I am about to obtain a 2.5 gallon AGA aquarium that I plan on making a betta biotope. I have had mixed success in the past with plants, so I am trying to make sure they don't die on me this time....
I don't really like the look of a lot of the dedicated "plant substrates" (and not to mention the planting frustrations that I have read about) so would something like sand and root tabs work? Suggestions are appreciated.
I am also not sure which plants I should use. 2.5 gallons isn't a whole lot to work and it is likely going to be easily overwhelmed by normal plants that look godzilla proportioned in such a small area. I plan on roughly medium light (the current tank is lit by a desk lamp with one of those 13 watt CFL plant bulbs). I can always put a stronger CFL bulb in the lamp, but I am sorta stuck with the lamp. I might try rigging up a DIY CO2 system as I wouldn't mind going a little technical. Currently on the plant list is java moss and java fern, rotala rotundifolia, cryp balansae, cryp wendtii, and hygrophylia difformis. Again, suggestions are greatly appreciated.
Also, where on earth do I find little bits of driftwood?
Everything I seem to be able to locate would be massive in a tank this small.