Help me put together the perfect luxury home for a Betta.

[Billbug68]

Yeah man, like I said before, you're over complicating it. Similar temp to the touch is fine, and don't worry about the ph. I keep a plastic cup with my water change bucket. Sometimes using a cup is easier than powering the bucket or siphoning the water in. Lower the bottom of the cup in first and slowly tilt it till your even with the waters surface, so you don't disturb your substrate.

 

[Rcguerra]

Also, what are you doing to the water to make it more normal? My water is 8.3pH and my betta adjusted to it just fine.

Here we go:

 

[Bearchumjs]

Here we go:

I would suggest not using anything to adjust for pH. Your betta will do fine in a high pH. If you don't use chemicals to change the pH then you don't have to worry about messing it up and having a crash.

 

[Rcguerra]

My tank is a 7.7 gallon, but with the rocks and substrate, I might have less than 5 gallons of waterin there. Let's say 5 to be conservative.
50% of that is 2.5 gallons, I can do that with a gallon jug.

I am going to start working on it right now, be back with an update soon.

 

[Rcguerra]

Ok. The "gallon technique" with the "small cup assisting" works well. Little minor disturbance of the landscape due to inexperience on my end, but all fixable.

Temperature on the tank went from 77.7 to 79.1F, using the "finger texhnique". The Betta was quite intrigued by the current (and probably liked the slightly warmer water) because he managed to stay exactly under the current, no matter how different spots I tried to add water away from him.

Here are my results, before and after. Besides "betta bowl plus" to neutralize chlorine, no ferts, salts, PH reducer etc were used.

(Left is before WC, right is within 5 minutes after)

 

[Rcguerra]

Here is a shot of my madagascar. The big leaf is new (under my lights and ferts), the one next to it is the "original size". I was expecting new leaves to be more compact, but I guess I was wrong. Very wrong...


Also, as an attachment, the roots of my baby tears ended up exposed due to my noobiness doing PWC.

 

[Billbug68]

Looking good! My betta always swims under the new water too. Silly fish.

 

[Rcguerra]

I would suggest not using anything to adjust for pH. Your betta will do fine in a high pH. If you don't use chemicals to change the pH then you don't have to worry about messing it up and having a crash.

Thank you. I am no longer using it.

 

[Rcguerra]

I will give another 24hr before another PWC.

 

[shellieca]

Looking good! You're Betta is going to enjoy his life! As previously states don't worry about adjusting the Ph as that can cause problems. You'll get the hang of it all.

 

[tropicalfishlady]

Thank you Brian. Yes, I got two of those. I am considering having 2 or 3 tanks next to each other, forming one single aquascape. Something like the attached image.

Wow will.look great !!!

 

[Rcguerra]

Today Nitrites was .50 so I just did a PWC to bring it down to .25 as ilustrated.

I also returned the water sprite and got some other plants for my left corner. Pictures as soon as the water looks better.

 

[Rcguerra]

This one might be more appropriate

 

[Bearchumjs]

What are the other plants that you got?

 

[Rcguerra]

I might need some help with that...

 

[Rcguerra]

I also was instructed that now that my ludwigia has roots, they will grow better under my strong light and Carbon if trimmed. This is my tank after adding new plants, removing the water sprite and trimming the ludwigia.

 

[Maxkolbe]

Looks great!

 

[FishingMouse]

I might need some help with that...

I think #1 is echinodorus angustifolia 'Vesuvius'. I really wanted it so I did a lot of research, but there was none in my area and now I don't really have room haha. That's what it looks like, but an expert might know better

 

[Rcguerra]

My little friend asked me to let you guys know he is very happy with his new home, but now this is HIS territory.

 

[shellieca]

We're very happy he's so happy!