My girly tank - pics

[BettaMomma]

So...
after about 3 hours of shopping for just the right things today, I found everything that I wanted for my new girly betta tank:

Except the 2 additional betta girls.
I went over to WM to get the pretty little butter yellow girlies I saw yesterday, but they were gone. I went to every place that I knew was open at 6 pm on a Sunday today and none of them had any girls for me.

SOOO.... this means my girlies have to be in less than perfect conditions for a day or two. Liza is in her walmart cup still, and Cloey is in a ball jar. LOL She's been trying desperately to jump out, it's kind of cute.

I hope to go searching once again tomorrow for girlies.
Why are women always so difficult to deal with? LOL

Man, what a day.

 

[SuckerLove86]

That tank is amazing, BettaMomma!

VERY well done.

 

[BettaMomma]

Thanks!!
I love the tank itself, but I'm really afraid of the current.
It's going pretty strong.
And I hope I can keep the plants alive.
and the fish.

lol

 

[Raechal]

My females in my 120 gallon don't have a problem with the current, but some tend to "rest" against the filter intake tube and I get scared they are stuck, but when I slightly tap it they get scared and dart off somewhere else.

I am sure my current in my 120 gallon is stronger than the one in that 10 gallon, I am sure they will be fine.

If you don't mind me asking, how much did that set-up cost you?

 

[BettaMomma]

Factoring in the cost of gas it took me or not? Cuz I drove ALL over tarnation to find just the right stuff. LOL

The tank, filter & hood were bought as a kit.
Here's a summary:

Tank, filter and hood - 34.99
Plants were about 16$ (they were that much cuz I bought 2 hairgrass potted @ 5$ each)
Slate - 6$
Beach pebbles - 3.50
Gravel - 9$
Driftwood (This is made of plaster not wood, got it at PetSmart) - 14.99
Rock cave - 9.99
Then I had some rocks left over from waaaaaay back that I got at WalMart, and I think they were about a total of 2$
Oh, and the heater - 14.99

So, about 115$. EEK good god.
Oh well, I really love it!

 

[Raechal]

I think it is worth it though, the females you pick out will be VERY lucky! Just set the walmart cup outside the tank and tell all your females (when you get them) that they will be going back in that tiny cup if they don't behave. They should be angels then.

The 10 gallon set-up for 34.99 is cheap. You can buy like a 5 gallon bowfront set-up for the same price, I guess just because of the bow-front? I don't really see the point in those anyway. I bought a small 1 gallon bowfront and it looks the same as a regular tank IMO.

 

[3fsh]

How cool is this... you have the exact same tank set up as me. Well, tank and lid, that is. I must warn you, though... if you want your plants to live you must buy two compact flourescent bulbs to replace the incandescant ones. Those are trash and your plants will slowly die due to light starvation. (Don't ask me how I know. ) Also, make sure to remove the plants from the nasty fiberous stuff they pot it in or it will quickly create an algae bloom due to the excess nutrients leeching out of it. (Another 'don't ask me how I know'. B)) Oh, and I forgot to say... YOUR TANK LOOKS AMAZING!!! Great aquascaping job.

 

[BettaMomma]

Great pointer on the removing from the pots.. I'll do that first thing tomorrow morning!

I'll also pick up some flourescent bulbs tomorrow too!

And thanks - I had the complete picture in my head before I went to start on it. And it turned out exactly how I wanted it to

Come to think of it, I'm going to pull those pots out of there right now.
Off I go....

and thanks for the tips!

 

[BettaMomma]

Raech - yeah, that setup was a really good deal.
When I left this morning, I had intended to get a 12G eclipse. Till I discovered that they're 96$ at PetSmart. So, I just picked up the 10g "starter kit" while I was there. It came with the tank, the hood and the filter.

and YET ANOTHER great tip on taunting the girls with the WM container. That will be the "time out" container.

