22 Litre Betta Tank

[Shelster]

So I am finally getting a few mins to put some pictures up to start this

Tank: aquanano 30 (22 litres/5 gallon)
Substrate: unipac black sand (although not quite as fine as sand)
Decor: bogwood & plants.

And my awesome find of bogwood at an absolute steal from a Facebook aquatic items for sale in my local area:

 

[blackops]

lovely

 

[RCA]

Looks promising, look forward to seeing it all develop.
 
I like the Unipac sand, the black is particularly interesting as it glistens with different blacks within it.  Not used it myself but seen it in a display tank.  I like the Senegal, although not sure if I may use black at the back of my new project (link in signature) with Senegal at the Front?  I was hoping to get Black Corys though and hence the Senegal would probably show them up better.
 
You are right, that is a cracking piece of bogwood.  Your Betta will love swimming and resting through there.  You going to attach Java Fern to it?

 

[Shelster]

I am very pleased with the unipac to be honest, it didn't need much washing at all, although I still gave it a few rinses.

I have bought some java fern but the bogwood is quite sizeable in the tank, and think the java fern will grow too quickly and suffocate the space? I don't know, I'm open to opinions

Washing the sand in my fish bucket

Bogwood having a good old soak - it has been in a tank before as it was second hand but the lady I bought it from said she had two pieces but they kept leaking too many tannins for her tank, so I thought I would give it a soak too.

 

[RCA]

Ditto re: the Unipac, been very happy with mine.  The first one I was advised to get was Tana, which I have in a couple of my aquariums, but I prefer the black in the Senegal vs the white in the Tana.  I could always add some black to the Tana and that would then make it look like Congo .  If anyone wants to know what we are talking about, click on the images HERE.
 
I would add the Java Fern as my boys like to laze in it, you can always trim it if it gets too big.  The advantage with this over any other plant is you can lift out the bogwood to do a thorough clean and the plants come out with it
 
Good to soak the bogwood as then you are also giving it a good clean from the previous home, just in case.  Maybe even boil it if you have a pan large enough, or poor boiling water over it and let it stand in that.
 
Keep the pics coming ...

 

[Mamashack]

Have no experience of using sand, but now know where to look if I decide to go that route!
Interesting pictures Shelster - am looking forward to seeing the project progress!
Am in the process of fishless cycling a 30L Aqua One 320 for a betta. RCA has been helping me with information on types and finnage.

 

[Shelster]

Hmmm, running into some trouble with light unit:
http/m.youtube.com/watch?v=aQp_nrIu4fo
Have tried a new bulb but still doing this - have looked for a starter motor but don't think this unit has one

 

[RCA]

I am no expert, but think that is a blown bulb sadly   You will need a new one, me thinks.

 

[Shelster]

No this is the second new bulb I've tried

I am fearing new light unit

Here are my plants any rate:

Vallis, Anubias, java fern, and amazon sword.

 

[Shelster]

And some more plants

Sand washed and added to aquarium:

I undertook a water change on my 54litre and used that water to partially fill aquarium:

And cleared an area of the bedroom

 

[Joshwainwright]

Ooooh, this looks promising so far!
 
I'm definitely going to have to keep an eye on it seeing as I don't have room for a betta tank 

 

[Shelster]

Then topped up with buffered RO water.

Ok so the light unit has caused some issues.
I have tried to new bulbs to the same effect as seen in the video. I have also phoned a few lfs and none have one for sale like the one I have. So I took the whole unit into Trimar aquatics in Camborne who were extremely helpful (to all the Kernow folk on here) as because of the Easter weekend the soonest a lot of stores could get me one in by would be Thursday = disaster for my plants!
They kindly offered to lend me one from their display tanks, but then managed to find me this one:

It looks great

 

[Shelster]

Thanks Josh but to be honest, they don't take up much room at all

After topping up my aquarium with RO, I used some already mature filter media from my fluval external on my 180 litre.
I then replaced what I had taken with ceramics for bacteria to grow on.

Yes I went a bit haywire on the 'ol plant buying so I actually haven't planted it all.
What I have used is the vallis, amazon sword and two crypts.

So I shall post the complete tank now, and am open to suggestions.

The bogwood bear in mind I LOVE, but it is also very wide based, so not much room for planting around it ha ha, but think it looks ok.
The java fern I ended up tutting in my 180 litre which I am doing a log for later.

 

[Joshwainwright]

Thanks Josh but to be honest, they don't take up much room at all

 

 
Unless I magically make my printer disappear to make some room on top of my drawers, I literally have no room at all
 
It's looking great already though! What a great gesture from the LFS, you must be a regular for them to trust you though! I wonder how much you've spent there, not time either
 
I love the bogwood and love the plants. I think any more could look OTT unless you do it right, what else do you have left?
 

 

[Shelster]

Well it was buy two amazon sword get one free, and the same on the vallis, and unfortunately I didn't have any room for the two javas I bought.
Here are some more pics:

Ooh I do at the moment have a floating anubia too

I have noticed I also have some trapped air bubbles left behind which I'm guessing aren't a good idea?

Here's a view from the top

.....and the side (sorry if this is boring lol)

That's about it so far.