches wide. That is it. So, I need 3 tanks that are 10 inches wide each and they will be touching each other. I was thinking of a 5-gallon each but putting then with the depth up front, so the length goes towards the back wall, but cannot find any 5 gallons that are affordable to buy 3 of, not to mention more filters, heaters, etc. I am sure I can scrounge up filters somehow, have a few sponges, a few Aquaclears, some internal filters, I just would like them all to be the same. I really didn't want to do a split tank any more because of the flow issue and dirt issues, cleaning each separate part. Any ideas? I have looked and looked and added measurements and cannot find 3 that will fit. I even considered putting one of the bettas in with the 40G so that I only need 2 tanks, but I have tried putting the biggest/baddest one int the 40G and he cowered in fear and hid. So, that won't do.

I drew a picture but I cannot draw, LOL.

This the rack I have. I have made a small area up top for food and fish items and there is a small area on the bottom which is currently empty, but is too short to fit a tank. The 2 middle areas have the tanks, 2nd from top if the puffer tank (10G) and the 3rd from top is where Betta's currently are, in 2 AquaDuo split 5.3 tanks. The wheels are not on. Makes it less stable. Each shelf can hold 300 pounds.

 

What about these?

 

Oh wait nvm that’s a stand lol sorry

 

Are you wanting all in one kits or just the tanks? Five gallon tanks cost the same as 10 gallons at Petco, I think. Around $14-15. Is there enough room to access the top of the tanks? It's hard to tell from the pictures.

 

You could get a 29 gallon tank and divide it 3 times, one will only have 9 gallons rather then ten but I think he won’t mind! You get the dividers here

 

Plant heavy and you can ditch the filters. With no filter you can have floating plants which bettas love. Esp water sprite, mine sleep in it and like to swim through it. I find floating plants don't do so well in any current. stick in a pathos cutting if you have one. or run sponge filters off one airline. You just don't need a super duper high capacity filter for one betta.
Stand the tanks on waterproof mats for growing seedlings and you can lose the internal heaters too. Plug mat into thermostat plug. With enough indirect light you may not even need lighting
You need to be fairly confident with plants to do this. It's not hard but you need faith and patience. I would wait a few weeks before adding fish to let the plants settle in and get some beneficial bacteria going. bb is everywhere. add a horned nerite and you won't need to clean the glass.
My planted tanks have less nitrate than my tap water. Plants readily take up ammonia first, then nitrates.
I find this works well for bettas as their bioload is relatively light.

 

you could buy the starter kits that come with everything included

 

Are you wanting all in one kits or just the tanks? Five gallon tanks cost the same as 10 gallons at Petco, I think. Around $14-15. Is there enough room to access the top of the tanks? It's hard to tell from the pictures.

I have just enough but it is difficult. Only reason I hate racks. The height the tanks I have now is perfect. The tanks I have now are 13.8 long x 9.8 high x 9.8 deep. Perfect size. But too little gallonage, sigh.

You could get a 29 gallon tank and divide it 3 times, one will only have 9 gallons rather then ten but I think he won’t mind! You get the dividers here

I would lose a few inches of overhead space, but it is an option. Thanks.

Plant heavy and you can ditch the filters. With no filter you can have floating plants which bettas love. Esp water sprite, mine sleep in it and like to swim through it. I find floating plants don't do so well in any current. stick in a pathos cutting if you have one. or run sponge filters off one airline. You just don't need a super duper high capacity filter for one betta.
Stand the tanks on waterproof mats for growing seedlings and you can lose the internal heaters too. Plug mat into thermostat plug. With enough indirect light you may not even need lighting
You need to be fairly confident with plants to do this. It's not hard but you need faith and patience. I would wait a few weeks before adding fish to let the plants settle in and get some beneficial bacteria going. bb is everywhere. add a horned nerite and you won't need to clean the glass.
My planted tanks have less nitrate than my tap water. Plants readily take up ammonia first, then nitrates.
I find this works well for bettas as their bioload is relatively light.

Thanks, but plants and I do not mesh, plus I have about given up on plants with all the pests in them.

you could buy the starter kits that come with everything included

Was considering these because they are 10 inches wide, so would put them with width in front, but the lids open funny.




