mom's betta

[clownbaby]

My mom is getting into the hobby with a betta fish! We haven't gotten the fish yet but we are setting up the tank. I am helping her get started with aquatic plants.

5.5 gallon tank | 10 gallon Hang on the Back filter | LED lights, moderate lighting || dirted with DIY substrate mix (native clay, decayed leaf humus, sand, compost, forest products) and capped with mixed sand || river rock hardscape 

plants to be added: pogostemon stellatus 'octopus', and a couple crypts! Maybe a carpeting plant, considering trying monte carlo or something similar. No CO2. Will add some floaters - thinking riccia, dwarf water lettuce, and duckweed!

Anubias has been added. May add java ferns later once I get some more plantlets. Doing a dry start: never done this method but I am experimenting :] currently propagating some more ludwigia via the dry start but that is for my 30 gallon lol

 

[clownbaby]

ludwigia is growing super fast.

Bladder snails are somehow already in this tank. They are fine for now but if they get out of control I will have to cull 😞 

also noticed some little microfaunas! Either moina or daphnia. awesome!!!

[clownbaby]

Just moved the ludwigia into my 30 gallon. Added java fern plantlets.

[clownbaby]

first gravel vac + anubias cleaning. Noticed copepods and perhaps some tubifex... I HOPE SO!!!!

[clownbaby]

First trimming of the rotala. It is starting to fill out in the background!!! 

On 9/18/2024 at 10:12 AM, clownbaby said:

Just moved the ludwigia into my 30 gallon. Added java fern plantlets.

the windelov seems to have died, but I think the normal java fern is doing a-okay!

[clownbaby]

added some species of eleocharis in the foreground

oh and i saw a few ostracods. cool!