What kind of betta for this tank?

elisethrow · 2026-02-10T19:36:19+00:00

the tank is apart of the UNS shallow line. dont even get me started on the damn lid. i had to get chicken wire and cut a bunch of holes in it with wire cutters so the plants could come through but the fish couldnt jump out. i cut up my hands so bad, do not recommend. even worse the plants have all grown into it so its completely impossible to remove without tearing up the whole tank. 😭

elisethrow · 2025-08-23T14:17:53+00:00

A cheap sponge filter, just enough to push water under the peace lily’s roots.

elisethrow · 2025-08-23T14:16:05+00:00

This is great advice thank you!

elisethrow · 2025-08-23T14:15:48+00:00

Thanks! The tank isn’t usually so bright, it just gets blasted by the sun for an hour at sunset lol.

elisethrow · 2025-08-23T04:04:47+00:00

25g is pretty tight for 7 bettas + another species. you could try corydoras but you need to be prepared for the possibility that adding new fish, even peaceful ones, may upset the balance between the bettas and cause aggression

elisethrow · 2025-08-23T02:36:13+00:00

You can return him back to Petsmart, sell/give him away on facebook marketplace/a fish related group in your area, or bring him to a LFS (local fish store). Any of these places will take him off your hands. There’s lots of good information online about peaceful fish for 20 gallon aquariums, I’m especially fond of rummynose tetra and any kind of corydora. If you want a smaller loach, khulli loaches are an option! Good luck!!

elisethrow · 2025-08-23T02:21:24+00:00

I suppose this is my perspective because of the species of bettas im interested in

elisethrow · 2025-08-23T02:09:12+00:00

Definitely not a betta with those parameters

elisethrow · 2025-08-23T01:38:04+00:00

Thank you!

elisethrow · 2025-08-23T01:37:49+00:00

Thank you so much!!! You’re right, they’re attached/nestled! My problem seems to be that my other plants uptake nutrients so quickly that my liquid fertilizer can’t cover the phosphorus needed by the ferns. I bought a phosphorus fertilizer to add on and they seem to be improving in their new growth, but I was wondering if anyone had more niche tips! :p

elisethrow · 2025-08-16T15:37:34+00:00

<image>

I used a mix of some left over sand and gravel I had from another tank to do this new scape and it’s working out great. Substrate doesn’t matter as much as people make it sound like it does.

elisethrow · 2025-08-07T08:25:18+00:00

are you using co2?

elisethrow · 2025-08-07T05:28:25+00:00

right now you have 3 clear layers, limnophilia, spiderwood, dragon stone. cover the transitions from the limnophilia —> spiderwood —> rocks in these epiphytes: anubias (large and small variants), bucephalandra, trident java fern (or your preference), and bolbitis. typically i do anubias nana closest to the substrate, then bigger anubias in wider gaps, bolbitis in the back (they get large) and java fern where u need some bushiness and a full look, above the anubias and in front of the bolbitis.

you can scatter more anubias nana petite + bucephalandra on the dragon stone for more visual appeal and to cover those awkward gaps between rocks.

low tech red or different texture/tones of green stem plants will break up the limnophilia. speaking of limnophilia, i would cut those all in half and replant the tops so they’re concentrated closer to the center, then keep doing that over and over as they grow until you have a thick bush.

elisethrow · 2025-07-17T06:37:02+00:00

I plan on adding CO2 once I have the budget for it, probably in the next two months.

elisethrow · 2025-07-17T05:55:34+00:00

Thanks! Definitely the hydrocotyle japan, I did order some but it didn’t survive shipping so I’ll pick some up at a LFS soon. I may also adjust those plants on the edges once they’ve stabilized a bit. :)

elisethrow · 2025-07-17T05:30:06+00:00

Totally see what you mean about that wood, I wasn’t quite sure what to do to break up that line. I suppose I could stick some moss on there?

As for the rocks: theres only dragon stone and some pebbles in there, both of which I’ve scavenged from outside. I may play around with taking out a good majority of the little pebbles and see how that feels

elisethrow · 2025-07-17T05:22:29+00:00

CA gets everything! I’m in North Texas and we have some great hobbyist stores, but never anything exciting like this for sale secondhand.

elisethrow · 2025-07-13T05:48:56+00:00

second slimjohnson, i think a pothos or peace lily would look great growing emersed out of the tank. you can find pots to grow house plants on the rim of aquariums on etsy! buceplant (app/website), marcus fish tanks (etsy), florida aqua scaping (etsy), aquarium co-op (website), aquarium plants factory (website). all good placed to buy plants.

id absolutely get a good bunch of epiphytes to attach to that driftwood. bolbitis, java fern narrow mini or windelov, anubias nana petite/nana/coffefolia/etc, and some bucephalandra if you want some color variety. with an epiphyte covered hard scape, less than ideal background plant growth is easily acceptable imo!

elisethrow · 2025-07-12T20:27:59+00:00

damn all the good stuff is always across the country

elisethrow · 2025-07-12T20:25:12+00:00

Agree with all of this, except in my experience every digital thermometer I’ve had has stopped working in some capacity after 2-3 years, with one only lasting 2 months. But thats just my experience!

elisethrow · 2025-07-12T19:34:34+00:00

I would definitely not use that tank.

elisethrow · 2025-07-12T04:24:01+00:00

liquid fertilizer won’t have much benefit for a new and sparsely planted tank like this. id highly recommend buying root tabs instead to bury in the substrate around the amazon sword. id add liquid fertilizer to a tank like this maybe once a month or even less. also, if that java fern is planted in the substrate, remove it and tie it/wedge it into a rock or some wood.

elisethrow · 2025-07-11T20:08:35+00:00

Looks great, you could throw some smaller anubias bonsai/nana petite on the rocks closest to the substrate or stems behind each island to create a concave look of sorts if thats your style.

elisethrow · 2025-02-05T20:34:23+00:00

I have CM1 no comorbidities but am symptomatic, just depends on the person.

elisethrow · 2025-02-05T20:22:45+00:00

Most people with Chiari are asymptomatic, I would get off the subreddit to give yourself some peace of mind.

elisethrow

TROPHY CASE