they are some good idea's. I do have an internal in there at the moment with a spray bar, I've only got the tank half filled (just keeping the media wet) yet the force of the filter is quite strong, I was thinking maybe it wouldn't be suitable for Betta's, plus I don't want the oto's trying to eat off the pump and getting stuck/pulled up through the inlet. I might be over-reacting but I really want to minimise anything that would make them uncomfortable/pose a danger. I think I will go with a sponge filter.. would that be all I need combined with the plants I mentioned in the OP?
So sponge seems like the way to go.
I don't think I will ever likely to purposely breed fish. I'm just after giving some little guys a home where they can chill out and have some way of life. I have a small house too, so extra tanks isn't something I can really look into, I could possibly get away with a 2 foot, but I think that would be my limit along with my current two. So yeah, if the magic happens, then there's nothing I can do to stop it, the most I can do is sit them down and tell them about the birds and the bees, and hope they listen.
Haha, you're hoping to win the lottery too eh? I must say that line everyweek "perhaps if I win the lottery" I mean, it would help if I put the lottery on lol!