Betta Condo

[Honeythorn]

Btw, I've never dealt with sand before. What are the pros and cons on that? I think it would be neat but I'm afraid it might get in their gills or something. I know I'm proably wrong. So sand compared to aquarium gravel. Pros? Cons? Opinions?

I have sand in my main tank and it's fine. It doesn't really get into their gills no. Any that does gets flushed out.

To clean it with a gravel vacuum, don't stick the tube into the sand like you would with gravel. That will just suck your sand away.

Swirl the end of the tube just above the sand to disturb any bits of poo and uneaten food, which will be sucked up into the tube.

Sand is a very natural substrate and good for growing plants if you have live ones.

 

[nessar]

They really like small spaces to get into.

My bettas have terra cotta pots in their tanks and they never go in them. . .is that because the front of the pot is too out in the open? The pots are tiny ones.

Yes, I have a terra cotta pot in my 5 gallon also, and it gets ignored. I think that maybe it's the shape of it that bettas don't like when it's turned to the side, with the openness and brightness like you said. They like to squeeze into things more, going through tunnels and in between the stems of plants. Like, when the terra cotta pot was against the glass, he would go in between the terra cotta pot and the glass, but not in the pot itself.

I'll use a petsmart ornament for an example of something like I'm describing.
http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752236&keepsr=0&clickid=prod_cs

Now, I'm not saying you have to buy that ornament or that it's a good ornament to buy, I'm just saying that a betta would generally appreciate an ornament shaped like that.

I think I will end up with the cannister filter. Always thought they were for saltwater fish. I like the idea of minimizing the water disturbance. The tank is 30"Lx12"W x12"H. I've already have a glass top and light picked out(not bought). Can always be influenced. Can the light sit ontop of the glass top or is that a problem?
My biggest issue is a tank theme. Like do I want one solid color of substrate, or 4 different ones. Then a theme for the ornaments. Do I want different ones or something collective. Though finding something that's collective without repeating is hard. Any suggestions on this? Btw, I've never dealt with sand before. What are the pros and cons on that? I think it would be neat but I'm afraid it might get in their gills or something. I know I'm proably wrong. So sand compared to aquarium gravel. Pros? Cons? Opinions? Thanks! Btw... I'm cycling my first tank. (Knew nothing of cycling with the bettas. But the condo will be cycled before anyone moves in. But the tank I'm cycling is for danios... I'm excited! Got my nitrite spike today!

Maybe black gravel and dark-coloured ornoments to make your bettas' colours really stand out?

 

[BettaBoysGirl]

Well i finally picked a Decor.... A zen garden of sorts. I skipped the sand, as i dont feel im quite ready to make that leap. Ill use a few live plants nad few silks. The Zen garden theme makes me laugh. The thought of my male bettas, who love to flare and taunt each other, in something so tranquil. LMAO. I love how it came out. Started cycling it today. I had a filter to churn the water, however, the thing makes a total racket and is going back to the store. Heater is on its way, and plants... Well that comes with pay day. Ill post a new pic and let you check out the Zen Betta Condos. In Condo 4, you see a bubble bar... Thats purely for the cycling as i read aeration can help the process along.... and since almost every store around me is having an airstone shortage. LMAO. Let me know what you think! The little figurines are Buddha in differnt positions.

 

[Assaye]

Well i finally picked a Decor.... A zen garden of sorts. I skipped the sand, as i dont feel im quite ready to make that leap. Ill use a few live plants nad few silks. The Zen garden theme makes me laugh. The thought of my male bettas, who love to flare and taunt each other, in something so tranquil. LMAO. I love how it came out. Started cycling it today. I had a filter to churn the water, however, the thing makes a total racket and is going back to the store. Heater is on its way, and plants... Well that comes with pay day. Ill post a new pic and let you check out the Zen Betta Condos. In Condo 4, you see a bubble bar... Thats purely for the cycling as i read aeration can help the process along.... and since almost every store around me is having an airstone shortage. LMAO. Let me know what you think! The little figurines are Buddha in differnt positions.

Given that you're not cycling the water, I'm not sure how extra aeration will help. It's the filter media you're cycling so you can't cycle until your filter is in and working properly. Without the filter media there isn't really anywhere for the bacteria to grow - some will grow on the gravel and ornaments but only tiny amounts - not enough to keep the tank ammonia and nitrite free.

Are you using liquid ammonia to cycle?

Looks good, btw. Can't wait to see the plants.

 

[BettaBoysGirl]

Well i finally picked a Decor.... A zen garden of sorts. I skipped the sand, as i dont feel im quite ready to make that leap. Ill use a few live plants nad few silks. The Zen garden theme makes me laugh. The thought of my male bettas, who love to flare and taunt each other, in something so tranquil. LMAO. I love how it came out. Started cycling it today. I had a filter to churn the water, however, the thing makes a total racket and is going back to the store. Heater is on its way, and plants... Well that comes with pay day. Ill post a new pic and let you check out the Zen Betta Condos. In Condo 4, you see a bubble bar... Thats purely for the cycling as i read aeration can help the process along.... and since almost every store around me is having an airstone shortage. LMAO. Let me know what you think! The little figurines are Buddha in differnt positions.

Given that you're not cycling the water, I'm not sure how extra aeration will help. It's the filter media you're cycling so you can't cycle until your filter is in and working properly. Without the filter media there isn't really anywhere for the bacteria to grow - some will grow on the gravel and ornaments but only tiny amounts - not enough to keep the tank ammonia and nitrite free.

Are you using liquid ammonia to cycle?

Looks good, btw. Can't wait to see the plants.

Yea im using liquid ammonia, and The filter will be put on today, after i goto the store. All i really did last night was just make it 4 ppm on ammonia, So that I can get the ball rolling on the cycle. I know the bacteria wont grow for at least a week, or well be measurable on my nitrites.