Bought a betta bowl

[jacblades]

smallworld makes filters for bowls. i dont know if you have them in th uk though they make ones that look like the penn plax filt-a-carb and ones that stick staight up in the middle of the bowl and have filter attachments like some undergravel filters. those kinds of filters require air stones and therefore require valves on them so the turbulence wont be too strong.

 

[BronzeWolf]

I dont get a particulary good feeling from the guy at the LFS you mention, anyway let us know how you get on, I'm interested in knowing how your heat mat works since i was at one time thinking of purchasing one.

Good Luck

 

[appleblossom]

Well the heat mat is working well

I'm quite pleased with that, thanks to sunflower for the suggestion!!

The heat mat is underneath the bowl, and because it created infra red heat, the heat id conducted but nor radiated. So the glass bowl, and water are nice and warm, but the surrounding air where the mat is exposed around the bowl is room temperature.

Perfect, and cheaper than a normal aquarium filter, and doesnt take up room inside the tank, and no chance of the heater electrocuting my fish ifit gets damaged, so all good!

Jacblades, is this the kind of thing you mean? :

If so then I can order one for a bargainous £3.99 (about $8 i think)

I am very pleased with the progress of his little venture so far

 

[asmack]

You might also want to consider this:

http/www.jonasworks.com/Bowl%20Filter.htm

 

[jacblades]

yeah nutmeg-it looks like that. i actually just put mine up in the buy/sell/swap section since i dont use it anymore.
smallworld UG filter

 

[appleblossom]

damn, shame im in the UK Jacblades, but they seem to be pretty cheap so thats probably my best bet.

asmack that looks promising aswell, if more expensive, but it seems to be a US only product, oh well

Next question....lighting!!!!!


and yes, I am starting to question why i didnt just try and find a normal square fish tank now........

 

[jacblades]

bettas dont really need any extra lighting. maybe you could just go to the lfs and get a 10gal? they are really cheap (8-10 USD here)
you could seperate it and have an excuse to get another betta

 

[appleblossom]

Hehehe, well, I have just created some space on top of a chest of drawers I have.....maybe there is room for another tank

 

[BronzeWolf]

You dont need lighting

 

[sumer_kay]

Before we had central heating and cooling, I used lamps above my bettas for a part of the day, it seemed to keep them just fine the reptile pad sounds pretty kewl too though.

As far as my experience has gone, cycling isn't nessesary, just use a dechlorinator, or a betta water conditioner. I do a 100% change once a week or so.

 

[asmack]

Those heating pads that go underneath: are they suitable for arcrylic/plastic bowls/tanks? Or will they melt them?

 

[appleblossom]

Er, I'm not sure asmack as my bowl is glass, but as long as you get a low wattage one then I doubt it will get even close to melting the tank. My mat is only 14 watt and i can put my hands on it with it just warming my fingers so a plastic bowl shouldnt be harmed by it...