I am starting up an 8 gallon aquarium to keep Bettas in

[Turbocks]

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This is my recently purchased 8 gallon aquarium that I bought used but it does not have any leaks and I got the tank itself for 50 dollars with the entire setup going at approximately 100 dollars in total.

I did not have much in terms of cable length so I had to use an extension cord for the cables to properly reach as they were much too short to reach the wall outlet.
I only added the water and dechlorinator today and I have yet to add sand and plants but I will do so later as for livestock I will start by adding some snails and shrimps and then when my tank is cycled I will add a single Betta fish as they are quite beautiful and have long fins that are mesmerizing.

I am thinking of starting a YouTube channel like my old YouTube channel called axelrodi mansion that I deleted along with my Gmail account where I shared videos of my fish which is what I was doing with my 145 liter aquarium at my dad's house where I gained valuable experience and knowledge in fish keeping so I should be ready for keeping a smaller more challenging tank.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

.View attachment 144097
This is my recently purchased 8 gallon aquarium that I bought used but it does not have any leaks and I got the tank itself for 50 dollars with the entire setup going at approximately 100 dollars in total.

I did not have much in terms of cable length so I had to use an extension cord for the cables to properly reach as they were much too short to reach the wall outlet.
I only added the water and dechlorinator today and I have yet to add sand and plants but I will do so later as for livestock I will start by adding some snails and shrimps and then when my tank is cycled I will add a single Betta fish as they are quite beautiful and have long fins that are mesmerizing.

I am thinking of starting a YouTube channel like my old YouTube channel called axelrodi mansion that I deleted along with my Gmail account where I shared videos of my fish which is what I was doing with my 145 liter aquarium at my dad's house where I gained valuable experience and knowledge in fish keeping so I should be ready for keeping a smaller more challenging tank.

My son had a very nice "desktop" aquarium this size. Betas appreciate live plants...as will the snails and shrimps. Just be careful because the small snails can multiply and quickly take over, and some snail species actually release toxins...know what you are getting. Personally, I might just stick with the little shrimp...they are good little workers.

 

[WhitewaterWoman]

I had aquaria when I was younger. I got a lot of enjoyment out of them. I had some betas for a while. It’s good to see you’re giving him a lot of space. I look forward to more photos!

 

[Shillelagh]

I wonder if they grow bigger in a larger tank.

 

[Turbocks]

I had aquaria when I was younger. I got a lot of enjoyment out of them. I had some betas for a while. It’s good to see you’re giving him a lot of space. I look forward to more photos!

This is my tank after adding sand anubias plants and microsorum plants and I just added some fish food to get the cycle started which will take a while maybe a few weeks until it's fish safe

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I wonder if they grow bigger in a larger tank.

Betas generally do not...they are a small fish and great for something like this. Most of the betas you see at the local pet stores are already adults.

 

[Turbocks]

Betas generally do not...they are a small fish and great for something like this. Most of the betas you see at the local pet stores are already adults.

I saw these tiny Bettas at my local fish store and they were super cute and so beautiful I am not sure if they are babies or adults

 

[Neonatal RRT]

I saw these tiny Bettas at my local fish store and they were super cute and so beautiful I am not sure if they are babies or adults

Adult betas are only about 2.5 inches/6cm long or so. If they are smaller, then they are probably juveniles. You probably already know this, but male betas (the ones with the long, flowing fins) or "Siamese Fighting Fish" are extremely territorial and need to be solitary specimens. Females tend to have more muted colors and smaller fins. They will do fine with a small Corydoras catfish or something like that, but definitely NOT another male beta, as they will fight to the death.

Good to see you went with the live plants. They will love that. Betas are a member of a group of fish that have a supplemental breathing apparatus called a labyrinth in their head that can exchange gas directly from the air. Their natural environment in the wild is swampy areas with little oxygen in the water and will spend most of their time up at the surface of the water, gulping air from time to time. Once those plants take over, you can actually back off on the filtration and pump flow. Years ago, I had a 300-gallon wall aquarium, all natural, loaded with plants, no filter, and Gourami fish. Got the grow lights on the plants and I actually had it flowering outside the tank! Go big or go home! I had a lot of fun and enjoyment with it. Miss it.

 

[Shillelagh]

I had a beta once. It would get so excited at feeding time it would sometimes jump out of the bowl. I remember the first time it was as if the fish just suddenly disappeared. I was like where did my fish go? And then I noticed the poor little guy on the carpet.

 

[grommet]

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This is my tank after adding sand anubias plants and microsorum plants and I just added some fish food to get the cycle started which will take a while maybe a few weeks until it's fish safe

Are you trying to get the anaerobic bacteria growing? I really like what you did with the sand. I do not see an under-gravel filter so I am guessing the submersible has some kind of filter? I really liked over-the-top filters because to the sound and it was nice to see the water flow but under-gravel are quiet so you can sleep.

I never had betta fish. I think I learned they were fragile, sensitive to conditions unlike zebra fish that could take almost any condition.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

Are you trying to get the anaerobic bacteria growing? I really like what you did with the sand. I do not see an under-gravel filter so I am guessing the submersible has some kind of filter? I really liked over-the-top filters because to the sound and it was nice to see the water flow but under-gravel are quiet so you can sleep.

I never had betta fish. I think I learned they were fragile, sensitive to conditions unlike zebra fish that could take almost any condition.

Undergravel filters, to the best of my knowledge, are not compatible with live plants...at least those that send roots into the media. Once the plants take over, there is minimal need for filtration. They consume CO2 (and fish waste) and give off O2...provided you supply the proper broad-spectrum grow lights.

Betas natural environment is swamp water in Taiwan, so if you can mimic that environment with tannins, lush plant growth, pH, etc. they should thrive.

 

[Turbocks]

as of now I have added a few different types of plants including floating plants and some that look like grass