Thinking about a Betta tank

[Dbrs4me]

I am thinking about getting a 10 gallon tank and putting a betta in it with some friends. I have a 75 gallon tank in progress so I know my tap water parameters. I am most concerned about pH and hardness. My water tested at a pH of 7.8 and has a total hardness of 150. I'd like to do better than that. Would it be a good idea and feasible to just create a tank using distilled water? 10 gallons isn't too bad, we have other uses for distilled water in the house so keeping a couple gallons around the house for water changes and what not would not be a bad thing. Do I need to be worried about too soft water?

 

[FishGuest5123]

Distilled water s not good for fish as important minerals have been removed. Your Parameters are fine for a betta.

 

[Dbrs4me]

I was more wondering about the fish I'd like to add to the tank. I was going to put in some neon tetras for some company, don't they need softer water? I won't use distilled water, but may look into a way of managing it.

 

[Barry Tetra]

I was more wondering about the fish I'd like to add to the tank. I was going to put in some neon tetras for some company, don't they need softer water?

Betta are not a community fish as they are aggressive, they do well alone, I once have betta with guppies and it doesn’t end well.

If you want friends for betta, you can add snails of any type, moss balls (betta really like moss balls but keep away from mystery snail as they eat almost everything) also if you want fishes, you could add Kuhli loaches they are peaceful toward betta and betta ignore them.

 

[PheonixKingZ]

I agree. Bettas are not community fish and shouldn’t be kept as such. Have you considered getting a betta and some snails?

 

[JuiceBox52]

Also neon tetras need a longer tank at least 20 gallons

 

[Byron]

I agree with others. A single male Betta is it for fish, and a 10g is a nice tank for this. Parameters are not a problem here.

 

[Retired Viking]

As others have said Betta are better off on their own, they can not get along with their own kind even with females outside of a few minutes of mating. Neons on the other hand need a shoal of at least 6 and more is better. If you are thinking of neons get a 20 gallon long or longer tank. You will have to soften your water. I use R.O. water to mix with my tap water after it is dechlorinated . I have a 55 gallon tetra tank and it is a lot of work lugging around 5 gallon jugs of RO water for every water change.

 

[Salty&Onion]

I agree with posts above, bettas aren't community fish and they don't do well.
Neons need a 20 gallon long or longer tank, same with kuhli loaches, but they also would do great in a regular 20 gallon tank.