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I'm having problems with my 5g hex tank because the filter takes up half the top and the light takes up the other half. Half the tank doesn't really get light no matter how strong of bulb I put in. Since I'm planning to use this tank for sparkling gouramis I was thinking about removing the filtration and buying a 2nd hood with light.
The setup currently is 1" of sand with a clover plant that I'm waiting to see if it grows alright in sand, 2 rock structures with tawian moss, and some duckweed that I will replace with other floating plants later. The duckweed keeps getting shoved back under the filter area so it doesn't get any light and dies. The moss toward the back is also doing alot worse than the moss at the front.
Will this setup work without water movement or am I going to have anearobic spots in the sand and junk settling everywhere? I'll have to see what wattage of bulb I can find since I was planning on putting in something like two 10watt and then use flourish excel.

Hiya Sham,

A small heater up top (or submersable) and small box filter (easy to hide behind decor and duckweed will not collect) on the bottom with some carbon and do the water changes regularly. Sparkling gouramis's needs similar to betta. Use a flow valve to lower the flow. This also frees up the top for an improved lighting situation.

Your other section of Taiwan moss will do better then !

"Will this setup work without water movement or am I going to have anearobic spots in the sand and junk settling everywhere?" - Stir up the sand occasionally or add MTS snails.

I think the gouramis may do without filtration as bettas also can but if I had a pair of sparkling gouramis I'd really prefer a filter described as above..

Your tank setup sounds nice



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