Planning For A Betta Tank

[JoshuaA]

It would appear the mature media transfer has worked already... I put 4ppm in last night around 5pm.

This morning

Ammonia 1ppm
Nitrite 0



3 missing Ammonias Unfortunately there won't be much progress as the tank is currently a coldwater tank haha. My heater didn't arrive yesterday so I'll have to wait till monday to set it up properly.

I still need to order my light unit. I'm looking at an Arcadia Arc Pod 11w? This will be suitable for the 40L tank with a Betta in right? I will be planting it also obviously.

I now see your seagull .

It's not fair; 21 days in and my ammonia is finally staying about 1ppm. I'm fed up lol

Don't worry! Mine started acting about as well now. It was processing those little Ammonias however it's stopped now! but I think this Stingray 15 filter generally sucks. I think the case doesn't seal properly and then the flow of water just bypasses all the foams and ceramics. I will probably use the Eheim 2206 ball filter when it comes instead as it won't leak like this crappy stingray does!

 

[BethK]

Sounds like you need to change your filter

 

[JoshuaA]

Sounds like you need to change your filter

The filter never really worked since day one (we used it for about 2 months during a fish in cycle) yet it did nothing. Used a Fluval 2 for 10 days and we got our ammonia bacs. Anyway after looking into it I decided to replace the Carbon/Zeolite with seeded Ceramics and floss. Nowt... not a sausage first day great! Now nothing...

Very poorly designed filter though because the casing doesn't seal properly it can bypass all the sponges without a problem. Hopefully the Eheim ball one should be able accomodate for the ceramics!

 

[krista522]

Will changing the filter affect the bacteria eating ammonia process? I am wondering because I have yet to change my filter cartridge for fear of losing the ammonia eating bacteria. Can someone explain that further to me? (sorry for asking a question on your post JoshuaA)

 

[JoshuaA]

Will changing the filter affect the bacteria eating ammonia process? I am wondering because I have yet to change my filter cartridge for fear of losing the ammonia eating bacteria. Can someone explain that further to me? (sorry for asking a question on your post JoshuaA)

Changing your media all in one go will cause problems, you really don't want to change it unless its falling apart. At the most give it a squeeze in some old tank water when you do a water change. Ignore what the manufacturers say about the recommended changing schedule, its there to make you pay more on replacements.

If its a must do it gradually though. If you follow what the manufacturers say you'd have to Re-cycle your tank every 2 weeks. Which is pretty much impossible.

 

[JoshuaA]

Eugh, heater still hasn't come!

Although I did buy a background and I bought some bogwood so soaking it at the moment and will probably boil it. However I'm not too fussed if it is only a light tea colour it makes the water. After all it is more natural for the Betta. Moss balls came today so I'm going to put them in my girlfriends tank and get myself another batch of them when the tank is ready.

Nitrite is now at slightly detectable levels, I don't know what was better though having it detectable or not (mature media). I still want to change the filter when it comes to the Eheim Aquaball, I'm fed up of this Stingray thought it could be made useful but what a fool I was!

 

[BethK]

You can use your current media in your new filter, when it comes, don't be down about it x

Have you got plants like Elodea Densa, Amazon swords or Vallis Vallisneria? They all grow tall and bettas love to swim in them,rest on them etc and they are pretty in a tank.

Elodea Densa

Amazon swords

Vallis Vallisneria

 

[JoshuaA]

Yeh I've currently got The Canadian pond weed (1st pic) and the Amazon sword as well as other fast growers on order for my girlfriends tank. My tank I was going to buy the Vallis Vallisneria however I discovered my water isn't suitable as its too soft and they will wither away fast in it. So in my tank for the betta the current plant plan is

Canadian Pond weed
Amazon Swords
Java Fern
Anubias
Marimo Moss (about 7 balls)

 

[BethK]

Coolios, moss balls are great! You could even get 4 or 5 Amano shrimp, they will be a good clean up crew

 

[JoshuaA]

Coolios, moss balls are great! You could even get 4 or 5 Amano shrimp, they will be a good clean up crew

They're not going to get killed by Panda Corys or the Betta?

 

[BethK]

Coolios, moss balls are great! You could even get 4 or 5 Amano shrimp, they will be a good clean up crew

They're not going to get killed by Panda Corys or the Betta?

Nope

They are pretty hardy shrimp and don't take poop. They grow to about 2", so aren't small enough for them to be eaten.

 

[Lacuna]

Yeh I've currently got The Canadian pond weed (1st pic) and the Amazon sword as well as other fast growers on order for my girlfriends tank. My tank I was going to buy the Vallis Vallisneria however I discovered my water isn't suitable as its too soft and they will wither away fast in it. So in my tank for the betta the current plant plan is

Canadian Pond weed
Amazon Swords
Java Fern
Anubias
Marimo Moss (about 7 balls)

Pond weed also likes neutral or hard water, but it grows in just about any conditions, so it'll probably be fine in soft water. Cabomba likes soft water.

 

[JoshuaA]

Yeh I've currently got The Canadian pond weed (1st pic) and the Amazon sword as well as other fast growers on order for my girlfriends tank. My tank I was going to buy the Vallis Vallisneria however I discovered my water isn't suitable as its too soft and they will wither away fast in it. So in my tank for the betta the current plant plan is

Canadian Pond weed
Amazon Swords
Java Fern
Anubias
Marimo Moss (about 7 balls)

Pond weed also likes neutral or hard water, but it grows in just about any conditions, so it'll probably be fine in soft water. Cabomba likes soft water.

Yah we had pond weed in our tank a few months ago and it was growing about an inch a day at sometimes, we had to prune it back every week. Was pretty impressive too bad our fish got white spot, and the treatment pretty much killed both and with the fact we did a fishless cycle.


Where is the best place to source these Amano Shrimp then Beth? A store or just buying them off someone? Are they going to reproduce like crazy if I overlook them?

 

[BethK]

Amanos need a brackish type water to reproduce, so fresh water tanks, they won't breed but will live happily.

LFS sell them, Maidenhead do but they are priced at £3.50 each. You can get them cheaper from the LFS that are not chains. Ebay sell them too but it's a matter of searching, they are pretty easy to get hold of.

 

[JoshuaA]

I've never been to Maidenhead, kind of really want to check it out but its an hour drive away plus I've got to go through the Mersey tunnel so that's another £2.40 on top of the petrol. I think if I were to go it would be with the guarantee that I was going to buy them haha. I know P@H sell shrimp but I'm not sure what type of shrimp they are, they just call them "Freshwater shrimp".