5 Gallon Hex Setup

[Pintomare11]

I am the world's least creative person. Because of that, I need help setting up my marineland 5 gallon hex! See... Last week I found a really pretty betta and picked it up. A little impulsively, without adequate space for it, so I got a new tank.
 
I think I want black gravel, but if someone suggests something I like better I can do that!
 
The tank looks like it would be difficult to divide due to shape so right now I'm leaning towards leaving one fish in the 2.5 and moving the other into the 5 gallon, even though I orginally wanted to divide it.
 
So yeah, any low-budget (like, college student budget) ideas on setting it up?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Have a look around at your LFS and see what substrates they have and if theres one you like, go for it.
 
Black gravel or sand is a popular choice amonst many of us here. I personally have fine black gravel in my 10 gallon tank although i have natural coloured sand in my 25 gal tank, both are nice respective of their set ups.
 
Only you can say whether you like your tank or not
 
Keeping things simple to start with may be a good plan, a background of your choice, gravel or sand substrate and one or two little live plants or even fake / silk plants will liven and add colour to the tank. Then build it up from there.
 
Dont think anyone has made a perfect set up in thier first tank, I know I didnt
Practice and picking up tips and ideas as you go along and you will soon develope your own style
 

The tank looks like it would be difficult to divide due to shape so right now I'm leaning towards leaving one fish in the 2.5 and moving the other into the 5 gallon, even though I orginally wanted to divide it.

 
Not entirely sure what you mean here. Do you mean you already have another betta in a 2.5 gallon tank?

 

[Hmongol]

I think for small thanks like that, bright light with pure white sand will look so beautiful! I've seen and even have a 5 gallon with white sand and a few plant along with a cave makes the tank look like a praradise!

 

[Ninjouzata]

The first things I'd be looking into would be a filter and adjustable heater, if you havn't picked those up already.
I prefer black sand myself. You can get play sand or black blasting sand at places like Home Depot or Tractor Supply.

 

[LyraGuppi]

What color is your betta?

 

[Pintomare11]

I grabbed some black sand today. I decided to try sand, fingers crossed. Any tips for rinsing it? Usually for gravel I throw it in a bucket and rinse, but I'm not sure that would work for sand.
 
Ch4rlie, that's exactly what I mean.
Ninjouzata- I have a filter and heater for the 5 gal. The 2.5 is heated but unfortunately not filtered, though I do have live plants in there.
 
Lyra, one is the one in my profile picture, the other is a very light blue that fades to a light red around the fins.
 
FishCrazy, thanks, but i already got the black sand! 
 
I know I'll have Java Fern in there within the next couple of months, my 10 gallon spits out good sized plantlets every now and then. I love the look of the green against the black sand!

 

[LyraGuppi]

Oh, okei.

Will be a very nice tank when it is finished!

 

[Pintomare11]

Seriously guys, any advice is appreciated! I've had a 10 gallon set up for about a year, but I think that success can be attributed mostly to luck... So this is really only my 2nd tank. Will the sand get stuck in the filter?
 
Funny story- I was orginally going to do natural gravel because I had some in the basement from the 10 gallon. Turns out cats will use aquarium gravel as a litterbox even when they have a litterbox... And I have no idea how long it's been there for. Gross!

 

[LyraGuppi]

Ewww...
 
The sand will take a bit to set, but the sand will generally stay at the bottom.