BettaDave
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Hello everyone,
I'm starting my first aquarium in well over a decade and as I was a child the last time I had a tank this is my first "serious" setup. I'm doing a planted tank (using eco-complete substrate) as I want to have a more natural setup that maintains itself to a large degree aside from water changes and the occasional issues with water (ph level changes, etc.). I bought random plants for my first tank which is a fluval spec 5 for a single butterfly betta. I bought a "Eco-Bio Stone" to help start colonizing beneficial bacteria (if anyone has used this product please let me know your results) and I'm using the stock lighting (7500k LED) and stock filtration for the moment. The plants I have are:
I'm starting my first aquarium in well over a decade and as I was a child the last time I had a tank this is my first "serious" setup. I'm doing a planted tank (using eco-complete substrate) as I want to have a more natural setup that maintains itself to a large degree aside from water changes and the occasional issues with water (ph level changes, etc.). I bought random plants for my first tank which is a fluval spec 5 for a single butterfly betta. I bought a "Eco-Bio Stone" to help start colonizing beneficial bacteria (if anyone has used this product please let me know your results) and I'm using the stock lighting (7500k LED) and stock filtration for the moment. The plants I have are:
Needle leaf Rotala
(Rotala Wallichii)
Betta Plant
( Cryptocoryne Wendtii "green")
Rosette Sword
(Echinodorus Parviflorus)
Wisteria
(Hygrophila Difformis)
Malaysian Red
(Microsorium Pteropus)
I have many questions about this since this is my first setup. First I'm curious what I should use to help the bacteria flourish during the nitrogen cycle process and if I should use the included activated charcoal while attempting the nitrogen cycle?
Second, do I need CO2 for these particular plants and if so what's the best "cheapest" manner in which to provide that as I'm a student so I don't have a large budget.
Third, which species of fish/inverts (for tank maintenance) work best with a betta as I know they are very aggressive to basically anything that moves in their territory.
If there's any other helpful tips/advice you feel like sharing it would be appreciated. I currently have my Betta in a smaller tank which in the future will be used as a "hospital tank" until my fluval setup runs through the nitrogen cycle.
(Rotala Wallichii)
Betta Plant
( Cryptocoryne Wendtii "green")
Rosette Sword
(Echinodorus Parviflorus)
Wisteria
(Hygrophila Difformis)
Malaysian Red
(Microsorium Pteropus)
I have many questions about this since this is my first setup. First I'm curious what I should use to help the bacteria flourish during the nitrogen cycle process and if I should use the included activated charcoal while attempting the nitrogen cycle?
Second, do I need CO2 for these particular plants and if so what's the best "cheapest" manner in which to provide that as I'm a student so I don't have a large budget.
Third, which species of fish/inverts (for tank maintenance) work best with a betta as I know they are very aggressive to basically anything that moves in their territory.
If there's any other helpful tips/advice you feel like sharing it would be appreciated. I currently have my Betta in a smaller tank which in the future will be used as a "hospital tank" until my fluval setup runs through the nitrogen cycle.