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This is what I am thinking about for my first Betta Tank
It was Falstaf's tank that finally convienced me and the wife had no problems with it all.

Delbarb triangular tank 20 Lt = 5.28 US Gall Height and width 30cm = 12ins see photo.

25W heater

An internal/canister type filter lph120 or 240 lph, or a corner internal box filter using noodles and filter medium

One male variety to be decided.

Also in tank ? Cories either Neon’s, or similar small fish. What would be the recommended number of each?

Plants not decided yet could be on availability. Above the water line there will be plants including some of the Air plants varieties

There will be one large piece of driftwood extending well out of the tank, like Falstaf’s which an Aqu will get easily for me

I have located a Jebo light that will clip on to the side. The type of globe/fluoro to be worked out as I have no idea.

Any constructive criticisms or recommendations will be greatly appreciated.


Keith

keithgh attached this image:


Last edited by keithgh at 28-Feb-2005 00:14[/font]

Last edited by keithgh at 28-Feb-2005 20:00

Last edited by keithgh at 28-Feb-2005 20:36

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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make sure you put a cover on it, bettas like to jump!

Steph

---

I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.
~ Mae West

How many gallons does it hold? I have no idea how to figure out the volume from those measurements.

I'm composing a list of fish that work in small tanks (under ten gallons) here so you can take a look there and see if any of those appeal to you as betta tank mates. Obviously, there's a few there that wouldn't be a good idea (endlers being perfect size for snack food, guppies having too long and too tempting of tails, etc), but might give you an idea of what would fit. Of course, I just posted that thread, so the list is by no way complete.

If you use an internal filter, it will take up room in the tank, but the one I run on my five gallon minibow is practically silent, and easily adjustable to three or four speeds. The veiltail male I have in there, with his extremely long tail, has no problems whatsoever getting around and seems quite happy.

If you decided to add cories to the tank (depending on size of tank?), you'd probably want to go with one of the varieties of pygmy cories. Because the smaller varieties of cories depend on a school moreso than larger varieties, six would be ideal. If you went in that direction, you'd probably be stocked with just the bettas and school of cories.

Depending on the lighting, you'd probably be best sticking with lowlight plants. I have crypts, anubias, and java fern in my five gallon tank. They do quite well. You, of course, would have to get hold of the smaller variety of crypts, depending on the height of the tank. I believe I have lutea and willisi in mine.

I personally love the design of Falstaf's tank and wouldn't mind setting up a similar one of my own. In response to the comment about bettas jumping, I have to say it depends on the betta (and doesn't so much depend on personality and such?). I have one betta that constantly startles me when he jumps up to splash against the cover of his tank. Most of my other bettas have never even tried to jump. I've also had a betta that jumped into the kitchen sink while I was cleaning out his tank!

I would perhaps suggest keeping the water level low if you don't care to put a cover on the tank. Or, perhaps, get hold of some plastic canvas and cut an appropriately shaped piece so that the driftwood can stick out of the tank while still keeping a lid on the betta's possible jumping antics. However, that would kind of interrupt with the simple beauty of the design, wouldn't it? Perhaps you can get a sheet of plexi or glass cut to size? Something that doesn't obstruct the view, while still covering the tank... Maybe keep the water level low so the betta wouldn't have the ability to jump out until you figure out if he's a jumper?

Edit: Woah... sorry, didn't realize I'd written a novel!

Last edited by Kitten at 28-Feb-2005 14:37

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Thank you Kitten for that lengthy reply I have added the US Gall 5&1/4+ as well as Lt. One of the reason for going larger is so that I can have the water level low, about 3ins, 7cm from the top. Until things settle down I will be having a shade cloth top.

Can you give me more info re the filter please.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

The filter I have on my five gallon is what came with the Minibow package. [link=This]http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441806676&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030565&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1109648053909" style="COLOR: #C0C0FF[/link] filter is the one I mentioned... very quiet and has an adjustable speed.

I use a [link=Whisper]http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441779661&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030560&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1109648187743" style="COLOR: #C0C0FF[/link] 20 on my 10 gallon, which is also very quiet, and has the flow control. It is, however a HOB filter, and perhaps not what you are looking for in this case. [link=Aquaclear]http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441776763&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030560&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1109648187922" style="COLOR: #C0C0FF[/link] filters are quite similar.

I have no experience with corner filters or filters of that sort. I have heard them mentioned in such cases as breeding fish, but don't know how effective they are in a permanent setup. You'd have to get another opinion in that case.

I personally, prefer the idea of either the internal or HOB filters, providing it has flow control. No sense in blowing your betta buddy around the tank!

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~

Kitten

Thank you every bit of info helps. Its all new to me working this small

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

I personally have used many different filters on small tanks like that. In my experience, mechanical filtration with a low gph rating is good for bettas. Whisper filters work relativly well, corner filters and sponge filters are good, but they create too much water movement for the ammount of filtration that they actually provide. Perhaps a very small penguin filter might work. I'm just not sure if penguin filters go small enough. Make sure everything that you put in the tank passes the panty hose test (if it snags on the pantyhose when u run it through it, then it can shred a betta's fins.)