 

[3fsh]

Here is a link to the compact fourescents I was talking about: http/www.DrsFosterSmith.com/product/prod...Q&N=2004+113346

You can get the "All Glass" brand, but I prefer the "Coralife Colormax" bulbs. Good luck!

~ 3fsh

 

[BettaMomma]

Okay SO....
today I'm going to go searching for the rest of my betta chicas.

Here's my question....
I already have timid little Liza - she's always swimming around with her fins somewhat clamped cuz she's a scaredy cat - who wouldn't be after being chased around a 5g tank by a little snotty hag for several hours?

anyway... I also have Cloey the snotty little hag.

Would it be best for me to get 2 more? or 3 more?
And what order do I release them in? Cloey last? I will float them all at the same time, and dump them in right after each other, but I just wanna know how long to wait in between, etc. etc.

 

[Raechal]

Okay SO....
today I'm going to go searching for the rest of my betta chicas.

Here's my question....
I already have timid little Liza - she's always swimming around with her fins somewhat clamped cuz she's a scaredy cat - who wouldn't be after being chased around a 5g tank by a little snotty hag for several hours?

anyway... I also have Cloey the snotty little hag.

Would it be best for me to get 2 more? or 3 more?
And what order do I release them in? Cloey last? I will float them all at the same time, and dump them in right after each other, but I just wanna know how long to wait in between, etc. etc.

Since it is a new tank to all of your females, they won't have problems with territory as they haven't made theirs yet. I would release them all at the same time, or one after the other as quickly as possible so there isn't any territory issues.

I thought my little tiny Pea Princess would be scared of the larger girls, but she flared non-stop when I put a few in her tank. Constantly in the "c-shape" position and she always started it. She would swim up to a female 3 times her size and wiggle her tail right in her face and just flare in a "c-shape" position.

So now she stays in her own divided 10 gallon. She doesn't play nice as she is spoiled.

I hope your bettas get along fine. It may take a day or two before they all settle down. When I added my 12 females to the 120 gallon they didn't even notice each other and when they did they only flared for a few seconds, then one would back down. Probably because they were all in the same tank before and already have a pecking order.

I would keep them in there together as long as no serious fin-nipping or fighting occurs.

EDIT: Is there tape around your filter intake tube or is that a piece of plastic? My little girls like to "rest" up against the filter intake tube and I am scared they will get sucked up to it too hard and get stuck there.

 

[BettaMomma]

I'm afraid Cloey will be a big ol' bully.
she's gonna get a small tank all to herself if she is.

For the intake tube, there's nothing over it yet, but I'm going to take home some filter sponge and shove it into the area with the slots so they don't get sucked up.

And for their flaring....
the flares are so cute and little, aren't they?
Oh, they're so cute.

 

[Raechal]

I'm afraid Cloey will be a big ol' bully.
she's gonna get a small tank all to herself if she is.

For the intake tube, there's nothing over it yet, but I'm going to take home some filter sponge and shove it into the area with the slots so they don't get sucked up.

And for their flaring....
the flares are so cute and little, aren't they?
Oh, they're so cute.

Oh nevermind, I was looking at the heater instead of the intake tube and saw the silver/shiney part. )

Well you may end up buying a female that is ever meaner than cloey and that will show cloey her place. But if she is too aggressive I would suggest pulling her out and sticking her into her own tank. I would get 3 more to give you 5 females in all, so if Cloey does get take out you'll still have four females in your 10 gallon and won't have to go out an buy another one that may not get along.

 

[GrullaQuarters]

Hey Momma, that cave you bought...I have the same one in my 75g and my gosh has it ever been a big hit with the fish! They take turns 'claiming' it I swear. However lately, it's been empty and lonely....the pleco likes it somewhat....but everyone else in the tank is always out in the open...apparently no reason to hide!

Got the cave at PS close to a year and a half ago......

I'm gonna call PW as soon as I type this message.....I'm actually gonna plan on goind during the day, depending on what time they give, because I have a horse seminar to go to tomorrow night..........

Hopefully they have one of those little heaters there.......don't know WHAT I'll do if they don't!

Angie