Will This Tank Be Okay For 1 Betta?

[Honeythorn]

If you're short of length in the area you want a tank, get a 5 gallon hex or cube. They're taller than they are long and your fish will get the nessecary extra gallons that'll give a more stable environment ( more gallons+ proper maintenece = more stable = less work ) Seriously the 5 gal hex in my signature will fit in a 12 inch square space.

You also do not have to buy a brand spanking new tank. The Car boot season is on now, and fishtanks are always popping up. Many of them for under a tenner and a lot of them come with equipment like airpumps, small filters and heaters, ornaments ect. You could get a full 5 gallon set up that way for under £30 no problem whatsoever.

Again, sorry to reference my signature but that hex tank ( fishRfun brand ) was £5. It has a filter built into the lid and the day I bought it I saw 2 more exactly the same. Go round the car boot sales, sooner or later you WILL come across a tank that is suitable. Hexes and half hexes seem to pop up all the time.

If a tank has no lid, get a sheet of clear perspex plastic cut to the right size, drill a few holes in the corners to allow air in, screw a fancy handle to the top to make it look nice and you have a lid. Easy.

 

[Amunet]

If you get a tank with no hood... just get a sheet of cheap needlepoint mesh and use that for a hood until you can get something else (if you want anything else). Here in the US they cost less than a dollar, so can't be that much more across the water

And for a filter, a lot of people use DIY sponge filter. I dunno how to make them, but it sounds very easy and very cheap AND very effective

 

[knig6]

trust me a filter is really good =]
also a heater is good too

it takes awhile

it took me like 1 or 2 weeks to set all this up

im also trying to find NEW TABLE to support the edges

 

[pippoodle]

the standard 18x10x10 clearseal tanks at pets at home come with a plastic lid ----- i've got one

if not get one of these elite 21's all you have to do is add you own light and heater , comes with filter , gravel and other bits
this is what i'm going to use for my betta -- got an elite 14 and eliute 21 in the shed
£29.99
http/www.petsathome.com/find/category-is...roduct-is-18296

 

[Syphoniera]

Hi, kniq6
I'm certainly no expert, but I believe that could be exerting stress on your tank which could ultimately result in a leak or crack.
I've read of people attributing their disasters to such practices as having unsupported tank corners.
Hopefully, someone expert will come along shortly, but I believe even a sturdy, flat board which extended completely under the tank might prevent stress from potentially affecting the sealant or even the glass - you might want to check into that.
You might be OK, maybe for years, and then suddenly not be...
And it's such a beautiful tank...

 

[electric yellow]

Hiya,

After my first betta dying in my other tank, im thinking of getting one of these:

[URL="http/www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0080104"]http/www.wilkinsonplus.com/invt/0080104[/URL] - 2.5 Gals

Of course ill try to get a mini filter and a heater small enough... but will it be okay?

Many thanks.
CJ.

Is that a plastic tank??

I dunno about for the long term. Im no expert but wouldnt a heater in a plastic tank long term damage the plastic and cause it to go bad? Why not just get a small 28ltr tank like an Aqua Start 320 or something?

 

[Honeythorn]

They're ridiculous plastic critter keepers basically. Ok for a hospital tank or for quarrantine, rubbish pernmanent home. If the OP has 20-30 quid to spend you can usually get a tall hex tank ( to save space if that's the issue ) from a car boot sale for under a tenner, and everything else off ebay for the rest. No need for such a pointless little thing like that as a permanent home.

 

[Truck]

im on the same budget as the OP, in 3 weeks you can buy an all glass tank with lid for £20 a heater for £10 a filter for £10 and gravel and decor for £10

thats £50

 

[CeeJayy]

Okay then, how about one of these:

http/www.pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk/...products_id=552

Anyone got experience with them?

 

[Devorax]

That is by far the better tank suggested by yourself CeeJayy, but I do think there are other ways about this.

I am probably going to make myself incredibly unpopular here but here it is:

George, my avatar pic, is in this

It cost £15 from P@H and I added a Hagen Elite 25watt heater for it. It allows tons of indirect sunlight in it and so far, no algae, no problems, and a very flambouyant fish. If you want further details, PM me.

Spike is in a very similar tank to the 'mermaid' one and he doesn't seem to appreciate that it is taller than it is wide. He seems happy about it enough, but not as happy I think as he could be. We are seriously considering getting him a 'George' tank. It makes George happy, especially as he loves to be alone.

EDIT And if anyone is wondering where George is, if you look closely you can see his moody glare form inside the doorway of his 'house', he usually displays for the camera but today he is extra sulky....lol

 

[loraxchick]

you could always make a sponge filter and use the money you WOULD have spent for a new one to get a larger tank. you said you have other tanks running so i think it would be safe to assume that you already have all the necessary items to make one. it is very easy and virtually free if you are already in the hobby ('casue you have most of the stuff already anyway).
the first tank item you posted would be fine in all honesty, but like some others have said bigger IS always better. if you do opt for a plastic tank, the small heaters ive seen al have plastic guards around the base=dont touch the plastic...i seriously doubt that a small 25 watt heater would melt the plastic anyway.
here's a lits of things if anyone is interested in making a sponge filter...been meaning to make my own DIY post as it is soooooo simple.

-old fish food container
-airline tubing
-air pump
-t-valve or gang valve (for rigging up the new filter with an existing airpump that is running and only has one outlet...these are very cheap, like $2)
-filter sponge (BEST to use a chunk from a mature filter that you have running in one of your tanks)
-gravel or a few small rocks to weight down your filter (from the inside)

Tools needed
-EITHER a hammer and small nail OR drill with a small bit to make the holes in the fish food container

that is all you need and they work GREAT! especially if using already mature media. took me 15 minutes total to make two!
if you have a few spare minutes it is worth it to make your own...easy and fun

 

[Honeythorn]

Okay then, how about one of these:

[URL="http/www.pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk/...products_id=552"]http/www.pawsforthoughtpetcentres.co.uk/...products_id=552[/URL]

Anyone got experience with them?

A lot of people have those for bettas. At 6 gallons it's great for a male. Though I still think you'd be mad to fork out for a brand new tank *shrug* still, your money your folly, fair enough and all that.

 

[CeeJayy]

My sisters just moved into a new house and there was a 18inch x 1 foot x 1 foot in the garage, with filter. Ive cleaned it and plan on dividing it for 2 males.. or 1? Im going to make a makeshift lid now.. with some 3mm clear perspex.