fishtank.cam
The tank
Small. Quiet. Planted.
A glass cube with the filter hidden behind a black back wall.
The look
Less, on purpose.
One piece of wood in the middle, with a cave to swim through. Most of the sand stays open.
On the surface
Floating leaves for shade and a place to rest.
On the wood
The centrepiece. Plants grow on it, not in the sand.
In the sand
Pale and fine. One plant at the foot of the wood.
The plants
Five plants. That's it.
Slow, easy growers. No CO2.
Weeping moss
On the woodHangs down from the cave.
Anubias nana petite
On the woodSmall, tough leaves. A bed near the top.
Bucephalandra Mini Dark Needle
On the woodDark, narrow leaves.
Cryptocoryne lucens
In the sandA low rosette at the foot of the wood.
Salvinia cucullata
On the surfaceFloating shade. Bettas rest under it.
The gear
The kit behind it.
Everything sits on top of a low shelf.
UNS 30A Dual AIO
A rimless cube. The filter and pump live in chambers behind the black back wall.
Chihiros WRGB II Slim 30
A thin light on legs. Colour and hours set from the app.
UNS glass lid
Bettas jump. The lid stays on.
UNS Dual AIO intake guard
Fine slots over the intake. Shrimp stay out of the filter.
UNS Controsand
Fine sand for the whole floor. No soil.
The filter
Slow water, behind the wall.
Water leaves the display, passes the media in the back, and returns gently.
Intake slots
Water leaves the display through slots in the back wall.
Intake guard
Narrows the slots so shrimp stay out of the back.
Fine foamPlanned
Pressed against the guard to catch small bits.
Media tower
UNS Dual AIO Media Tower. Stock sponges and UNS Bio BlocksPlanned. Room for Purigen later if needed. A spare set of media stays on hand.
Pump
Sigma 600, 10 W. Fine foam wrapped on its intake so nothing jams itPlanned.
Neo Outlet
Aquario Neo Outlet, Large, on the factory return. It replaces the spray nozzle for gentle flow.
Who lives here
One fish. Big fins.
The only animal in the tank.
The betta
Coming soon- Still water: the pump runs low.
- Broad leaves and floating plants to rest on.
- Moves in once the water is safe.
- Breathes air at the surface. Lid on, a gap of air under it.
Alone
Why no tank mates?
One betta, one tank.
Territorial
Bettas are territorial. Two males fight; that is how the Siamese fighting fish got its name. So it is one betta per tank.
Not a community fish
Other fish with long, flowing fins look like rivals to a male.
Room for one
Peaceful tank mates need a bigger tank, at least 10 to 20 gallons. This one holds about 7, so it is all his.
No shrimp either
In the wild, bettas likely eat small invertebrates, so small shrimp would look like food.
What's next
Step by step.
Nothing rushed. The water comes first.
- Tank in placeOn the shelf, light on its legs
- ScapeSand, wood, a stone or two
- PlantsTied to the wood, one in the sand
- CycleAmmonia and nitrite read 0
- The bettaAbout a week later, tests still clean