Small Tank housing..

[MarkOne]

Currently have a male betta in a 40l tank with 4 platies and a dwarf gourami. He has been in there 2 days and today really came to life. Seems fine in tank. I'm thinking of buying a second male tomorrow, and was looking to keep him in smallish bowl.
I've read that a single live plant is good company, can someone suggest a good type?
I believe if I buy a bowl that holds about 1.5g I should be doing water changes every other day? Would it be ok to use water out of one of my tanks as long as it isnt dirty of course! This way it should be at a good temperature etc.

Thanks!

 

[Durbkat]

It won't matter if you fill it up with your tank water because the temp will go down to about 76 anyway unless you put a heater in it. And a good plant you can put in is a java fern or an easier route to go is to get a fake plant or tunnel. And you won't have to do water changes everyday just about every two weeks. And you may want to put that betta that you have in the 40L tank because that gourami will harrass him to death, litteraly! So if you want to risk it go ahead but if you don't put it in that 1.5 your getting.

 

[MegTheFish]

Water changes on that size could be done every other day, no less then once a week though.
You'll need to use water from your tap (don't forget to add declorinator!), not from your other tank, because the water from your other tank will contain ammonia and such which would make changing your bettas water pointless. Just leave the water until its the same temp and you should be fine.
Personally, I don't really like bowls and would much rather have a rectangular tank (or even a minibow) of atleast 2 gallons for a betta, I just find that a 1 gallon was hard to keep clean and my bettas didn't enjoy it (they now all have atleast 2 gallons, most of them have 4 gallons though).

 

[MarkOne]

Thanks for your help guys.
My current betta IS in the 40L tank, with 4 platies and a dwaf gourami.
It seems very peaceful, and everyone leaves everyone lese alone!
Will monitor for a few days and see if the betta is happy there.
However will buy a new betta today (rescue from a tacky pet store!) and put him in a bowl!!

 

[MarkOne]

will plants survive ok in a small tank that doesnt have lights. Obviously normal sunlight will be there!
If I went for a small tank with a light filter, do I need to introduce old media for bacteria or should I just do weekly water changes and look to keep all bacteria at a minimum?

Thanks!

 

[KeddyPie]

Since you wont be cycling, bacteria and filter media is pointless.

Everyone has different opinions of bettas in community tanks. I keep bettas in my community tank and have never even had a single NIP or a ripped fin from any fish in there, even back when I had a male in there. However, it all depends on the fish - Some bettas may simply decide one day they would rather be alone, and kill the other tank mates. Keeping bettas anything BUT alone is a big risk! That is why most people advise against it. However, if there is no nipping and chasing going on, and you spend a lot of time by the tank, then I'd say go for it, personally. You just need to keep a CLOSE eye to make sure nothing happens, and if you see nipping and chasing, don't wait to see if it gets better - It might be the start of a killing spree.

*again, that is my personal opinion - Likely many people will STRONGLY dissagree, and they have a right to. I'm aware that there is a potential danger in what I am doing*

As for plants, some plants do great in low light, others need very high light... I don't know a lot about plants, but I know my water sprites seem to be doing fine in the corner tank, which has pretty much no lighting besides my regular room lights. It does not grow or look wonderful, but it isn't dying. Everyone seems to think Java ferns are really great, but I can never keep them alive or get them to attack to rocks or wood

Amazon sword might be good, but they grow BIG. A nice long strand of hornwart seems to be a favorite among my alone bettas, but it is a bit tacky looking... There are a thousand plants, and many of them cheap - See what works for you!

Uhg, this forum... I've only been keeping fish for 2 months and they already have me ranting like I'm queen of the fish It's an educational place ^^

 

[MarkOne]

Thanks for the advice!

I ended up looking after the betta and bought a 7g tank, heater and small filter!
I was considering getting a divider for the tank and keeping a male in each section. What are peoples views/experiences of this keeping??

 

[KeddyPie]

Divided tanks are pretty widly accepted, as long as they are divided well enough that absolutly NO contact can be made. a 7 gallon will divide three times pretty well.