First Tank, Project :)

[Josiee]

So, this topic is for me to document the trials and tribulations of my first tank! I'm going to begin cycling it tomorrow. I think it's normal for some stats...

Tank: Arcadia Ark Tank
Capacity: 20l
Filter: Powerbio 200
Heater: Deltatherm 25W

As for stocking, I think I'm going to just add my Betta first when I get him and then decide on if I'm going to try him with some tank mates. I'd really love an ADF, but we'll just have to see Any suggestions really appreciated! I'm also going to go with live plants I think (again, suggestions would be awesome) I'd like a quite clean but pretty natural looking setup eventually Although I really prefer the look of sand, I thought that gravel would be more low maintenance because am I right in thinking you can't vacuum sand? Anyway, I really am a complete newbie to this but I'm very keen to learn

This is everything so far! I will add pictures as things change.

 

[Jenste]

yay! sounds like a great start

one suggestion tho - - if you DO want ADF...

bettas are territorial and do not like "newcomers" in their "turf"

here is how to introduce them to a tank that already has a betta...take out the betta, rearrange the tank decor, add the frogs, then add the betta back in- - now, when he looks around, everything is different and the frogs are part of his "new" territory

you will probably end up having to work out some sort of hand feeding for the frogs - - bettas are pigs! you can use your fingers, tweezers, or a turkey baster to shoot the food (i recommend bloodworms or brineshrimp) right into the frogs face.

if you have and ADF questions I would be more than happy to help you out! you might want to take a peek at the first link in my sig - its a website i have running to help people with ADF / ACF and how to tell the difference

 

[Josiee]

Brilliant - thank you very much I will be checking out your site I have done a bit of research and if I do decide to go down the ADF route I am aware there will be some issues over feeding etc It's going to be a bit of trial and error I'm afraid, though hopefully not too much error. Do you think my tank size is okay to have one of this species eventually? I know that the clawed frog is bigger

 

[Jenste]

yea the clawed frog would make an easy meal of both the betta and an ADF, even when young. plus an ACF needs a ten gallon tank.

as for the adf, considering you also will have it filtered, you could have 2 in there along with your betta.


sand is actually just as easy as gravel - - when vacuuming over sand, you "hover" the siphon about half an inch to an inch over the sand and the debris gets sucked up. sand is heavier than food and poop so it stays on the bottom without being sucked up when you hover. it will also make it much easier for you to have plants

 

[Josiee]

Cheers for info on the frogs I was in my LFS today choosing some silk plants and saw an albino frog, immediately thought 'Clawed!' thanks to you hah

Set up my tank this evening heh, excuse unlevel water, my house is really old and slanty!

 

[Jenste]

tank looks fabulous!!!


(cheers for recognizing the clawed!! alot of LFS will try to pawn off the albino as a "rare dwarf" - - i feel so bad for the people who get conned into spending 3-4 times the price!

)



can't wait to see your tank progress!!! that looks like it would def make a betta and 2-3 frogs happy!

 

[BethK]

tbh, taking the betta out and rearranging the decor is a myth, it's better just to add newcomers straight up. as long as you have enough hiding places and plants etc, then everything will be fine but it all depends on the personality of a fish.

I'd add some caboma (5 stalks), 2 moss balls and an amazon sword. You will also need to feed your plants, for them to stay healthy, use a Aquarium Aquatic Plant Fertilizer / Food Tablet, 1 should be ok for a 20ltr.

Bettas like to jump out the water, so you will need to think of a cover for the top, look for netting.

looking good though

 

[Josiee]

Thank you so much for the positivity! I am so pleased so far. I bought the first three (going L-R) silk plants in my LFS today with the gravel. It really cheered me up after getting some bad news just before.

RE the filter - Powerbio 200. It seems quite strong and disturbs the surface quite a lot. Is there anything I can do to lessen the flow? As I know that Bettas much prefer a lighter current due to the air breathing and the bubble nesting. The guy in the shop said I could point the water-output-tubey-bit ( ) downwards instead, but I don't know how generally acceptable that is! Any advice from anyone about this would be great

BethK- thanks! The tank does have a glass lid which it has on in the pics, but you can't really tell. Should I be able to buy plant fertilizer in my LFS?

 

[Jenste]

Bethk is much more familiar with betta behavior, so I would trust her opinion - - I tend to primarily keep frogs (so i can help you there from experience! )

 

[BethK]

you could turn the nozzle out put to face the side of the tank or if you have any filter spone. cut a bit up and put a bit in the out take.

Adding live plants will be much better for your tank, fish and water x

Bethk is much more familiar with betta behavior, so I would trust her opinion - - I tend to primarily keep frogs (so i can help you there from experience! )

it kinda works with sororities but tbh, rearranging a territory between bettas, will cause more fights. bettas are a #41#### stressful fish to keep, for the owner that is, not the fish

 

[Josiee]

Haha, I am ready for the stress! I just love them. In the shop the other day I was trying to show my mum the two Bettas they had. The personalities of them are SO different. There was a dark blue/black crowntail who stayed in the right hand side of the tank, pretty low down. He stayed out of the Angel's way. I don't think he looked very happy tbh. The other guy though, he was in a tank full of a fish I don't recognise (rookie!) and was CONSTANTLY flaring, chasing them, nipping. He didn't look very happy either

 

[BethK]

Angels and bettas are not a good mix, esp if the angels are bigger

lfs bettas get stressed badly, which usually means lfs bettas have weaker immune systems. if you can afford it and haven't brought a betta yet, consider buying a betta from a private breeder. breeders will sell a betta, male or female for about £15 or $20 but it is well worth paying for

 

[Josiee]

Hmm, yes they did look stressed bless them their fins were raggy too. Is there some sort of listing of Betta breeders in the UK by area? I know that when I was in to breeding and showing guinea pigs (yes, really, heh) there was something like that I think.

 

[BethK]

ebay.co.uk have some quality male bettas for sale or try searching betta breeders in the uk via google

 

[Josiee]

The google search was rather fruitless unfortunately, but I will try eBay. Thanks

I was thinking of somehow locating a coconut to make a cave or two, as I think there's room. Good idea or no? I'm so useless