Reddit mentions: The best aquarium starter kits

I have a 3 gallon Walstad tank in my office with a couple of live plants (Anubias and a random grass-type), a filter, and a heater. Started with 5 Cherry Shrimp, but after a few bouts of eggs, am currently around 25-30 with more on the way. The setup is similar enough where I can share my own experiences.

• I prefer minimal-looking rimless square-cornered glass tanks like this one. Unfortunately, they're still fulfilling Kickstarter pledges and are not being sold to public yet. If you can find something similar (tank only, ignore the add-ons), I'd say go for it. This 2.7g also looks good, but is slightly too big. They're easier to clean and don't scratch like plastic ones do. Water evaporation is pretty constant, but if you do weekly/bi-weekly water changes, it shouldn't matter. Alternatively, you can find plastic 1g tanks with lids that are made for betta-fish. They'd also be good for shrimp.
  
• My filter is hardly ever turned on (5 minutes in the mornings to get some water circulation), so you may be able to get away with no filter as long as you have live plants and do weekly/bi-weekly water changes.
  
• A heater is pretty important. I've never been able to keep happy shrimp without one. ~75 degrees ambient room temp would probably mean ~68 degrees in the tank. They'll survive, but will be slightly lethargic and will not breed.
  
• Any desktop lamp should be sufficient if you choose easy-maintenance, low-light plants and use the suggested Walstad potting soil. Make sure you sift out large pieces of debris unless you like the natural messiness it gives. Also, I've noticed potting soil makes for a more pungent tank. Carpeting plants will be close to impossible without CO2 of some kind. I've tried to use liquid CO2 in the past, but could not get plants to carpet successfully. Java moss and Marimo balls are good choices for plants. Look into other low-light plants like Anubias. Drift wood provides good grazing for shrimp and works well as focal point for aquascaping, but fresh wood will leach tannins into your tank water and give it an amber/sepia hue.
  
  From my experience, you need 3 constants for Cherry Shrimp to be happy: temperature, food, and water quality.
  
  
• Temperature: My heater is set to 74 degrees. They're silent and only kick in when the temperature falls below a certain threshold. I can't imagine anyone would give you a hard time for having it in your tank.
  
• Food: Cherry Shrimp like to graze on organic matter that grow on top of surfaces. An established tank should have plenty of this. I've gone weeks without adding food and letting them survive on just grazing. But I've only had shrimp successfully breed by supplementing their grazing with more food. Currently, I add crushed up pellets of Crab Cuisine every other morning. They sink, making it ideal for shrimp.
  
• Water quality: I do bi-weekly 50% water changes. Remember to use a water conditioner and try to keep the temperature similar.
  
  Crystal Red Shrimp are too delicate to work in a 1 gallon tank and Amano Shrimp get too big. Cherry Shrimp and various snails should be fine as long as you have enough surfaces and organic matter, and let the tank mature for a few weeks first. They'll also readily breed where Crystal Red Shrimp and Amano Shrimp won't.

I am of the opinion that it's best to keep Bettas in 5G or more. The main reason I say this is that smaller tanks can be hard to maintain. The lower the volume of water, the less room for error when doing water changes and accidently causing a shift in water parameters. More volume = more stability.

The other benefit is that you get more room for decorations, plants, etc, so you'll get a much nicer tank. A tank, filter, and heater can look expensive, but remember it is a 1 time cost and you can reuse it in the years to come.

I highly recommend this 5G kit from Amazon. This is one that I use that has been great. It comes with a filter, net, and tank for around 50 bucks. All you have to buy is a heater (and yes, you'll want a heater. Bettas are tropical fish, and a heater will definitely help prolong their life and prevent illness).

Life plants are great. Some easy live plants to keep are Java Ferns, Anubias, Moss Balls, and Brazilian Pennywort. Bettas want to feel secure and they need hiding places, so plants are good for multiple reasons since they make the fish feel secure and can help keep the water oxygenated and clean.

Good luck, and I highly recommend getting that kit from Amazon. It'll take a few days to ship, but your fish should be fine until then. Just do water changes every couple days (around 50%) and you should be ok until the tank arrives. Just be sure to dechlorinate it first. As for cycling, I'd follow rmarkham's advice. Since you can't cycle the tank before the fish, I'd do what he says and go for a larger volume tank so there's more water volume to distribute the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrates. That'll reduce the amount of time in between your water changes and make life less hectic.

Good luck!

I got the Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait off of amazon, I love it. It's on sale right now for $41 and comes with everything you need except for a heater, thermometer (It *MIGHT* have come with a stick on the glass thermometer, I can't remember, but I don't think it did) and of course accessories like substrate/plants. I did have to remove the pump and turn the flow all the way down, as it comes cranked all the way up, and I made a baffle out of a water bottle to redirect the water flow a little so it doesn't blow him all over the tank. It's easy to play with the outflow and get it where you want it to be. It also has a little notch built in for your heater cord, which is nice, because there is not a lot of room to run cords thru where the covers are. The instructions say not to place the heater in the filter compartment, but I have read of many people doing it without issue, I haven't tried it because I'm scared lol, but it would definitely be more aesthetically pleasing that way. It is literally the perfect betta tank with a few modifications. I love the lid, everything fits nice and tight, no worrying about jumping out, or even snails escaping. If you have a cat that might be inclined to step on top of the lid... it's not going anywhere at all, so thats a big plus for some folks. The filter and pump is all tucked into a compartment in the back so you don't see any of it. Plenty of room to add more biological media. The light is adequate as well, very bright. I have seen videos of people modifying the filter set up, theres plenty of room in there to make modifications. Here is a video about the tank from Aquarium Co-Op on youtube. If i remember correctly he shows you the modifications he made to it. I really do love it, and my fish has been very happy in it!

