Tank Redone

[HandcuffedAngel]

So I redid the betta tank today and got some brine shrimp [frozen] for the cute little guy.

I do daily water changes since, as you will see in the photo, I don't have a heater or filter in there yet. I just started my job so I get paid this Friday. ^_^

Thanks to Nell and CANic for all of the helpful pointers. :)

http://files.photojerk.com/LilWurm/SeikaTank.jpg

"Hello, beautiful."
http://files.photojerk.com/LilWurm/SeikaReflection.jpg

I hope you like it thus far.

[Sorathien]

it looks good so far. the only problems i see is the dresser its sitting on only seems to have support on the two side edges with nothing supporting the center. a fish tank should have support all the way around the edge or it could crack. i would just get a small piece of plywood to set on the dresser with the tank ontop of that. some Home Depots have a "cull" pile of wood near their saw they use to cut wood for customers and if there is an extra piece someone doesn't want, they sell it in the cull pile for an extream discount. i got two pieces of 3/4" plywood that were 16x38" for $1 each.

[HandcuffedAngel]

Good eye! I didn't even think about that because I usually kept my hams up there but moved them for him. Haven't had fish in years so all the advice helps ...

I have got tons of crap I can stick under there for him, no problem! Thank you!

[mynoven]

I posted this on the breeding bettas thread, but saw this...so thought i would re-post:

Also, as a side note...if you get a filtration system and after it cycles...you will only be doing water changes once a month.....and only 50%...

That's all we do...it was weekly, then bi-weekly....so and so on....all the test kits say he is Aok!!

nice set up! r u getting more plants soon? You will need a top too because Bettas Jump!!

Oh, and every other month we do water changes twice a month.......just because......

[HandcuffedAngel]

I'll get a few more plants and cute decor, but not too much. I don't want plants overrunning all of his space. The big one is something he can hide in/behind and the small ones are mainly accents for the tank.

We have this adorable dragon piece at the shop that I wanted real bad but I had to fill my gas tank [lolz!] so I'm grabbing him up later.

I might get 2 more decent-sized plants and some small decoration pieces for him.

[mynoven]

I got my tnak set up from walmart....the all in one...minus the heater....Bate stays away from the actual filter...but he LOVES to play in the current!

I have a whisper heater and they have filters at petco/petsmart.....let me go look what kind it is!

[honeythorn]

I don't know how common they are over there, but i've always found that Fluval make good filters. The Fluval one would be good for your tank, it's small, and has an adjustable flow rate. the outflow pipe is direction adjustable too. I still have my fluval one in a drawer, coz I plan to set up my old ten gal once I move out. They are very very easy to set up, and If I remember correctly I think it comes with sponges already inside it to get you started.

[HandcuffedAngel]

I work at a fish shop so whatever I get I'll get from there but I want to know what people already have in their tanks and what they think works best.

I'm thinking a heater with a dial will be better, but I won't get another charcoal filter so I want to know what the best filters are that aren't charcoal.

[HandcuffedAngel]

I don't know how common they are over there, but i've always found that Fluval make good heaters. The Fluval one would be good for your tank, it's small, and has an adjustable flow rate. the outflow pipe is direction adjustable too. I still have my fluval one in a drawer, coz I plan to set up my old ten gal once I move out. They are very very easy to set up, and If I remember correctly I think it comes with sponges already inside it to get you started.

Okay. We sell those at the shop so I'll make note of that. Fluval it is.

[mynoven]

Oh, Bate loves hidey holes and plants...you should get him a cave or something.....

The filter is a whisper, and my heater is a submergable whisper.....Whisoers come with 2 year warranties....

[honeythorn]

Most filters now come with just plain sponges inside, and you have to buy the charcoal sponges seperatley. well, here you do anyway!:)

[HandcuffedAngel]

I am getting Seika a piece that he can hide in because he does hide from me whenever I come in the room. Lolz! It will probably be a small castle or something like that.

I can't remember if the dragon piece has a hole in it or not ... O_o

[HandcuffedAngel]

Sounds good, then. I'll just find a nice filter without charcoal. Lolz. I can ask my manager if he prefers one over the other. If not, I'll just find something I like that will fit nicely in my little betta tank.

LOLZ ... one of my co-workers was giving me so much gruff saying I spoil my betta way too much and that he does not belong in a 10 gallon, but in a small bowl. O_o

[Nell]

I have heard Fluval is good, too... but I've never tried them. I use Aquaclear filters. I like them because they have a large area for filter and bio media, and the carbon comes seperate so its optional. They also have an adjustable flow.
Another option for a betta tank is a sponge filter.

For heaters, I will only buy Visitherm Steath. They're one of the top rated heaters out there, are completely submersable, have an easily adjusted dial, have an auto shutoff feature which turns the heater off if it is out of water, and the casing is hard plastic instead of glass. They also have a lifetime warrenty and a good quality thermostat so they keep a constant temp and rarely fail. On the downside, they are a bit more pricey.

[HandcuffedAngel]

The site says Visitherm Stealth is around $30 for a 25 watt. Does that sound about right?

[mynoven]

are completely submersable, have an easily adjusted dial, have an auto shutoff feature which turns the heater, and the casing is hard plastic instead of glass. and a good quality thermostat so they keep a constant temp and rarely fail.

That's how the whisper is...it was only $15
And you have to turn it off 15 minutes before removing it from water

(noticed I deleted a couple of things ie:turns off outta water automatically, lifetime warranty and bit more pricey :))

Make sure theholes are big enough where he will not catch his fines on anything!

[HandcuffedAngel]

We'll see what I can get my hands on. ^_^ Everything sounds fine as long as you operate it properly.

I'd rather have a heater with a dial so the temperature will stay constant.

[mynoven]

Most of them have that...mine does anyway :)

[HandcuffedAngel]

We sell some that don't and it makes me nervous because I don't want the temperature fluctuating all the time.

[Nell]

Petsmart sells the heaters for pretty cheap on their website... $17 for a 50watt