Tank Sizes

[Kirsty]

I have fallen in love with Bettas. I have seen a corner tank that i like, its 6.5G. Is this two big?
What else do i need?
- Plants, real or fake?
- Gravel, fine gravel or would sand be better?
- Heater, what size?
- Filter? Do i need one?
Anything else?

I also would like to know about cycling? If i get a filter i can use the media from another tank, but what if i dont get a filter?

 

[eudielynn]

Another victim! First of all a 6.5 gal will be heaven to your betta. Or you could even put a divider in and have two bettas!

As far as plants are concerned, you can go with either live or fake, but if you use fake, no plastic. It will shred their fins, use only silk plants. If you go with live plants you will need to make sure you have the proper lighting, substrate, etc. I'm not an expert on the live plants, but I know they are a lot more work, but probably worth it in the long run if you want to invest the time. Either way, bettas like to rest on plants, I keep at least one tall one in each tank because they are lazy and will lay on the top of the plant and just raise their little heads for a gulp of air.

Yes, you should have a heater. A 50wattt for a 6.5 gal tank. SRC has a thread here that shows several different types. A heater will keep your temperature steady and is less stressful than constant fluctuations. (I am dealing with temp problems right now.) If you haven't thought about it, be sure to get a thermometer too so you can keep an eye on your temp.

Gravel or sand is a personal choice. However, if you use an UGF in your tank you cannot use sand. I have gravel, but am considering going to sand when I change filters in my tanks. Sand looks more natural and the fish seem to like it better.

Your choice again on a filter. I personally would use one in a tank that size. If you don't mind a lot of water changes, you can get by without one. If you do use a filter, be sure to get one that does not cause a lot of current in the tank. Most betta's hate strong currents and will hide and stay at the bottom of the tank.

Yes, you can use media from a cycled tank to cycle a new tank, but you will get better info reading the pinned articles on cycling than I can give you.

Hope this answers some of your questions. Let us know when you bring your little guy home!!!

 

[AlexsDaddy]

A betta would love 6.5 gallons to swim around in. You could even get a couple african dwarf frogs with that much space. Hmmmm what else would you need? That's really up to you. Gravel or sand isn't completly necessary, but it does improve on looks and gives another place for benificial bacteria to grow if you decide to cycle the tank. Which one and what size you get is up to you. Smaller gravel is easier to clean then sand, but some people like sand better. You don't really need a filter, but with bigger tanks, maintenance is cut back quite a bit if you get a filter and cycle the tank first. Cuts down on water changes. Just make sure the one you get it's adjustable. Bettas don't like strong currents or a lot of surface movement. Plants would be a nice addition to the tank. If you can get real that would be cool, but fake are great too as long as they are either silk or don't have any sharp edges that could catch and tear the bettas fins. A good way to check this is to run the fake plants through a nylon stocking, and if the stocking runs, then the plant is no good for a betta tank. If the room that you are planning on putting the tank in is kinda on the cool side or the temp fluxuates a lot a heater is definatly a must. Bettas need a steady water temp between 76-84F. Cycling without a filter. Hmmmmm. Don't know about that one. Maybe if you got an air stone and set it low so there is still some water movement and and surface movement for gas exchange it might work? Maybe someone else will know more on that. Good luck and welcome to the beautiful and addictive world of bettas. Just start looking for your local betta support group now cause once you get started MBS and MTS set in quickly!

 

[Kirsty]

So a 50W heater would be adequate?
Would a Fluval 2plus of similar be adequate, i already have one of these on my 14G and i know it has a flow adjuster?

Think i am going to buy my Betta from Bettaman's web site. I am thinking about going for a crowntail

 

[Kirsty]

And what sort of light should i go for?

 

[Elise]

Does the tank you saw come with a light? Usually you can buy a hood that comes with a light already. I haven't read much about lighting but I have tanks with hoods that come with a certain kind of light like incandescent or flourescent. In my opinion, the flourescent looks much better but I have both. I guess it's personal opinion.
I love bettaman's bettas, wish I could get some....but I live in the US Shipping would kill me. Anyway, it would be fun to get a divider and split it. I have a 2.5 minibow split for my two males and they are too funny together! And they keep each other company very well.

 

[eudielynn]

Yep, a 50w will work up to about 10 or 15 gal tanks. Lighting needs will depend on if you use real or fake plants.

 

[Kirsty]

Going to go for real plants. the tank i have seen is just a tank, comes with a hood but no light.

Does the Fluval 1 come with a flow adjuster?

If I do seperate the tank for 2 (liking this idea ) will the filter work for both sides?

 

[AlexsDaddy]

As long as the divider you use has lots of holes or is a mesh to ensure good water flow any filter should be fine. For filters, the Duetto 100 by Marineland is good up to 10 galons, is fully submersible, adjustable flow and has seperate mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration. I use the duetto 50 in my 5 gal and divided 2.5. They work great. I like them because they are so compact. They fit nicely in the corner of the tank and since they are fully submersible you can put it at the bottom and hide it with plants. Walmart sells full spectrum flourscent bulbs that work in most hoods that take the incandescant type bulbs. I just got my first set the other day and now I wish I had gone flourscent months ago. It just looks sooooooo much better.

Edited to add:another note on flourscent bulbs. They last a lot longer then incandescents and don't put out as much heat either.