Betta Aquarium

[azn_fishy55]

My tanks is now a 78 degrees F is this okay?Do I have to get a heater now?

 

[megladonsharky]

78 is good for my tropical tank with heater ... so yes unless you betta likes it warmer

 

[azn_fishy55]

what test kit do I need for this tank?

 

[megladonsharky]

umm I am a bad girl .. dont have one .. I just to very very regular changes and periodically get h2o tested at lfs..

 

[greenmaji]

you need a heater to keep your temperature stable.. the temperture might drop to 75 at night and get as hi as 79 durring the day.. the fluctuations can kill fish.. just make sure the temperature doesnt change much..

 

[azn_fishy55]

are there any heaters suitable for small tanks like mine?

 

[greenmaji]

yes

 

[megladonsharky]

Go to Wal mart it is a small heater for 2 to 5 gallons

 

[azn_fishy55]

that is the one I have. It is pre-set as a tank warmer only. I never turns off unless you unplug it.

 

[An t-iasg]

Here's the Hydor mini heater. Although you can't set the temperature, this heater should keep the water temp. stable, especially at night. You may not need to run it during the day. It does run very hot if the tank is set under any kind of light.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=12087&N=2004+113767

 

[azn_fishy55]

i read the link and from the info provided...it functions like the heater I have now.

 

[oscarbreeder]

For a 2.5 gallon betta tank you cant beat a sponge filter and the mini heater.
Thats what I run in both my 2.5's.

 

[azn_fishy55]

I have my betta now. While my mom was looking at the tank she thought it was okay to buy a bigger tank for it. So I considered a ten gallon aquarium(because the others are too pricey). For practice with a planted tank I will make this tank a planted tank. Except I won't be able to use flourite or eco-complete. So does any one have any advice for a planted tank using regular gravel. I know I could use laterite but they don't think they sell it. I am going to use the same filter I am using with my betta now...will this help the tank cycle? I want to put a pair of coolie loaches and possibly some other fish, and again I am trying to make a bio-tope. This tank will have medium light and have CO2. Thank for ue time ^_^!!!

 

[megladonsharky]

well lets see bettas are asian that is open possibilties...

 

[greenmaji]

azn_fishy55... if you plan on having medium light and CO2 you really need a good substrate for the tank, layered substrate is a posibilty yet its a advanced technique in my oppinion.. but your LFS can order right about anything you would want you just need to ask the person that orders the merchandise, granted Im not talking about a big box petco type pet store.. And for a heavily planted tank the cycle is a bit different, the plants do the job of the bacteria bio-media pretty much gets in the way. but machanical filtration is still helpfull.. HTH

 

[azn_fishy55]

Well, there is another pet store I kow that might have some kind of substrate I can use because they have this huge planted tank right in front of their desk and it had a weird kind of substrate. It was like soil and gravel mixed together.

 

[azn_fishy55]

There has been a change in plans. Instead I will be using a used 20 gallon aquarium. I am going to have a Penguin 150 BIO-wheel HOB filter. And instead of a DIY CO2 system I will use Nutrafin CO2 Natural Plant System. I will use one bag of Eco-Complete mixed with sand and various sizes of gravel. Also with weekly supplements of Flourish Plant Supplement. I am able to get some of these items by ordering them off the "That Fish Place" catalog.

 

[azn_fishy55]

what are the ideal water parameters of a planted aquarium?

 

[greenmaji]

LOL... ideal? what do you mean.. the nutrients? let me see.. off the top of my head.. NO3- 10-15ppm. PO4 about 1 ppm.. check out the planted aquaria sections stickys.. it seems like your questions would be answered by them.. HTH

 

[azn_fishy55]

any fish that you can put with bettas and coolie loaches? BTW this tank will be an asian bio-tope.