Final option, I was looking into clear storage containers, but cannot find any that are 9 to 10 inches wide.

Oh well, will keep looking.

 

What are the dimensions of each shelf?

 

What are the dimensions of each shelf?

30 inches wide by 14 inches deep

Deep does not matter because the rack is not against the wall, so I can either let it hang off a bit or put a board under it so that the whole tank is supported.

I am an idiot. If I take the dividers out of the 2 BettaDuo's I have now, they are each 5.3 gallons, I would suppose a bit of it goes to the filter area and if I can remove the filter compartment, and use a sponge or internal filter, I have 2 tanks and turn them depth wise, 9.8 + 9.8, I only need one more tank 5 gallon. I do not know if the dividers are removable though w/o destroying the tank.

 

Walmart sells 5 gal kits for around $27 and the 10 gallons kits for $30.

 

30 inches wide by 14 inches deep

Deep does not matter because the rack is not against the wall, so I can either let it hang off a bit or put a board under it so that the whole tank is supported.

I am an idiot. If I take the dividers out of the 2 BettaDuo's I have now, they are each 5.3 gallons, I would suppose a bit of it goes to the filter area and if I can remove the filter compartment, and use a sponge or internal filter, I have 2 tanks and turn them depth wise, 9.8 + 9.8, I only need one more tank 5 gallon. I do not know if the dividers are removable though w/o destroying the tank.

so why can't you get a large tank (29, 30, or 37) and put it on there and divide it. it would be cheaper because you would only need 1 maybe 2 heaters.

 

Plant heavy and you can ditch the filters. With no filter you can have floating plants which bettas love. Esp water sprite, mine sleep in it and like to swim through it. I find floating plants don't do so well in any current. stick in a pathos cutting if you have one. or run sponge filters off one airline. You just don't need a super duper high capacity filter for one betta.
Stand the tanks on waterproof mats for growing seedlings and you can lose the internal heaters too. Plug mat into thermostat plug. With enough indirect light you may not even need lighting
You need to be fairly confident with plants to do this. It's not hard but you need faith and patience. I would wait a few weeks before adding fish to let the plants settle in and get some beneficial bacteria going. bb is everywhere. add a horned nerite and you won't need to clean the glass.
My planted tanks have less nitrate than my tap water. Plants readily take up ammonia first, then nitrates.
I find this works well for bettas as their bioload is relatively light.

There's a lot of useful information and ideas here. What sort of environment are your plants growing in? Are you fertilizing them at all? I think if the OP were a bit more knowledgeable he might be more confident and give this a try because it really will save space, reduce maintenance and save a little bit of electricity. Thanks for posting.

 

Walmart sells 5 gal kits for around $27 and the 10 gallons kits for $30.

The 5 gallon is too wide for 3. I checked. The same with the 10G.

so why can't you get a large tank (29, 30, or 37) and put it on there and divide it. it would be cheaper because you would only need 1 maybe 2 heaters.

I guess I can. I just wanted to avoid splitting, harder to clean, the flow of filters is off in each section, so you need to put something in each part. Illness spreads if you get an illness, where in individual tanks you can contain it. All 3 of them, the sizes you mention, I think are too high. My tanks currently is 9.8 inches high and I have 6 inches or so of head space, so it is like 15 inches of space before the next shelf. The 29 is 18 inches high. The 30 gallon seems to be 36" long and my shelf is 30 inches long. The 37 is 30.3" Wide x 12.5" Long x 22.8" High, not sure that will fit long wise and height won't fit. I don't even think a 20 long will fit. The 10 G fits so maybe can do 3 but I think I will be like 1 inch short for 3 of them. I will figure something out. Thanks.

 

The 5 gallon is too wide for 3. I checked. The same with the 10G.

I guess I can. I just wanted to avoid splitting, harder to clean, the flow of filters is off in each section, so you need to put something in each part. Illness spreads if you get an illness, where in individual tanks you can contain it. All 3 of them, the sizes you mention, I think are too high. My tanks currently is 9.8 inches high and I have 6 inches or so of head space, so it is like 15 inches of space before the next shelf. The 29 is 18 inches high. The 30 gallon seems to be 36" long and my shelf is 30 inches long. The 37 is 30.3" Wide x 12.5" Long x 22.8" High, not sure that will fit long wise and height won't fit. I don't even think a 20 long will fit. The 10 G fits so maybe can do 3 but I think I will be like 1 inch short for 3 of them. I will figure something out. Thanks.

