What Should I Do With My 5 Gal Tank?

[Jade107]

I'm planning on getting a new betta for this tank. I got it a little while ago at Walmart...it was cheap and I really wanted a new betta to keep me company in my room

Hoping to find a nice crown tail. I am not the best designer of anything. I would love to have some live plants, but I can tell you I know nothing about them. Will they work with the small LED light? Do they grow in gravel? I would have preferred sand for bottom, but they don't sell it at the LFS and I don't really want to order anything online. Coconut caves look really cute to me. Do you have to do something special to them to make them sink? Anyway...If you have any ideas please let me know! Nothing that will cost me an arm and a leg please.
 
Here's a picture of the tank...nothing special. I have a heater for it, I just haven't put it in yet.

 

[Shelster]

If you buy low light hardy plants such as Anubias (a fav with bettas as they like to rest on the leaves) and java fern - both need attaching to bogwood or some kind of decoration. Amazon swords or vallis can be planted directly into the substrate, here is an example of my tank for my betta:



Mine is only a 22 litre but you can still get some decent plants to fit, and bettas really appreciate live ones, if you decide against live plants, go for silk other than plastic as they can damage their fins.


Are you planning on cycling the filter media first? (Recommended) check out this link:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/277264-beginners-resource-center/

Good luck and look forward to hearing your progress

 

[TallTree01]

I would get some driftwood or a coconut cave and put live plants around it like in shelsters pic.

 

[Asteria]

the coconut shells just sink
 
Anubias and java fern are your best bet. like already stated above 
you can buy them already attached or do it yourself 

 

[Kyla]

Ok, I got some plants and some driftwood from petco. I was out in my boat today and found some really nice driftwood in the river which I took home. I will have to cut it up though. Should I soak it in water for a while before I put it in?
 
I have the coconuts as well! All the meat has been taken out and now I need to cut the entrance. Also....I noticed in other members' pics that their coconut caves look smooth. Are you supposed to sand the outside down or something?
 
PS I am the original poster. Unfortunately my computer randomly logs me onto my old account from about 3 years ago!

 

[Shelster]

I think it's just a personal preference, it doesn't matter to the fish whether the hairs are left on, most file/sand them off.

I have bought two coconuts to try this but they keep going off before my husband gets to drill them for me


http/www.instructables.com/id/Coconut-Cave/#step1