New betta/shrimp tank

Still have a few bits to play with, but was playing with super gluing some bits of loose spider wood together, and while not done and would obviously have plants like some moss attached to it, I quite like how it's shaping up!

Not for the betta tank, he's having the mopani piece, but the pygmy cory tank also needs rescaping, so might wind up using this along with their slate caves and plants for their set up. Couple of anubius/buce or have some windelov java fern that could look good, although I'm thinking round leaves for contrast.


Another filter that came with mini tank to test out. A Marina that comes with cartridges. Dislike the con of cartridge filters, but plenty of space to add my own media if the filter itself works.

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

Another filter that came with mini tank to test out. A Marina that comes with cartridges. Dislike the con of cartridge filters, but plenty of space to add my own media if the filter itself works.

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I can't remember which member suggested only using sponges in internal filters a while back (it might of been @MaloK ?). But I tried it for a few months on my 90L with my little internal filter. I replaced the compartment for carbon with a smallish piece of finer-density sponge. I noticed after a few weeks that mulm/detritus build-up levels were a lot less in lower flow areas.

Since I've changed to all sponges it is all I've used, even on my new canister filter that did come with a bio ball section which I opted for another sponge instead.

I had the course sponge bottom at the intake and a finer sponge at the top instead of the "chemical filtration" section

MattW said:

I can't remember which member suggested only using sponges in internal filters a while back (it might of been @MaloK ?). But I tried it for a few months on my 90L with my little internal filter. I replaced the compartment for carbon with a smallish piece of finer-density sponge. I noticed after a few weeks that mulm/detritus build-up levels were a lot less in lower flow areas.

Since I've changed to all sponges it is all I've used, even on my new canister filter that did come with a bio ball section which I opted for another sponge instead.
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I had the course sponge bottom at the intake and a finer sponge at the top instead of the "chemical filtration" section

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Thank you, that's good advice! Funny, I was watching a few aquascaping videos while messing with spider wood last night, and George Farmer said much the same thing! But also that he wants the plants to be doing the majority of the work in cleaning the water, and balanced with light stocking. So he only runs sponge in his filters. Or at least, was at that point on that sort of basic set up tank.

Well, conclusion is that heater is beggered and bugrated, so binned it. Don't like to take a risk with a dodgy tempermental heater, and dial was useless and going way too hot.


Good news on the small internal filters front though, the Marina cartridge one works, as does a smaller Marina one. Have four more mini ones that need testing, but already the fact the first three I've tried all work is great!

I always like to have a spare tucked away in case (although I have spare sponge ones which I prefer for emergency situations), but I like the little internal filters for adding flow as a secondary filter on a bigger tank and can then use them on emergency set ups or QT tanks.

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

But also that he wants the plants to be doing the majority of the work in cleaning the water, and balanced with light stocking.

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Something I'm trying to achieve too But I've had an issue with a plant melt recently. My Limnophlia aromatica hasn't done well at all. It created a layer of sludge at the back which the snails loved but I didn't . I've ordered a different and less common species of Limnophila to take its place so hopefully, it takes off!

I only noticed the other day that George used to be on this forum. Weird how some past members are people we've seen or heard from elsewhere on the internet.

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

Well, conclusion is that heater is beggered and bugrated, so binned it. Don't like to take a risk with a dodgy tempermental heater, and dial was useless and going way too hot.

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Damm. But a good idea not to use it and take any risks. Luckily I've never had a heater break or go faulty. Saying that now probably means it will happen sooner rather than later

MattW said:

Something I'm trying to achieve too

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It's always an evolving thing!
Plus depends on how much you want to create an aquascape, vs keeping and potentially breeding fish. I want some pretty tanks and nice plants, but also keeping corydoras and ancistrus and wanting to breed them, sometimes the plants have to be secondary!

But hoping to do more delicate and "please don't unroot these" type plants in other tanks!

MattW said:

But I've had an issue with a plant melt recently. My Limnophlia aromatica hasn't done well at all. It created a layer of sludge at the back which the snails loved but I didn't . I've ordered a different and less common species of Limnophila to take its place so hopefully, it takes off!

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Aww, what a shame! I'm sorry. Still, sometimes all you can do is give it a try, and see how it turns out! I saw L.aramatica yesterday and thought I'd like to try that if I come across it. I've only grown L.sessiliflora, and much as I love it, it would be nice to grow another variety!

Which one have you ordered?

MattW said:

I only noticed the other day that George used to be on this forum. Weird how some past members are people we've seen or heard from elsewhere on the internet.

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Did he?? I didn't know that! That's pretty awesome! Under his own name?

MattW said:

Damm. But a good idea not to use it and take any risks. Luckily I've never had a heater break or go faulty. Saying that now probably means it will happen sooner rather than later

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I remember it happening once on dad's tank - the results were horrible, so I'd rather not risk it!

