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Just a thought ... I'm very tempted to buy another Betta as I love my Otis so much but I think I've got some love for another one. (They are so addictive!)

My problem being I probably don't have enough electricity points for a full-on tank. So I'm wondering is there an optimal sized tank for a Betta that wouldn't require lights, heater and filter? I don't want to get something tiny as I hate to see them without any room. Also I've seen a free standing light unit I could use occasionally for a plant or when it's a bit chilly.

A friend of mine has a Betta in a bowl and although he blows lots of bubbles, his colour has faded and he's not as active as Otis. If it's not recommended I probably won't go ahead.

thanks

Last edited by fishymama at 04-Aug-2005 22:56

The bigger the better! Keeping the tank in a warm room will be ok for temp, and no light is no problem. Filters are really for your convenience, so you don't really NEED one. If you have a big tank then you can do less frequent water changes, and also big tanks don't have any rapid temp swings like little bowls would. So you can have a perfectly nice setup without lights, heaters and filters- just remember to keep up on the water changes. Arn't bettas great?!

fishymama

When you say "My problem being I probably don't have enough electricity points for a full-on tank"

Does this shortage of power outlets or too many outlets on the one circut (fuse) to cut through the technical terms.

If it is ok to use the one outlet go to bunnings and buy a good power board outlet with seperate switches. These are not cheap but areb very handy.

I have my Eheim Canister set up this way (see photo)

If you can increase the tank size then you can add divisions which the water can flow through.

Check Heidi for this she has an excellent set up.

Keith

keithgh attached this image:


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Thanks Keith

My main problem is that I live in a flat with a low number of power points. The ones we do have already have already have multiple plugs coming out of them (includes 2 fish tanks). I was just wondering if I could get a Betta without the full set-up. I'm not sure my circuits could take another tank! However I will certainly look into one of those power boards.

Thanks for your help.

I'm thinking Keith is referring to my 10 gallon set up with my 2 betta boys Ok that's what I'm hoping he is referring to

My setup for the 10 gallon is homemade and is easy enough to make.

For my setup I have the 10 gallon tank, ugf setup, plastic canvas, fishing line, craft needle...

You take 2 pieces of the plastic canvass that you cut to fit, (1 length/width of bottom, 1 length/width of back) fit together and sew them together with a whip stitch....

take another piece of plastic canvas, and cut it to be a "divider" it will need to be the same height and width of the tank. Estimate/guestimate/measure where the center of the "back" is. Stitch it here first, beginning on the bottom and going up. Then stitch across the bottom. This will secure it, and with gravel/substrate will hold up well (I have very little gravel and it holds up pretty much on it's own)

Now it gets a bit tricky, but is actually simple Take a piece that is the length of the tank, but only about 3-4 inches wide (whatever you have left from the original 2 pieces will work for this). Now you are going to sew it across the top, along the back creating kind of a flap/lid, but the lid/flap won't cover the entire top, it's the frame work to help hold things steady, and hold the lid up. Anyways sew it across.

Next take another piece that is the width of the tank, and about 4-5 inches (again using scraps is fine). You are going to sew this piece as well to the back going across, but it is going to be centered on the "divider". when you've stabalized it along the back, sew it down the middle to the divider.

Finally the last step (repeat this for each side) is going to be you flappy/lid. I'd do this even if you have a normal lid, simply to keep the guys from being overly active and bailing over or whatever else the silly boys might think of Take a piece of plastic canvass (like i said repeat this twice) and cut it the width, and almost 1/2 but not quite 1/2 the length (you already have some of the center divided, but you do want to overlap it). Sew these two pieces in turn to each side on top, along the back. Yes, the back is going to be getting kind of thick, but it becomes really stable...

Maybe if I get ambicious this weekend I'll post pictures of the one I did, but don't hold your breathsorry my energy comes and goes, and gets used in unexpected things

And if this isn't the idea keith had in mindi'm scared to think of describing my snakes nest of wires i have in the powerstripsit really is scarybut is an option as well....

Either way, going this way, you will only use 3 plugs; 1 airpump, 1 light, 1 heater...unless you go with more than that as a basic set up....hope the directions are clear enough, heidi


EDIT: a 10 gallon could be divided in a similar way for 3 bettas or 4 if you really wantedbut I wouldn't do more than 3. and if you wanted a larger tank, say a 20 long, you could go with 4 easily or 5/6 depending on your creativity...i didn't want to divide the length in half down the width so i'd only go with 4 or 5 on a 20 long, and 2 or 3 on a 10...hopefully that helps, and it's the same number of plugs as your small tank, and makes it so much easier to clean, I still wouldn't fill it totally up, only about 75-85%, makes it more difficult even with the "flappy/lid thingy" to jump outheidi


Last edited by houston at 05-Aug-2005 21:17

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Thanks Keith and Houston.

Wow, I'll certainly give that set up some thought. I have seen similar set ups and they look great. Would solve my problem of having another bettas but only using up one electricity point. My betta is in 10g so potentially I could half it and put another one in - I'd feel a bit guilty about halfing Otis' home. Or I could get another tank to home another 2-3 betta ... although my boyfriend would probably leave me! I'll do some investigating and let you know.

thanks for your time.

Last edited by fishymama at 08-Aug-2005 02:10