Lemme Run This By You...

[holokai]

Aloha ladies and gentlemen,

I've been lurking here for a while and I feel I'm ready to finally get my feet wet so to speak. I'm not new to the hobby, but I am new to bettas. I've 4 years experience in reef keeping and 17 in freshwater, just to let you know where I'm coming from.

EDIT:This tank will be set up in my office, so I'm limited to 2.5 gallons. I know there's differing schools of thoughts on the minimum tank size, but I've seen enough successful smaller tanks to want to give it a shot.

My general plan is to have a single betta by his lonesome in a 2.5 gallon tank. I'd like a HOB filter (dialed down to the minimum) and a 9w-13w PC 50/50 light on the tank.

For substrate, I'm thinking of doing starboard. (the white kitchen cutting board material) Ok, so maybe that's not really a substrate. But it should help with keeping the tank clean, and I think a dark colored betta would be stunning against it. I've not read that the bettas use a substrate in any way, so let me know if that would be an issue.

I would like to have the tank pretty grown out with plants, which I know goes against the starboard idea. I'm wondering if I could keep them in some pots. If not, then I will definitely be using a substrate, since plants are a necessity(aesthetically) for me.

So to summarize my questions:
1) Will the lights be too much for the betta? I'm willing to only use them when showing him off if so, but I think in time the plants should provide enough cover.
2) What are your thoughts on the starboard idea? I've seen it in reef tanks but not so much Freshwater.
3) What plants would you recommend? I've grown Annubias before, but I think this time the lights might be too much for them.
3a) Is the idea of running starboard and plants in pots silly? I'm 50/50 on this so I'd like opinions.

Mahalo in advance, I know I'm writing a novel here.

- Chris

 

[HODDY]

i think that you should use substrate because of the plants.I think the light would be ok.I personaly would go with black gravel if the betta is red or white gravel if he is blue.And if hes gold then i would get black gravel.

 

[holokai]

i think that you should use substrate because of the plants.I think the light would be ok.I personaly would go with black gravel if the betta is red or white gravel if he is blue.And if hes gold then i would get black gravel.

Thanks HODDY. I just looked up the measurements on the 2.5 gallon, and I'm not sure there's enough vertical space to make a pot a visually pleasing option. Oh well, gravel is cheaper!
- Chris

 

[dthoffsett]

Depending on how you are going to do water changes (100% changes, or smaller ones w/a vac) you might think about sand. Plants grow well in it because their roots can spread easily through it, and I've found that my bettas like to make little dips in the sand and snooze. Depending on your bettas personality, you might think about adding a ghost shrimp or two as well. They add almost no bio-load, and will pick up any extra food, or algae off of the plants.

 

[lljdma06]

Depending on how you are going to do water changes (100% changes, or smaller ones w/a vac) you might think about sand. Plants grow well in it because their roots can spread easily through it, and I've found that my bettas like to make little dips in the sand and snooze. Depending on your bettas personality, you might think about adding a ghost shrimp or two as well. They add almost no bio-load, and will pick up any extra food, or algae off of the plants.

While many people have successful planted tanks with sand, it is usually because there is a plant substrate underneath it. Sand by itself has a tendency to compact, which is actually pretty bad for plant roots. A fine-grain gravel, of 2-3mm is pretty good, as are substrates like Fluorite, Eco-complete, Laterite, ADA aqua-soil, among others. I have seen them all used, often with sand on top for aesthetics.

The betta will be fine with the standard 10-12 hour photo-period required by the plants. A 9-13W CF is good to go for a low-light, no CO2 type of tank. Yes, this is low-light. Lighting is very different for nano tanks, which yours is. It takes a lot more wattage to grow plants effectively. You should be able to grow anubias, mosses, java fern, crypts, and some hardy stemplants very well without CO2 injection or a heavy fert regimen. I have a 2.5g journal that has been running on a month, and it is a very similar setup to what you're contemplating. There is a link to it in my signature.

It has been my experience that pots and plants don't mix well. The wool used for packing the pots often denies plants the root circulation they need, resulting in decomposition. In addition, anubias and java fern should not be in a substrate, but anchored to wood. Their rhizomes need to be above in the water column. So, I'm sorry, but I'm not liking the starboard all that much.

Good luck to you,

llj

 

[holokai]

Depending on how you are going to do water changes (100% changes, or smaller ones w/a vac) you might think about sand. Plants grow well in it because their roots can spread easily through it, and I've found that my bettas like to make little dips in the sand and snooze. Depending on your bettas personality, you might think about adding a ghost shrimp or two as well. They add almost no bio-load, and will pick up any extra food, or algae off of the plants.

I like the Ghost Shrimp idea, but after working at the LFS and seeing how many arrive dead and how many die the whole disease introduction thing would bother me. I could QT them for a few days in a small bowl or something, right?

I'm done with sand! I hated it in my Marine tanks, I'd hate it now too. I think I'm going to stick to a light tan rock substrate I found at the LFS. It's almost white, but not quite. I'm leaning towards a dark betta, hence the light colored substrate.

