So,... I scored a nice 10G tank with a hood, filter, heater, decor, water test kit, food, chemicals, the WHOLE nine yards.
Sorry, I just realized the picture was dark. :/ Oh well, you get the generalized idea. I'm not really intending to use the decor and definitely not the neon clown puke gravel. But it's an awesome score none-the-less, and am grateful.
So as I was cleaning out said items, I realized that this tank was running up until very recently. Water in the gravel, not rancid or anything, but just wet. Also, there were these fresh little plants:
Which I placed into tank water until I get another package of the deeper substrate. Question is... What plant is it? I found these and some small snails (which I did not keep) in the substrate as I was cleaning out the tank. Nice to know it was a healthy tank before I received it.
So, I ended up setting it up and starting the cycling process. I had the brown gravel from a previous betta set up, which still was in water with the moss ball up until a couple days ago.
I need to grab a new filter pad after work today and stuff that in there along with the new gravel.
Here's where we start with the new 10g! I'm excited. The only potential downside is the lighting is a string of LED's, but I think they'll last for awhile before I have to concern myself with changing it out. By then, I'll probably either replace the hood, or buy another string. We'll see.