Thinking Of Getting A Betta

[justjon]

Thanks - can anyone reply to my questions above?

Also, I can see you have a heater guard, i really need one of these as i'm a bit worried about my fish getting burnt!.. any idea if I can just buy the guard alone? Although, it's probably not worht it as I can buy both heater + guard for about £7... is a 50w heater ideal for that size tank?

 

[tibby25731]

You can always make adjustments to the filter flow if need be, wait and see what your betta makes of it. I have 2 bettas who actually swim into the slight current on purpose, they seem to like it! My others are NOT impressed with current though! Plenty of DIY things you can do to slow it though... I have wrapped a piece of a pair of tights around the outlet and secured with an elastic band before, this seems to work fine.
I'd suggest you take the filter sponge out of your new filter and replace it fully with cycled sponge from your other tank, just cut it to size if need be, and pop the new sponge into your cycled filter, it will populate with bacteria pretty quick. That way your betta won't have to go through a cycle. Don't do this until you have brought the betta home though, those bacterias need his poop to feed on!
I wouldn't worry about the heater personally, mine don't have guards and have no trouble. i don't find they get that hot anyway!
Regarding the mirrired background - depends on your bettas. one of my tanks has a mirror back and at first, the bettas were flaring at themselves. But now they don't seem to notice at all! I have some silk plants in the back to mask it a little too.
Make sure to take pics of your betta when you get him! We love to see new fish!