Environment questions for Wild Bettas

**Mudskipper** · 18th Apr 2010, 09:03

OK, so I failed in my mission not to purchase anything before the end of the month and have since bought a 3 tier 2 foot stand. I plan on keeping one two-foot tank on the lowest level. 2 1foot cubes on each of the upper levels.

What is the best filtration system to set up for them? I really would like a nano-planted environment of sorts...in that I mean, I'd like some driftwood and plants, not just plain tank with the wild bettas.

1. Would a undergravel with powerhead be too strong?
2. Is an undergravel setup with air ok or not adequate?
3. I had initially thought of using an Eden 501 for each...I have one now, it's so small and cute...but I believe that I was told that the output would be too strong. Had thought of hooking it up to an undergravel to keep the bottom cleaner, but I don't think I'm going to know how to do that.

Also, what kind of substrate should I use? Plain gravel? Soil? If soil, what type would you all recommend. Not too expensive, if possible...is there any particular substrate that would help in keeping the PH at the right level?

Anything else I should know before setting up the cubes?

Thank you all so much for being so patient with me. I'm so obsessed with this that I can't even focus on anything else...least of all work. *snicker*

**johannes** · 19th Apr 2010, 09:53

Hi bro Mudskipper,

My suggestion is to use thin layer (max 1 cm thickness) of ADA amazonia or africana soil. The soil will naturally soften and make the water acidic, which is very suitable for wild bettas. The brown colour is also pleasing to the eyes and giving the tank the supposed wild look.

For filtration, i would recommend a small hang on filter for 1 ft cube and a small canister for 2 ft. However, a big hang on filter can also be used for a 2 ft tank.

The filter may seem small but for a pair or trio and coupled with weekly water change, it should be sufficient.

**kenny** · 19th Apr 2010, 10:36

this is interesting

What bettas are you planning to keep ?

**Mudskipper** · 19th Apr 2010, 11:54

Thanks Johannes. Will heed your advice. I realise that if I got 1 foot cubes that I would not be able to hang a filter on the back so I bought 2 1footx10inchx1foot tanks instead. Don't think that will adversely affect things, will it?

Will head down to Biotope to get some ADA soil that you recommended later this week too. With everything going the way it is, I will probably be in the market for my wild bettas in about 2 weeks after the tanks have cycled.

Cheers!

**Mudskipper** · 19th Apr 2010, 11:56

Hi Kenny. I hope to start off with a pair of Betta channoides or Betta foerschi. Then we'll see from there what I "absolutely" must have.

**johannes** · 19th Apr 2010, 12:09

Hi,

1footx10inchx1foot is fine too... not to worry..

(this size and 1 ft cube size is suitable for smaller wild bettas)

**Mudskipper** · 19th Apr 2010, 13:16

Hehehe, thanks for correcting the misspellings, Johannes. This shows that even writers like myself can get lasy and not check for proper spelling of scientific names.

Just read that these fish are really good jumpers and am worried about the height of the tanks. Must rethink this whole thing again. Can you tell I'm obsessive?

**nature beauty** · 19th Apr 2010, 16:41

Hi Bro,

Haha sorry can't help to drop a word but sure I can see you are obsessive cause i'm one of them too.

Welcome to the wild side wahahaha

**johannes** · 20th Apr 2010, 09:10

Wild bettas are good jumpers indeed, especially the mouthbrooders. One way is to cover the tank using nets (the thin and green/white/black colour ones available at lfs such as C328 and Y618 ), then you fasten the net with clips (can be bought at bookshops). If you use acrylic sheet (the ones with small holes) to cover the tank , it will trap heat and increase the temperature of the water, which is not so ideal for wild bettas. Most of the time, i will fill up the tank water to about 2/3 or 3/4 even though i am using nettings to cover the tank.

**kenny** · 20th Apr 2010, 11:03

To cover a small tank, you could also use metal wire mesh, the type that some shops used to tie riccia/moss on to. They are sold in 1ftx1ft sizes, I assume you could also ask the LFS to cut a larger piece.

The mesh can be bent to the size of the top of your tank and then used as a lid. However, it may be hard to cut holes for your filter or other equipment, or you could just leave a small gap at the side where the filter hoses are.

**Mudskipper** · 20th Apr 2010, 23:07

Good ideas for covering the tanks, guys. I may experiment a little...I do have a few DIY skills...hehehe. May end up more like a DISASTER than a DIY job...but we'll see. Thanks so much for the advise.

**dwarflala** · 22nd Apr 2010, 12:05

I use duckweeds as a covering... kinda dangerous... but it's been safe so far...

**spirit** · 22nd Apr 2010, 18:52

duckweeds.. they will cover the whole tank... sometime, i saw they swim surface to breath.. So, is it good to use duckweeds? dwarflala, what species you are keeping?

**dwarflala** · 23rd Apr 2010, 17:44

I've kept and am keeping, Uberis, channoides, rubra, pugnax and edithae..

duckweed help with shade
duckweed help if you have bubblenesters, a more natural approach.
duckweed help with nitrates

don't take my word bro, it's been working for me so far... just as long as there's nothing in the tank to spook the betta... but again, I might be just lucky. *hee*!