Okay just thoughts! hope you can upgrade their tanks!

 

There's a lot of useful information and ideas here. What sort of environment are your plants growing in? Are you fertilizing them at all? I think if the OP were a bit more knowledgeable he might be more confident and give this a try because it really will save space, reduce maintenance and save a little bit of electricity. Thanks for posting.

Yes, a comprehensive fert twice a week, but I also keep cherry shrimp this way in a vase less than one gallon and don't use ferts with them as they are way more sensitive than bettas. The plants are growing just as well. Floating plants are key as they have access to atmospheric CO2 and grow fast. One of my bettas is in only 1.5 gallons but I may move him back into the 5 gallon now he's stronger, I really thought he was on the way out but he's put on a lot of weight in the smaller container where I was able to keep a close eye on him and it was easier for him to find his food. It's also in a high traffic area which he likes.

 

I tried anacharis as a floating plant shortly after setting my 55 up and it all died. I don't know if it was something I did or possibly the fact that our water is 79-80F. Do you know of any floating plants that don't mind the warmer temps?

 

I tried anacharis as a floating plant shortly after setting my 55 up and it all died. I don't know if it was something I did or possibly the fact that our water is 79-80F. Do you know of any floating plants that don't mind the warmer temps?

That died on me too. Waterssprite, frog bit and silvania do well for me.

 

That died on me too. Waterssprite, frog bit and silvania do well for me.

What temp is your tank water kept at?

 

Right now all tanks are at 28 Celsius in the heatwave. Otherwise it's 22 for the community and 26 for the bettas. My community tank is more temperate than tropical.
My bettas are happy up to 30 and probably beyond but my other fish don't like it.

 

So just bought 3 of these. They are 5.5 gallons each.






It says the measurements are Dimensions: 16 × 8 × 10" H, so I plan to put them side to side but by the short side, so 24 inches across total with an inch between each one. That is if all 3 come not cracked. Praying. Anywho, need to figure out a cover. Because I am putting it short-ways, rather than long-ways, the versa-lids won't really work as far as my access. So, considering other options. I have heaters, I think. Also gotta figure out filters, but I am sure I have 3 I can put together. I cannot wait to get my bettas out of the tiny tanks they are in. They seem so bored, just lay around. No room to swim. I have 2 lights, need a 3rd, or maybe I can place them so that it lights up all 3 tanks.

 

Walmart has the 5 gallon kit which has lighted hood, tank, and filter for $28.00. I have one and it is perfect for bettas as the flow is low.

 

Walmart has the 5 gallon kit which has lighted hood, tank, and filter for $28.00. I have one and it is perfect for bettas as the flow is low.

Yeah, they do, but 3 will not fit on my shelf, which is the only place I have for these tanks. I have 30 inches free and need 3 tanks. According to Walmart's page, they measure the below, which would make them 3/4 of an inch too long for the shelf.

Assembled Product Dimensions (L x W x H)
18.00 x 10.25 x 12.37 Inches

 

How much room will you have over the tops of the tanks (beneath the shelf above them)?

 

How much room will you have over the tops of the tanks (beneath the shelf above them)?

I don't know off hand, but right now I have 7-1/2 inches room between top of tanks and next shelf.

 

Well, your dimensions say they're 10" high, so how how much room is between the shelf surface you're going to put them on and the bottom of the one above them? Math, do it!

 

Well, your dimensions say they're 10" high, so how how much room is between the shelf surface you're going to put them on and the bottom of the one above them? Math, do it!

Okay so from shelf to next shelf is 17 inches and change. So, this would leave 7 inches to work on tank with. It is possible, I think, once I take the tanks off that shelf, I can move the shelf down some, w/o taking the whole rack apart. I think.

And it is a bit iffy because the shelf has siding that comes down making there a bit more space, but not usable space, because there is a metal trimming there to make the shelf stronger.