Thinking About A Betta Tank

[coldcazzie]

K, since joining TFF I've been slowly wanting more and more to have a divided betta tank, plus my hubby says he would really like a betta (and was very disappointed when I told him we couldn't put one in my Rio 240 as we have angels in there).

I have a 24x12x15 inch tank in my cellar (which needs a hell of a clean but aside from that is watertight and in good nick), which I was thinking about dividing into 2 or 3 sections and putting a betta in each. It needs a lid making for it as it doesn't have one, and would obviously need heating/filtering.

1. Would 3 sections be ok? Each section would be 8x12x15 inches (8x12x12 once you take into account substrate, decor etc etc), which would make each one about 5 USG ish.

2. I'm thinking a 150W heater for a tank this size?

3. I have several air driven box filters which I'm not using, the plastic ones that you can fill with whatever you want - would 1 filter be suitable for all 3, or would it be better to have 1 filter in each section? I'm assuming that an air-driven filter wouldn't be too strong for a betta tank? The pump I have in mind is a 2W one, which would be divided between my QT and this tank.

4. Might be the wrong place to ask about this but does anyone know about lighting types? If not I'll ask in DIY section! I guess it depends on whether I go for silk/real plants.

5. Would sand be a better substrate than gravel? I have a small amount of gravel not in use but it's not as smooth as it could be, certainly not smooth enough for corys or anything so would that make it too rough for a betta as well?

Am thinking about this as a new year project - something to do after Christmas in the lull between new year and starting my next OU courses at the beginning of Feb. I'll prob have to build a stand for this tank and my QT, so that they can share the air pump, and I'll have to make the lid from scratch too, so am trying to sort out exactly what I want in advance, and work out what it'll cost me!

This is of course assuming I can persuade hubby it's a good idea, and somehow figure out where I would put it!

 

[kizno1]

if you divide it into 2 you could have 4 corys on each side but if you divide it into 3 you could have a apple snail or a few shrimps in each.
if you get corys sand would be alot better. you can use sponge fillters and have one in each or you can have one fillter in one compartment and then have a pipe comming off the outlet and put it in the section at the other end of the tank all you have t do is seel the end of the pipe with silicon and make small holes running all the way along the pipe ( pip has done it on one of her tanks she might be along later and show you a pic). a 75w or 100w heater would be enough. you can make coconut caves bettas really like them and they like floating plants like amazon frogbit.
hope this helps a little

 

[KittyKat]

1. Would 3 sections be ok? Each section would be 8x12x15 inches (8x12x12 once you take into account substrate, decor etc etc), which would make each one about 5 USG ish.

That should be fine.. but it is well worth making sure that the fish can't see each other all the time as that is actually bad for male bettas (if we are talking female, there is no point to dividing it).

2. I'm thinking a 150W heater for a tank this size?

Too big. If it breaks, they fry. I would go for a 75w in the central section. Careful though! Bettas are well known to go sleeping on heaters.

3. I have several air driven box filters which I'm not using, the plastic ones that you can fill with whatever you want - would 1 filter be suitable for all 3, or would it be better to have 1 filter in each section? I'm assuming that an air-driven filter wouldn't be too strong for a betta tank? The pump I have in mind is a 2W one, which would be divided between my QT and this tank.

One in each section. The only way to use a single filter is if the inlet is at one end of the tank and the outlet is at the opposite end.

4. Might be the wrong place to ask about this but does anyone know about lighting types? If not I'll ask in DIY section! I guess it depends on whether I go for silk/real plants.

You are correct. Normal strip lights which one can get at any DIY store are no worse then the fancy ones labelled with "for aquarium use".

5. Would sand be a better substrate than gravel? I have a small amount of gravel not in use but it's not as smooth as it could be, certainly not smooth enough for corys or anything so would that make it too rough for a betta as well?

I would personally use smooth gravel only.

Good luck!

 

[kizno1]

or you could have 5g divided of for a male with some shrimp or kullies in there and then have 5 female betts on the other side with 4 corys.

 

[coldcazzie]

Thanks for the replies!

Will go for a smaller heater, and definitely get one with a heater guard to hopefully reduce the risk of a burned fishy, and go for one filter in each section.

Would the plastic canvas stuff be suitable for the divisions? Most other people on here seem to use that and it seems a sensible way to save money - I do have a divider but it's for my QT so not big enough, plus it's clear.

I can't have snails - pH is too low. Although the tap water comes out as 7.4, which is fine, the water is v.soft so it drops down to about 6-6.4 which, from the research I've done, is too low for snails. Would shrimp have the same issues or not?

 

[KittyKat]

I only use Visitherms now days as the latest designs are small and just as reliable as the older ones, + they come with guards by default!

So long as it isn't treated with anything particularly evil, cavas should be fine unfortunately, the only canvas I come across is the stuff one would print on with fine art inkjet printers so can't help you further..

True about snails. Luckily, I know that many shrimp are fine at 6.5-7.0 so it is definitely worth looking into that as I am sure there are at least some which will tolerate even lower pH.

 

[coldcazzie]

I shall have a scout about and see if I can source any cheaply. I did find some heaters on ebay a while back that came with free heater guards, so might have to go have another look at them.

I quite like the idea of pygmy corys cuz I love corys, but I've never had shrimp before and I am quite intrigued by the idea of keeping them too...as long as I can persuade my hubby that they wont try to eat him or anything (he has a thing about shrimp n prawns n stuff - says they look at him funny! )