3/26 update
This tank is now an emersed tank with parva carpet still in tact. My farm is now upgraded to a 40B due to rising gas prices.

2/11 update
This tank is no longer a Betta haven. I sold off the bettas I had left and turned it into a High Tech plant farm

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I was given the opportunity to raise a brood of Betta Albimarginatas about 3 months ago and ever since I took them in, they've been housed in a makeshift bare bottom 10g. Now they've outgrown that 10g and require a slightly larger home. Living in a small apartment, I don't have much room as it is, but I was able to cram an extra 20L onto my Betta shelf inside my room. . My goal was to make this tank a super low tech setup with no CO2 and very minor dosing, if any. Crypts and java ferns were the main plants I had in mind.

I was able to grab a bunch of plants from my fellow sfbaaps club members and also got my hands on some decent manzanita branches at the same time. This was how it looked without plants about 3 weeks ago:


Before we go any further, here are the specs on this tank:
- 20g long
- Filtration: Fluval 403 Eheim 2234
- Substrate: ADA AS II
- Lights: 2x26W GE 6500K twirlies

Plants: Needle leaf java fern, Crypt green gecko, C. rosanervig, C. wendii ??, C. hudoroi, C. parva, Staurogyne sp. tropica, downoi, HM, anubia nana petite, and mini X-mas moss.

This is how the tank looks currently. It's been cycled for about a week already. Some of the crypts are doing their melt thing, but most are already throwing out fresh leaves. The Bettas love it in there.

Inhabitants:




foreground


FTS's




Now for the fish to mature and start breeding like rabbits. I hope

Thanks for looking guys.

that's one hell of a start *subscribed*

Another awsome tank. Can't wait to see this come together. I really need to go to a sfbaaps event and meet some of you guys.

Thanks fellas.

Talon - you should def join the club. We've got an awesome group there. What are you waiting for ?

Love the Layout! Thinking of going wiht the Rutilans personally as they are small and nice red coloring, would love the Albi's but the place I'm getting fish as I have credit to use there can't get these.

Craug

I love the hill and the branches! I am going for a similar look in my 10, im restarting it 2marrow, but ill be using some rocks to! Cant wait to see this one grow

Craig - good luck to you man. I've never kept nor heard of Rutilans till you said it. They look nice, but I think you're just settling with them and won't be fully content in the long run. I say grab a breeding pair of Albis and make your own stock. That's how I got mine. Although the male was already carrying eggs when I "borrowed" the pair. It sped up the process. For what it's worth, I'm already thinking about upgrading to a pair of Macrostomas. I thought I was content with just Albis. NOPE!

A well-rendered fish species display in a planted tank--an awesome concept.

Yeah, I'm actually in the market for some Albis, also came across some Channoides which look almsot identical in color, and size I know where to get some pairs for the tank if I go wiht Channoides. How many Albis do you have?

Craig

That's my goal bro. Wish me luck.

Channoides are pretty much the same as Albimarginatas except their white fins are not as distinguished.

I'm actually getting a pair of Channoides donated to me next week. Can't wait to see how these guys really compare with the Albis. As far as how many... I have 14 sub adults and 20 three week old frys. I haven't actually bred any of these fish myself yet. I just raised them.

Here are a couple more pics of the sub adults enjoying their new home: young male


females chillin

Cheater.

Two new kids in town. Just got these guys in today. They look pretty cool and will be part of the cleanup crew: Pitbull pleco

Ooooooo Love the set up!!! And the betta in the first post second picture is beautiful. What kind is it? And what moss did you attach to manzy? Taiwan?

Fish is a Betta Albimarginata

What are those plants all around this little guy!? I have one, but no idea what it is, and it has yet to grow at all in 2 months... lol. But its still green as can be.