7 Gallon Betta Tank – It Begins!
Hi there! I was about to jump head first into the world of hi-tech planted tanks (coming from over a decade in Reef tanks) but the new Waterbox Clear Pro I plan on using won’t be shipping for a few months so in the interim I decided to set up a little planted Betta tank.
The Setup
After some back and forth on tank size, I picked up an Ultum Nature Systems 30c from Aquarium Design Group (ADG) in Houston, along with some river stones and a few sticks. Lightly planted and low tech is the plan for this tank.
For a filter, I’m just using one of those little corner foam filters with this nifty little air pump. Totally silent and sticks to the back glass!
And for lighting, I got the ONF Flat Nano. I wanted something that had some dimming capability.
The lighting I’m using is the ONF Flat Nano. It has several different brightness levels and it’s strong enough to grow Monte Carlo on the substrate, even with some plants at the surface providing some shade. I use a bluetooth timer to automatically turn it on and off every day.
The Betta
Of
My kids promptly named him Gerald. I thought it was a pretty good name so we went with it. Hello, Gerald! I hope you enjoy your new home. Gerald had no issues eating Hikari bloodworms and BugBites right away, and he is now starting to eat New Life Spectrum Betta Pellets.
Plants
Now it’s time to try adding some plants! I can grow coral in my sleep but when it comes to freshwater plants I’m a complete newbie. I figured moss would be fairly easy so I got some Java Moss. For a green plant I could try planting in the substrate I picked up some Pennwort (Hydrocotyle Sibthorpiodes). And then I took a chance on some Cryptocoryne Albida Red.
So that about gets us up to speed on this little planted Betta tank! The tank has cycled and I have now switched to making my own water using RO/DI and Salty Shrimp Mineral GH/KH+ to add back in vital minerals. I am dosing ThriveS and Excel about every
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2 Comments
Count Krunk
Hello Dennis!
What sort of light is that? I know you are on the high tech train, but have you heard of the Diane Walsted “el natural” style of freshwater aquarium?
admin
Yes! Been researching for the big tank and have read a bit on the Walsted method. 🙂
That light is called the ONF Flat Nano.