Help With Decor........

[Faythee]

I have a 30 gallon that I am making a Betta sorority. This weekend I am re-homing my fish, all except the Corys. I threw a bunch of decorations out that I decided I didn't like and/or was ruined by algae. All that's in there now is 2 live plants and a piece of driftwood with white sand substrate. No background or anything. I have been staring at it and can't picture how I want it to look. It is driving me crazy ! Anyone have some pics to share ? Maybe it will spark some ideas for me. I may just give up the live plants too as they have been driving me a bit crazy. I'm clueless

 

[devon_charm]

This is what i have just done with my Hex. Its based on just sand bogwood and Java moss and fern, see wht you think....

 

[fergalthefish]

is it better to have a wider tank or deeper tank for betta's?

 

[devon_charm]

for bettas i prefer wider as then its not so far for them to go to get air, plus there is more floor space for them to explore. That tank above is my guppy tank lol

 

[Netty]

Here's a couple of our tanks.

Strudel & Cory tank

And this is the sorority tank.

 

[devon_charm]

Wow they look great, i love the girls tank

 

[Netty]

Thanks Shell. That was a couple of weeks ago so most of the plants have reached the surface and bushed out now. It's amazing how quickly some plants grow

 

[Faythee]

Nice looking tanks ! I want one of those coconuts. Only could find it on Ebay here in the USA and a bit pricey !

My problem is I am a perfectionist. Maybe I should put put a blindfold on and just stick things in there...LOL

List so far:
coconut
rocks
lots more plants

Netty,
Do you use CO2 or any fertilizer for your plants ?

 

[bronzecat]

Netty,
Do you use CO2 or any fertilizer for your plants ?

Think she's yapping somewhere else
No, we dont use co2 on the tanks. have only had a problem with a couple of plants in the soroity tank. we tend to have the nitrAtes at about 10-20 so perhaps this is helping them?

 

[Netty]

Yep.....what he said

 

[dusky]

You need lots of hiding places for them. I've my water feature in that's been sitting on windowsill doing nothing and if there's any probs they slip down inside out of the way.

 

[AngelOfDeath]

is it better to have a wider tank or deeper tank for betta's?

All fish benefit from a wider tank as it has a much larger surface area and a better oxygen to water ratio

 

[lil.guppy]

I remove my algae on the rocks with a toothbrush and I place the plants on a towel outside for 48 hours and the rinse them off. Once the 'dead' algae is submerged in the water again, the fish pick it off and eat it. Within a few hours the algae is all gone. I have never had to use any kind of algae treatment. You can also turn your lights off for a few days that might help.
Im trying to figure out a background for my own too. Its like art.....it takes awhile

 

[Phoenixbaby]

its not worth using a co2 machine unless ur going to really plant it out, and i mean heavily

I was using one for a while when my tank was more plant than anything else, and i have to say using that and fertilizers, it worked well

BUT if ur only going to have a few plants its not worth wasting money on co2 machine, imo

 

[LauraFrog]

LFS used a C02 machine, killed all their fish. It does reduce the amount of fish you can stock in the tank - pumping poisonous gases into the water isn't exactly ideal.