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Hey

I've got fake plants stuffed into my two betta tanks, but I'm thinking of giving some live plants a shot in there. I wasn't going to, but what the heck. There are nice tiny plants out there.

I'll post picks of the tanks below so you can get an idea, but it looks kind of cramped with the fakes. I may have to take out the pebble caves and provide some kind of haven within the plants in which they can feel secure.

Both tanks have 15w of lighting (15w tubular incandescent). In the 2.5 gal, it is quite brite, but in the 3 gal, it is dim. I think that is because either the bulb is bad or because they have an extra clear plastic shield (light must pass through two plastic shields).

I'm thinking of these:

[link=Narrow-Leaf Dwarf Subulata to 4 inch]http://www.azgardens.com/images/9root5.jpg" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link]

[link=Anubias Nana Petite]http://www.azgardens.com/images/AnubiasnanaPetite.gif" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link]

[link=Crypt Willisii]http://www.azgardens.com/images/willisii.gif" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link]

I need a center piece plant and not sure which. I figured I can get lots of 10 of each of the above and split it between my two tanks.

The 2.5 gallon is shorter than the 3 gallon. Both are somewhat narrow in footprint.

My concern is algae in such a tiny tank. A single betta resides in each. Filtration is UGF.

A second concern is nutrients for the roots. Bettas don't provide a whole lot of poop. I don't know if putting something like Flourish Tabs is a good idea given the UGF. I know it breaks down into tiny pieces and I can see them getting sucked down into the plate and up through the riser.

In general, what kind of fertilizer would be good for such a tiny tank. It will be difficult to measure without overdosing.

Nuts - I forgot to add the pics. Here's the 2.5 gal.

Filter on this one is strong and I believe water is being pulled down well through the gravel.

Cory_Di attached this image:


Last edited by Cory_Di at 14-Mar-2005 22:17[/font]

Here's the 3 gallon.

The filter on this one is not as strong as I would like, in spite of putting a stronger pump on than the one provided.

Cory_Di attached this image:


Last edited by Cory_Di at 14-Mar-2005 22:17[/font]

Hi Cory,

As a center piece you can get a echinodorus parviflorus, i know most profiles say they can reach up to 10in, mine have never grown more than up to 3in, they are hardy and have great colors and will thrive under that light.

Crypt willisii is also a good choiche, but it's a really really sow grower, so might want to go ahead and get many pieces if you want to cover a broader area. Another good option of a crypt is Parva, also a slow grower, but if you add a fert tab near then they will be ok.

Another good option with that light might be Hemianthus callitrichoides, this has amore bushy look it;s really undemanding except for light which you already covered. fast grower, grows and propagates from runners and cuttings. The tiny leaves will look a lot more in proportion with the tank size.

Micranthemum umbrosum is almost the same, the difference is that the leaves are a little bit biger. also a very easy noble plant.

My beta loves to rest on the leaves of a Hydrocotyle verticillata, it's an awesome plant but kind of difficult at least it has be to me, i just figured out after a long time what she really wants aside from high light and rally clean water, iron is a good idea. If kept timmed, it will form small round bushes taht look wonderful in any tank.