HANdS 30C Bettascape *new pictures*

[l8nite]

Just pictures for now - I'll write details later.

















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[d2mini]

Cool! What's the dims? Looks somewhat similar to my new betta build.

[l8nite]

12x12x12 - 7.5 gallon tank

[l8nite]

I moved most of the L. Inclinata to my 110G until it grows some roots. Trying to keep that stuff down in the eco-complete was way too frustrating. Once it has roots, I'll fill that back right corner in again. Next up is figuring out the EI dosing for this tank.

[Green_Flash]

Nice tank, and sweet betta, it is a crowntail?

[l8nite]

Yea king crowntail, Petsmart adoption

[d2mini]

Looks great. What plant is that floating on top?

So did you cycle the tank at all before adding the betta? I'm using the ada aquasoil in my betta build so I figured I'd let it cycle due to all the ammonia that is supposedly released from the AS before adding him. But I also don't have all that fancy equipment either.

[GMYukonon24s]

Nice looking setup!

[l8nite]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Looks great. What plant is that floating on top?

So did you cycle the tank at all before adding the betta? I'm using the ada aquasoil in my betta build so I figured I'd let it cycle due to all the ammonia that is supposedly released from the AS before adding him. But I also don't have all that fancy equipment either.

Heya, that plant is Limnobium Laevigatum aka "Frogbit". The filter when I bought it was already cycled for over a year, and I transferred the substrate from my Betta's already established tank as well. With the plants and that precaution, I doubt it will experience any sort of cycle.

Letting your tank cycle sounds like a really good precaution. I've read that ammonia thing about the aquasoil as well.

[talontsiawd]

I am going to have to get myself one of these as I love the size. I really love what you did with the hardscape and plant choice.

I do have a word of warning though. It looks like you have a Tetra brand heater. I have had 2 fail on me, one taking the water up to almost 95 degrees. A few other members have had the same experience as me. I bought them because of the compact size but they seem like they are not reliable, and when they stick on, they really hot. Not trying to give advice, just sharing my own experience which seems to have happened to more than a few other members.

[l8nite]

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

I am going to have to get myself one of these as I love the size. I really love what you did with the hardscape and plant choice.

I do have a word of warning though. It looks like you have a Tetra brand heater. I have had 2 fail on me, one taking the water up to almost 95 degrees.

Thanks for the head's up. It was an extra I had laying in the garage, and I'm not that happy with how it looks in there anyway. Any other suggestions? Maybe a Jager one?

[talontsiawd]

Originally Posted by l8nite

Thanks for the head's up. It was an extra I had laying in the garage, and I'm not that happy with how it looks in there anyway. Any other suggestions? Maybe a Jager one?

I like my Jager one but it's on the big size for wattage. I also like my Aqua Clear which is smaller, not much shorter. I am no expert on heaters, especially some of the newer titanium ones that look interesting, or external temperature controllers which I plan to buy soon. I would look at the hydor inline heaters as they get good reviews but the wattage is high for a 7.5 gallon so you should probably consider an external controller on a small tank, though many use these on sub 10 gallon tanks with no issue.

[Betta132]

Nice! That tank is a great size. Big enough for a betta to be happy, but not so big that it takes up too much space or looks too big.

[l8nite]

I think the CO2 Atomizer I had on this tank is leaking, because my CO2 tank ran out of gas today and it was full last week...

I'm going to install a little DIY reactor that an SFBAAPS member gave me once I get it refilled.

Also, I can't find the ADF in this tank anywhere... either he jumped out and is dead somewhere in my family room, or he disintegrated and was picked apart by the ghost shrimps... :-(

[l8nite]

I installed that DIY reactor and WOW did it make a huge difference. I'm down to like 1 bubble every 2 seconds, and my drop checker is still yellow.

There are unfortunately a lot of algae problems going on in this tank right now - I need to spend some serious time to clean it up, but I've been way too busy. There's a nice colony of staghorn that's taken over my java fern, and the glass is coated in brown algae of some sort.

The glosso is growing like 5" tall instead of spreading... I've been trimming it when I can to keep it short, but it definitely likes to go up.

My ghost shrimp all died after the CO2 reactor change... either pH shock or CO2 poisoning... I had it going pretty good at 3+ bubbles per second - the ADF is still nowhere to be seen. Alpha (the Betta) is still alive and well though