Thanks for the suggestions!
- Chris

[----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------]


Hey llj,

I'm with you on the substrate. That's about the size I Was looking at. I'll try to find some of those "plant-friendly" substrates to mix in with it too.

Glad to hear the bettas can take a normal photo period. I was a bit worried about that. I'm definitely not interested in CO2 injections, I did that with my last planted tank, and It was a huge pain.

I was thinking more like ceramic pots with substrate in them, rather than the plastic tubs the plants come in. but again, I think I've ruled that out. Especially after I read your journal earlier today.

Thanks for the input!

- Chris

P.S. Why does the forum keep sticking my two posts into one? annoying!

 

[holokai]

Good news! I've gotten the go ahead to use a 5 gallon tank. Now I'm debating between a Dual 9 watt PC fixture or a dual 18watt fixture.

The dual 18 uses two 50/50 bulbs, and I seem to recall reading somewheres that Actinic light doesn't promote Algae growth in freshwater.

I'd like a lot of light, but not to the point that I need to inject CO2 for the plants or worry about algae going out of control.

Not sure which to get. Thoughts?

Thanks!
- Chris

 

[dogfood]

What are the dimensions of the 5 gallon you're planning on getting? Also, is there a reason why you want dual bulbs instead of a single bulb fixture?

 

[lljdma06]

It's up to your reallly. If you get the dual 9W, you'll still have 18W which isn't enough light for CO2, but you'll be able to grow some hardy stemplants in addition to the other plants we discussed earlier in the thread. I'd try and replace the bulbs with either ones with 6700k or just get a full-spectrum daylight bulb. You're even better off with 10000k, though the light is a bit blueish for my taste. I have heard rumors that Actinic may be beneficial to very red plants, but in my experience, it doesn't really encourage plant growth.

Now, time to play devil's advocate. If the dual 18W has two fixtures, isn't that much more expensive, and the bulbs can be replaced with full-spectrum daylight bulbs, I'd get the dual 18W and only run one light. You'll have the option later of being able to upgrade your lighting for nothing when you feel you want to try a high-light tank. I have a dual CF 65W in my 36g that I only run one light on, and it works very well. Right now, that tank is a low-tech tank, but flick the other switch, and boom! Instant high-tech! An option I can explore when I have the finances to afford pressurized CO2.

llj

 

[holokai]

Hey Guys!

Dog Food, I'm not looking for dual bulb fixtures in particular, but the only two available that fit my tank dimensions (12x8x6 I believe) and that are made by a company I know are dual bulbs.

lljdma, I hear you about the upgrading. I think I will get the dual 18 watt bulb, but I'll probably stick with the 50/50 bulbs to start. In the end it will probably be a 10,000k and a Actinic in there, but for now I'm going to keep it simple.

I'm about to order from Big Al's, I've got the Lights, 3 driftwood pieces (since I probably won't like at least one!) some betta food, and a heater I'm hoping will fit in the Whisper I bought at the LFS.

Weird thing about Hawaii, I can't find a glass lid for a tank. And not just 5 gallons, of any size. 3 LFSs so far have told me they don't carry them. I may have to get a geck screen cover, then cut out a hole for the filter. Looks so cheap, though.

I also cannot find natural looking stone. I've got black or pink or yellow, but no earthy colors. I may have to have it shipped in. $$$

- Chris

 

[holokai]

Oh, almost forgot, I'm going to be using Eco-Complete as my substrate. I also plan to spray the back of the tank black. Better than looking through it at my cubicle wall!

- Chris

 

[Kyrielle]

Before you paint the back of the tank, put a piece of paper up against the glass and make sure your betta doesn't think it's a mirror. This is if you paint the outside of the tank. I think a lot of people have this issue with bettas and backgrounds. I know I do! You could, with acrylic paint, paint the inside since it's a latex paint and will dry into a non-toxic plastic.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Hey holokai!

I recommend some easier plants to start, some anubis, amazon swords maybe some crypt as stem plants, the betta will love hiding in these and resting on the leaves and they require less light then alot of types of plants. Some dwarf sag or micro sword would be a good plant to cover the substrate unless you want it showing but these do require more light then amazon swords and anubis. If you get a peice of bogwood in there you could probly attach some Java moss onto it.

Wish you luck,


DL

 

[holokai]

Before you paint the back of the tank, put a piece of paper up against the glass and make sure your betta doesn't think it's a mirror. This is if you paint the outside of the tank. I think a lot of people have this issue with bettas and backgrounds. I know I do! You could, with acrylic paint, paint the inside since it's a latex paint and will dry into a non-toxic plastic.

Kyrielle, THANKS for that info. I would hate to have that happen! It will be impossible to paint once the betta is in the tank though, so trying the paper method won't work. I'd look into the acrylic paint, but I think that would keep me up at night. Besides, don't want the ol' boy eating paint chips.

I guess I'll leave it see-through. Drat. Hopefully there will be enough plants that you can't see much of the cubicle wall. It's that nasty beige color, you know what I mean?

- Chris

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Can't you just paint it on the otherside?