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Im resetting up a spare 10 gal for another betta. The family ( dh and kids) wants it to look like a saltwater tank. Any ideas on how to make it look saltwater and be betta safe?? the betta is a dk blue combtail. Also any betta safe tankmates that would help with the saltwater theme??

I would suggest looking into getting some texas holey rock, used for chichlid tanks a lot. You'll obviously not be using plants so your rock formations will be how you scape the tank. I generally don't like too many "shipwreck" type ornaments (mainly because they're not proportional). If you can find a model ship in a toy store that would be big enough to look just right, try that hidden in among the rocks. I seem to remember seeing fake corals in a LFS, depending on what you find you might try that... And go with actinic lighting the blue/purple shade just screams out SW wannabe...in a good way .

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Yea they sell these life like rubber corals that wave in the current, plus you could go with sand on the bottom.

You could get one or two freshwater clams. They'll burrow into the substrate a bit and filter-feed, so ocasionally you'll see them "spit" a plume of sand and debris.
Some freshwater crabs would be cool, but probably not advised, as they would probably shred the fins of your betta.
perhaps 3-4 kuhli loaches for that eel-like look? They would appreciate caves and hollows in whatever rock you use.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

So the betta wont shred his fins on the holey rock??

Sand substrate can be done, ill look around for the fake coral stuff.

Any other ideas- cant get fw clams around here.

fw mussles are good if ya cant get the clams

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''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

So the betta wont shred his fins on the holey rock??

Hmmm I'd forgotten about that, not sure if you'd be able to find some that's been polished.....

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could you sand the rock so its not all pointy (sorry if that made no sense i dont know much about aquarium rocks)

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''All the clown fish and yellow tangs in the world cant save you now!''

perhaps use lights that has some blueish tint? where can you buy freshwater mussels or clams??

Took a look around some lfs'- the fake corals are neon orange and green, no polishes holey rocks, cant get any fw mussels or clams-Looks like the only thing i can do is smooth river rock, sand substrate, and blue lighting, and i dont think its gonna look right....

Any other ideas??

Faux coral(Looks pretty realistic)
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/NavResults.cfm?ref=3532&subref=BA&N=2004+113541




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what about that coralline coloured adhesive? could you mock up some coralline algae on a river rock pile?

fake coral and anemones (find good ones) are must-haves, and the blue tinted lighting is good too (do NOT get a marine blue bulb as the FW algae goes nuts over those.)

Maybe a cherry shrimp?

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Well plans have changed- i recently ordered some plants for my 55 and ordered a few to many- so the betta tank is gonna be planted, and in the future, dont know when for sure, we are going to use this idea with a much larger tank, and african cichlids. Part of the reason is most of the fake corals, dont look betta safe.

thanks every body for your help,and ill post pics of the 55 when i get it all planted the way i want, Thanks again.

holly