Fluval Spec 2g Planted Betta Tank

[ange062]

Originally Posted by d2mini

Hey angelo, what are you feeding this guy? I just have some of those hikari betta pellets but would like to find something better.

For cutting down the flow on my tank, i had a little ball valve laying around in a box from a little Rio pump. I used a small piece of clear tubing to attach it to the output coming out of my tank's filter box. You can clearly see it in my pics... big and ugly. lol

I've been feeding him New Life Spectrum Thera+A 1mm pellets that my reef tank loves (even my mandarin eats em!). He seems to enjoy them. I'll probably mix it up with frozen brine / mysis shrimp and blood worms.

I just don't think I can afford the real estate to have an in-tank flow restrictor, so I am either going to plumb something like that into the back chamber, try the "holes in the line" trick, or give the filter floss a whirl. But then again, with the flow on the pump dialed to a minimum, it doesn't seem to bother him much. I noticed tonight that once the light goes out he is very active and likes to fight his reflection on the back wall, gill flares and everything. Maybe he just needs to get used to the light.

Originally Posted by Jello

That's a beautiful betta! Where did you find him? I've only seen Betta's like that from shops in Thailand...

After a 2-week search across town, I finally managed to snag him for $7 at an LFS. Just got lucky I guess! Thanks for the comment!

Originally Posted by Jaguar

Stuff some filter floss behind the overflow grate... it helps lessen the flow, plus it helps stop your betta's fins from getting sucked in and torn. Mine LOVES to rest against the grate

That's a good idea, and easy to implement so I'll probably give it a whirl. Mine does the same! Thanks!

[ange062]

Cool picture of him fighting his reflection with the lights out, hoping to start seeing some of this with the lights on!:

[defender.TX]

Originally Posted by ange062

He does seem happier when the pump is off, and when it's on I find he tends to stay in certain areas of the tank that in theory should be the lowest flow or "dead zones". I had been brainstorming on ideas to cut down on the flow, so thanks for the idea

Mine did the same thing. He also got stuck on the intake before I turned it down. I tried to put filter floss over the intake but the flow was still strong enough that he would hide all the time. Once I cut the two small holes the flow was nice enough that he could rest on the intake (which he LOVED to do!) and then swim off against the flow when he was done. As a side note, if you cut some holes in the line it stimulates flow in the back chamber and any heater you are hiding back there becomes much more effective. The trade-off is that you get reduced flow which for me led to some algae build up until I started dosing Flourish Excel.

[ange062]

Originally Posted by defender.TX

Mine did the same thing. He also got stuck on the intake before I turned it down. I tried to put filter floss over the intake but the flow was still strong enough that he would hide all the time. Once I cut the two small holes the flow was nice enough that he could rest on the intake (which he LOVED to do!) and then swim off against the flow when he was done. As a side note, if you cut some holes in the line it stimulates flow in the back chamber and any heater you are hiding back there becomes much more effective. The trade-off is that you get reduced flow which for me led to some algae build up until I started dosing Flourish Excel.

After a few more days of observation, I am not so sure it's too much flow for him after all.

Did you know there is a flow adjustment knob on the pump itself? I have mine turned to the lowest setting, with the output pointed towards the surface. The betta does rest against the overflow grate, but he easily swims off when he wants. I've noticed his activity increases once the light goes out, so I'm starting to think that he may just be acclimating to the tank and light intensity, more-so than being bothered by the flow. Though, it could be a combination of all 3 things...

[ange062]

Cycle looks like it's complete as I am registering 0 nitrite but about 2.5ppm of nitrate. I can confirm the ADA Amazonia is leaching ammonia though because levels have stayed constant between 0.5 - 1.5ppm. Still doing ~75% daily WC's until that subsides.

Hairgrass is also growing and noticeably rooting and spreading, there are new sprouts emerging from the soil around each original plant. Planning to make an appointment with ADG to pick up some of the Amazonia "Powder Type" to cover the relatively coarse looking substrate in the 2g tank, as well as look into tiny pieces of driftwood and rock to replace the current rock scape. Hairgrass will stay but looking for a little more height via wood or rock, and also hope to add baby tears as a foreground plant. If driftwood goes in it's getting a moss wrap.

[ange062]

A couple of updates pics from today:

[lotuslullaby]

Awesome looking betta. Have you considered floating plants? Floating plants with decent roots would give him a place to play and rest, but might shade your other plants. = /

[ange062]

Originally Posted by lotuslullaby

Awesome looking betta. Have you considered floating plants? Floating plants with decent roots would give him a place to play and rest, but might shade your other plants. = /

Thanks! I thought about it, but don't want to block light from the substrate, plus floating plants will interfere with the overflow style filtration system on this tank.

[lotuslullaby]

I have been thinking of trying to anchor a red root floater to the side of the tank away from the water circulation with a suction cup and clip, but it would still shade plants and might only work well in a larger tank over anubias plants. We have a betta log in our tank and I have been thinking of anchoring plants to it, it moves with the circulation of the water so it doesn't shade the same area all the time. Though the size of the tank always determines how things work. Maybe rooting something to a thin piece of driftwood that goes up one side of the tank? I have just found bettas to be incredibly playful and curious. Maybe other betta owners have some ideas.