My Betta Set Up And A Couple Of Questions...

[electric yellow]

So ive finally set up my first betta tank. I had two aqua start 320s kicking round the house so ive kept one as my current hospital tank and have set up the pink one as a betta tank. I had to saw through the divider walls to trim it down to tank size but it sits nicely bedded in the gravel. I also cut the middle wall so it fits. I used the internal filter that belongs with the aqua start and i just turned the water disperser round to face the wall to avoid a current. I think im going to take out the tunnel due to it having sharp bits on it and find bigger caves for them. Id also like to add a few more plants. It is currently cycling but shouldnt take to long because i have cloned it with my communal 3ft tank and the filter has been used before. The lights make it real bright to which i think MAY pose a problem algea wise and brightness wise.

I havent got a heater yet and am wondering whether a 25watt heater will be enough? And where is the best place to put it? I was thinking straight up and down at the back. Assuming the penplax divider doesnt cause heat distribution issues? Also what is the ph range for bettas and does their diet differ from normal tropical fish food?

Excuse the suction cup. I use it to line the divider up.

Im also wondering what sexes to get? Would a male and female go ok together in the tank or should i get two girls or two boys?

Not too sure why the second one is sideways...

 

[Jaded12]

lovely setup! though I do agree that that one cave looks a bit rough for delicate betta fins. How many gallons is the tank? Ive used those dividers before and they do seem to cause a bit of a heat distribution issue but not serious, one side may be a couple degrees cooler then the other. Its really up to you what sexes you want to get 2 of any would be lovely, though the males tend to be a bit bigger and brigther then the females. As for diet I feed my bettas a mix of betta pellets and frozen bloodworms

 

[Hawkins]

if you were a betta which side would you rather live in?

i choose the right one!

 

[electric yellow]

Yeah definangtly will pull the tunnel out. I have another one of those cave things in another tank i can drop in. Waters crystal clear today.

If i put the heater in the same side as the outlet pipe would it distribute it any better?


if i was a betta...i would pick the right side...

 

[ibbledibble]

i use the penn plax dividers in most of my tanks, and i have found the best way to avoid problems is to ensure the water circulates properly (force it through the divider) in my larger tanks tanks i use external filters, with the intake tube at one end of the tank, and the output at the other end, so the water is "pulled" through the tank by the action of the filter (instead of recirculating within one section) in the smaller tanks i use smaller filters (ehiem aquaball) with a tube added to the output running down to the other end of the tank, which creates the same effect. keeps temp fairly even with all areas of the tank and ensures the whole tank is adequately filtered.
hope that makes sense, but if not, let me know and i will try and draw up a diagram of what i mean, and maybe add some photos of one of my tanks.

 

[newfishy]

I would get two males, but if I could I would get two males that have been in divided tanks before. every time I try and divide a tank for males that have lived single their whole lives, it really stesses them out to have to share tank space again.

 

[ReMz]

Heat doesn't need great water flow to distribute.... ambient heat will keep the temp on a tank that size identical on both sides. Don't even worry about it.

 

[electric yellow]

^^

Oh cool thanks for that

Can someone tell me what ph their water should be kept at and temp? I want to add a real plant on each side and still need a heater...

Can anyone suggest a good betta supplier/aquarium in the Melbourne,Victoria,Australia region?

 

[ReMz]

Don't worry about the PH unless you are off the charts. They can adapt to different water stats pretty well. I keep my guys around 78-80F.