my betta tank questions

[bloomingroses]

I've decided to repurpose my 4.2 Gallon spare tank as a Betta tank, an idea that came to me last week. I've finally got everything set up and the betta is on its way. The tank had been cycled for about 6 weeks, but I tore it apart yesterday and reset the whole thing. However, the sponge filter has been in use for months beforehand, both in this tank and my sister's axolotl tank, so it still has beneficial bacteria. I've also reused the hardscape and plants from my other tank.

Here's a photo of the completed tank:




The plants include Java Fern, Water Wisteria, Blue Stricta, Flame Moss, and Gkento4t Duckweed. I'm wondering if more cover would be needed for a betta - I have plenty of extra Water Wisteria that could work as a temporary solution if needed. The tank looks smaller than it is due to its unusual dimensions, but it's actually much deeper on the other side, providing more floor space than you'd think. I can provide more photos if you'd like, though I'll probably end up rearranging it anyway.

As this is my first time owning a betta, I'd appreciate it if someone could confirm the following information. I've got the temperature set to 26 degrees Celsius (78.8 Fahrenheit) and I'm currently feeding Nutrafin Max Tropical Micro Fish Pellets with occasional frozen community food. The pH is 7.5, but this may decrease with the driftwood tannins. I'll also be measuring ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels in the morning.

I purchased the betta online from a reputable store - 7fishs.com - and here's the one I bought:




It's a female Fancy Crowntail, supposedly 3-4 months old, but I think she might be only 3 months old due to her short tail and fry-like body shape and colors. I wasn't planning on getting her, but I decided to take the risk. Can anyone tell me if she'll grow in size or if her body will color up?

Thanks in advance for any help and opinions - I appreciate it.

[velvet8]

I've got some concerns about your new betta setup. 4.2 gallons is a pretty small space for a betta, and since you tore apart the substrate, you might be facing a new nitrogen cycle - bacteria don't like being disturbed.

Temperature-wise, 26°C seems about right. However, when it comes to food, bettas are mainly carnivorous and would love some frozen food or high-quality options like OmegaOne Betta Buffet or Fluval Betta BugBites, which use whole ingredients instead of meal-based ones. It's also essential to mix up their food to keep things interesting.

As for pH, 7.5 might be a bit too high for bettas - they prefer a range of 6 to 7, with GH and KH below 6. And, of course, no ammonia, no nitrites, and no nitrates. You'll also want to maintain slow flow and avoid tankmates.

For water changes, it's best to do them weekly, matching the same temperature and parameters as the tank.

More plants, including floating ones, would be great for providing cover and hiding spots for your betta.

Also, since your betta is a "fancy" Crowntail, you should know that the marble gene can cause color and pattern changes between 6-12 months old, so be prepared for some surprises.

[velvet8]

I found some inspiration from well-planted betta tanks online that I thought I could use for ideas on how to improve my own setup. I noticed a lot of them had a good mix of floating plants, mid-water plants, and plants that attach to decorations. They also seemed to have a lot more plant cover than my tank currently does, which makes sense given what you said about bettas needing plenty of hiding spots.

One thing I did find interesting was that some of these tanks had a lot of open swimming space, which I'm not sure if I can replicate given the shape of my tank. But I did see some ideas for using plants to create little 'rooms' or areas within the tank that the betta can explore. I'm thinking of adding some more water wisteria or maybe even trying out some other types of plants that can help create this kind of environment.

I'm also curious to know more about the types of plants that are best suited for a betta tank. I've got Java Fern, Water Wisteria, Blue Stricta, Flame Moss, and Gkento4t Duckweed in my tank right now, but I'm open to adding more if it will help create a better environment for my betta.

[burglar_4]

I think it's coming along great, the setup looks nice. Adding a few more plants would be beneficial for your betta though. I've heard they're really fun to have, so I'm sure you'll enjoy this new addition.

[daisymay]

More plants and some floating ones would be a great addition, allowing the betta to rest near the surface. I also recommend doing the "tights test" on the hardscaping and wood. If the tights snag on any part of the wood or rocks when stretched over your hand, it's likely sharp enough to cause damage to the betta's fins. Consider adding some extra cover to prevent any potential harm.

[bloomingroses]

Thanks velvet8 for your input, I've actually read that bettas can do alright in pH up to 8 as long as it's stable and I'm doing regular water changes, since higher pH does make toxins more hazardous. I know 4.2 gallons isn't ideal, but it does beat the minimum of 3 gallons and I'll be keeping a close eye on water chemistry with frequent changes. I've added more Gkento4t duckweed for now and I'm also floating some water wisteria, as I couldn't find any bigger floating plants like frogbit or water lettuce. I've planted some more in the tank as well, but it grows ridiculously fast, so we'll see how that goes. Planning to visit a huge aquarium store in a couple of weeks to find some more suitable plants, and I'll swing by the pet shop tomorrow to pick up some proper betta food. My local water supplier says the GH is 5.5, and I've got a bubble filter for low flow, as recommended. No tank mates, of course. Thanks again for all the advice.

[velvet8]

I'd just like to say that keeping fish in extreme parameters might not be the best idea, even if they can tolerate it. There's a big difference between what a fish can handle and what actually makes it thrive. From my own experience, my Betta CT did amazingly well in a tank with a pH of 6 to 6.5 and GH/KH of 4 to 6, and it lived for 7 years.

[florapen]

Congrats on the new betta. I wanted to add some thoughts on the setup. Since you're using the sponge filter from the axolotl tank, that's a great start as it likely has beneficial bacteria already. However, I do want to mention that growing beneficial bacteria in an empty tank requires an ammonia source for the bacteria to feed. So, just keeping a filter on in an empty tank won't be enough if you don't provide a food source, like fish food to rot.

To be on the safe side, I'd recommend getting a bottled bacterial supplement to help boost the biofilter, especially during the first week with the new fish. Also, having Seachem Prime on hand is a good idea, as it can instantly bind to ammonia and nitrite for 24-48 hours without making it inaccessible to bacteria. This way, you can check the parameters when the fish arrives and adjust accordingly, giving your biofilter time to find its equilibrium with the new biological load.

[bloomingroses]

Thanks for the advice, I've actually added some beneficial bacteria to the tank and put in some fish food at the start of the cycle to help things along, and I'm keeping a close eye on the water parameters. Everything seems to be running smoothly for now, which is a relief. I've attached a photo of my betta in her new tank - the wisteria is just a temporary solution until I can get some more suitable plants. I really appreciate all the help and advice, it's great to be part of a community that's so supportive and willing to lend a hand.

[wyrmhide]

Lovely setup and a gorgeous betta to match. I appreciate the effort you put into creating a proper environment for your new pet, it's really great to see people going the extra mile for their fish.