Moving A Betta To A New Tank

[goldfish98]

Hi all, I haven't been posting here for awhile, but I would like to assure you my tanks are doing well. Anyways, I want to move a male betta (from now on, i'll call him jack) from an unfiltered, unheated 2 gallon tank (note: the filter that came with it was far too strong for him, so I usually kept it off) to a filtered and heated 5 gallon tank that was just recently given to me. I was given a filter, but it was for a 30 gallon tank, so i'm not going to use that. I have a few questions about doing this:

Can you recommend a good hang on back filter that would fit in the normal Tetra lid cutout?

Sand or Gravel?

I would need to move the old tank to another room while I set this up in place, would leaving 1/4 of the water in it while i'm moving it be okay?

I want this tank to be densely planted, what plants can I use? (I already know about Java Fern and Anubias. 

Is wood bad for a betta's fins?

Thank you in advance
 

 

[LyraGuppi]

I can't say much about HOBs, as I use sponge filters.
I prefer sand, but it's personal preference.
It depends on your water, but I like Cabomba, Ludwigia, Crypts, and a few others.
Only if it is sharp. Try dragging a pantyhose over the piece, and if it snags, the wood is not good to use.

 

[NickAu]

I use a 800 Litre per hour canister filter on my 15 gallon with a betta in it, With a bit of experimentation and drilling of holes in a spray bar, my filter can run at full and there is hardly a ripple in the tank.
 
I prefer Gravel to sand because it is easier to keep clean.
 
Both these are hardy grow fast and look good.
Lace fern aquatic plant - Australian Freshwater Turtles
 
Blue Stricta Bunch - Livefish.com.au