You can get thermometers for tanks that will set off an alarm/alert to your phone, I think, if a tank goes outside of the temp range you set. At the moment I have six tanks set up and doesn't seem practical, but certainly if I wasn't around as much, had expensive stocking, and had the spare cash for them, they could be a tank saver, for sure.

@MattW I'd love to pick your brain more about planted substrate and creating levels in tanks too!

I've chickened out of doing it so far, and this betta tank is too small really, but for ages I've had some Tetra brand soil substrate, I have mesh bags I can fill with gravel or planted substrate, and once I have a large (200 or 240L) tank set up, I'd like to use it in one area to create some height, and be able to plant some deeper rooted plants like swords, crypts, vallis etc! The way the scapers arrange the hardscape, layer of gravel, layer of plant substrate, cap with sand? Then use hardscape like the dragon stone, slate, or grey stones I have, to protect the plants, prop up the hilly area and try to reduce substrate creep... while keeping an open area for bottom dwellers and some open swimming space.

Does that make sense?
Sorta like this one! Only a larger tank, more open area that might have a second area on the other side or along the back

MattW said:

I can't remember which member suggested only using sponges in internal filters a while back (it might of been @MaloK ?). But I tried it for a few months on my 90L with my little internal filter. I replaced the compartment for carbon with a smallish piece of finer-density sponge. I noticed after a few weeks that mulm/detritus build-up levels were a lot less in lower flow areas.

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I don't remember commenting on an internal filter as I only comment on experience, I use only HOB's, sumps alike. and air powered sponges.

But I do use Smaller density sponge on final stage of filtration.



The danger with finer mesh at the output of an HOB used to polish water... Is an epic overflowing

This method has proven reliable, because there is no filtering media above the apex of the chute of the filter. The weight are there to make sure it remains that way. Water can freely go above all sponges and still get back in the tank. Behind the white sponge there is also a 1/8 inch gap to prevent back fires in the pump. And use the most coarse sponge you can get to make an intake cover. It is assisted with a pretty large air driven sponge filter.

Besides the incident that occurred in that tank.. That design Rocks... Once a month the black sponge on top is replaced with a bag of fresh carbon for a week and forth.

I believe I have never reached that level of water quality in my life

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

sometimes the plants have to be secondary!

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Most of the time it's the other way around for me

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

Which one have you ordered?

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Limnophila sp.belem

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

Did he?? I didn't know that! That's pretty awesome! Under his own name?

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George. I was looking at his older scapes from 2003-2006 the other day (I would have been a wee lad ). Quite astonishing really I loved his angel fish tank.

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

You can get thermometers for tanks that will set off an alarm/alert to your phone, I think, if a tank goes outside of the temp range you set. At the moment I have six tanks set up and doesn't seem practical, but certainly if I wasn't around as much, had expensive stocking, and had the spare cash for them, they could be a tank saver, for sure.

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Sounds like a good piece of kit tbf. I had been thinking of removing the heater in my 60L but I'm a bit bothered about the oto's.

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

I'd like to use it in one area to create some height, and be able to plant some deeper rooted plants like swords, crypts, vallis etc! The way the scapers arrange the hardscape, layer of gravel, layer of plant substrate, cap with sand? Then use hardscape like the dragon stone, slate, or grey stones I have, to protect the plants, prop up the hilly area and try to reduce substrate creep... while keeping an open area for bottom dwellers and some open swimming space.

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A retaining wall aquarium? That's the picture I'm getting. I attempted that somewhat in my old TOTM scape. I used cobbles and filter sponge to plug the gaps to make a wall so my planted substrate didn't mix with the play sand at the time ↓

MattW said:

A retaining wall aquarium? That's the picture I'm getting. I attempted that somewhat in my old TOTM scape. I used cobbles and filter sponge to plug the gaps to make a wall so my planted substrate didn't mix with the play sand at the time ↓
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Are those all your tanks??

Yes! Sort of like that. I don't have a solid scape in mind yet, and might be less extreme than that, more like a hill like that, but with more of a slope down, so it's like a river bank or similar...

But I think it would all be the same concept in terms of stacking, propping and layering!

I actually have a couple of ancient Tetra plastic "terraces" meant to look like fake stone, that could help as a base underneath and help stop some substrate creep, but also be easily hidden. They were just tucked away in dad's fish tank stand. Not pretty, but could be useful for the structure.

Bit afraid of a planted substrate leeching nutrients into the water column too, but I would like to make that jump into having at least some area in the tank with a planted substrate!

Sorry, I'm not explaining this very well!

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

Are those all your tanks??

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God no only the tall cube one

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

more like a hill like that, but with more of a slope down, so it's like a river bank or similar...

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Ooooooohhh that’ll look good.

AdoraBelle Dearheart said:

But I think it would all be the same concept in terms of stacking, propping and layering!

I actually have a couple of ancient Tetra plastic "terraces" meant to look like fake stone, that could help as a base underneath and help stop some substrate creep, but also be easily hidden. They were just tucked away in dad's fish tank stand. Not pretty, but could be useful for the structure.

Bit afraid of a planted substrate leeching nutrients into the water column too, but I would like to make that jump into having at least some area in the tank with a planted substrate!

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As long as you cap a decent thickness and don't have thin areas that could be dug up you should be alright. I used an egg crate as a barrier between planted and non-planted substrate which worked pretty well. Those terraces could be a great option to act as a barrier. If you want to have planted substrate in a 200L+ aquarium with it only being a smaller area of the tank, I doubt leeching nutrients would be a big issue. The entire bottom inch of my 90L is topsoil. Yes, I do have algae but not obscene amounts. The cap helps with that along with the many plants.

MD used the mesh bag method that you mentioned in a previous post in this scape as well which seemed to work well for him.

Sorta off topic but I found this vid the other day. Found it quite interesting.

I've decided I don't like the mopani wood piece in this little tank the way it is now - it's just a little too big, so would be awkward to move around it to clean and maintain the tank, and I don't love how it's looking.

However, the first, stem branch is pretty long, and I think it would work a lot better, fit into the tank better, and look nicer, if I could saw a few inches off the end of that piece of wood.

Likely to be some old rusty large saws in the shed, and perhaps a hacksaw... but mopani is pretty hard, right? Hopefully it works! Will give it a go anyway. If I can't saw through it and decide to use it in another tank scape, I can always cover the saw marks with moss or other plants.

It's also been growing some biofilm, which I expected and have scrubbed off a couple of times since there's nothing in there to eat it, and it's still in this little tank being weighed down with dragon stone while it waterlogs. But I might pop it into the oto/pygmy cory/endler tank so they can clean off the biofilm for me! Free fish food.
Only hesitation there is that's the tank with a lot of bushy green algae. Not the end of the world if some does attach, but that tank definitely needs more plants and a lot of manual algae removal! I quite like that sort of algae, when it's a fresh, bushy green and proving an aging coating effect on some bits of wood, coconut huts etc, and it also encourages aufwuchs, which I want for my otos and and pygmaeus fry.

It's like Malaysian Trumpet Snails, really. Useful up to a point, but not fun when they get out of control!

I also need to make a quick trip to a fish store for another small heater and some other bits and bobs, so might check out their wood selection while I'm there!

I changed my mind about a lot of things when it came to the tank design, so caused a delay in moving Levi to his new home, but he's in there now, and seems to like it!

Post still being edited and written with more info, please hold and come back to it again later!
New edit: Has been edited with more info written now since you saw it and liked, @MattW ! Also gonna tag @CassCats, @GaryE and @TwoTankAmin in to see it



Firstly, I decided that wood, at least any of the pieces I had, weren't working for this tank.



I also changed my mind about dark sand. It just made the tank too dark overall, with a black background, dark sand, and especially a hooded top with a not very powerful light in it - just too dark having dark substrate too. Lighter substrate would also help reflect the light that the tiny light does put out, and just generally make the tank brighter.

Glad I decided that before adding in hardscape, plants, or fish!
Also love how easy it was to just empty it out and change the substrate, when it's a small tank like this!







After switching substrates, I decided to fulfil a long held desire to have a fake decor and live plant mixed tank! My first one. All previous tanks have been natural only, real wood and stone, no fake decor. But I firmly believe you can have both real and fake in the same tank and have it look nice!

I hate the snobbery that often happens in aquascaping and fish groups, and where people with anything fake in the tank are scared to post their tanks for fear of getting torn apart. I love a beautifully designed aquascape or carefully planned biotope, don't get me wrong! But I feel for those people, especially when so many are new to the hobby.

Besides, thought it would be fun to play with it some!
So I've wanted to play with mixing some fake stuff with live plants, to show that it's fine, if it works for the fish and tank set up. Here there's only the castle and bridge that are fake, and have a river of river stones running under the bridge




Tons of live plants in there, both slow and fast growing. Rhizome plants are just tucked into gaps of hardscape or roots held down by stones, and all plants bar the S.repens at the front left, were ones from my other tanks mother plants or trimmings.

Once Levi moved in! Just after I'd acclimated and added him, so he's still unsure and just checking out this new territory..





Had a good flare at the other male betta/his reflection.


Levi won, as I was sure he would, and made that corner behind and to the side of the castle his territory.




I did deliberately put the large leaf variety java fern high up there so he could rest on them if he likes, and the water lettuce make it extra safe, so I figured he'd make that his resting spot, and he has.

But he does patrol and explore the whole tank, settled in quickly! He ate within half an hour of being added, and still comes to hand feed, so hopefully still trusts me. If fish can trust. They can recognise the feeding person and tell the difference when it's someone else who doesn't feed them, so who knows? Maybe they do have a concept of trust.