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If you decide to get plants... be careful buying them at the store. I spent way too much on plants at the store that weren't in the greatest condition (granted I was buying for a 40 gallon and a 10 gallon as well and you won't have to spend much to fill a 5 gallon), they were about the same price online, and arrived MUCH healthier than the ones in the store were. I ordered a low light bundle off of amazon and was pleased with it. I also find that by buying at the store, I have no idea what the hell I'm looking at/for because I am a noob. That is why I bought bundles of plants that someone else pre-picked to work in a low light tank lol. I have also shopped eBay, you can get buy 2 get 1 free on a lot of plants, and the sellers are incredibly helpful!! Here is a nano aquarium bundle on amazon, I don't think you could buy these in store for less than that price either! The description says " This is a live plant bundle for smaller/nano aquariums or betta tanks.The plants do not need any special fertilizers or CO2, just enough light from an aquarium lamp to thrive. All plants are smaller and none are taller than 6". The plants in this bundle includes a Rosette sword, Marimo Moss Ball, Cryptocoryne Parva, Lobelia Cardinalis, Micro-Swords, Anubias Nana. "

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It is more expensive than gravel, but I would look into Fluval Stratum or the Seachem Black for your substrate if you do real plants. Someone with more experience please correct me if I am wrong on any of this!!

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I hope that helped some, all just my opinion based on what I've experienced/learned thus far with my 5 gallon & plants. I am a noob to planted tanks, but I really wanted to get away from plastic plants since they can hurt fins. I am still learning, so I am sorry if I gave you any misinformation!

If a fish is inactive, it usually means they don't have enough room to swim around and explore. 5 gallons is beautiful for a betta, you should do a 5 gallon with live plants, it's beautiful to look at! If you're concerned about price as well, here are some good options:

• Petco has 5 gallon Aqueon tanks for sale for ~$16 dollars.
  
• A good filter to use for these would be the Aqueon Quietflow Internal Filter AT10. I use one of these in a 1.5 gallon hospital tank, but the gph is good for up to 5 gallons. And it's only $15!
  
• You can use anything for a tank lid, but if cost is an issue, these guys work great, ~$7.
  
• A good, inexpensive heater is the Hydor 25 watt heater. ~15 bucks and from what I've heard (I'm getting one tomorrow for my new Spec V so I'll update if anything goes wrong) it's amazing.
  
• You can use any substrate that supports plant life, but I personally use Eco-Complete Plant Substrate. It's around $20 for a 20 lb. bag, so it's a pretty good deal as well.
  
• Plants in general can be quite inexpensive. If you just buy a couple of Anubias (the large variety) and some java ferns, maybe some Anacharis to float or bunch, you're looking at ~$34 dollars (give or take) for the entirety of your tank's plants.
  
  All in all, you're looking at ~$107 for a better tank for your fish, or ~$53 for just the basic set up (minus the live plants/plant supporting substrate). If you want lighting, I've heard that basic desk lamps like this one work great in lieu of expensive LED setups.
  
  OR
  
  You can buy a Fluval Spec V, they're on sale for $59.99 and come with a filter, lighting, lid, etc. All you would need is substrate and a heater.
  
  Let me know if you have any questions!

3 gallons is considered an absolute minimum for fish, while 5 gallons is a recommended minimum. And with good reason - going from, say, 3 gallons to 10 gallons means you need more than three times as much stuff (heat, acid/base, waste, etc.) to change aspects of water quality (temperature, pH, ammonia/nitrite, etc.) the same amount. But you should be fine, as long as you're willing to put in effort and learn.

I recommend you take a look at a Fluval Spec III and, if you're comfortable, Spec-Tanks' mod section. It's a pretty small footprint at 8"x12", so it should fit most places. A three-gallon tank of any kind will be safe on any halfway decent table, as it should weigh ~30 pounds tops (25 pounds of water + ~5 pounds of glass and substrate sounds right). I'm running and quite liking my Spec V - the same thing, but twice as wide in the part of the tank things live - but there are a few things you should probably try. I recommend the flow tube modification for sure and adding a heater in that column. Bettas are tropical, after all.

Just be sure the tank is cycled and that you keep up maintenance. I have, uh, far more bioload than I probably should ^(Keep this our secret, alright? And don't follow my example...) and nothing has died yet. 40-50% weekly water changes complete with gravel vacuuming. For a single betta, you could probably get away with less, to be honest. However, it's easy enough, especially when all your equipment is set up, that there's no point slacking. No need to take him out of the tank. He'll learn quickly that the siphon is not food, a mate, or another male and will ignore it. Even if he gets caught in the suction, he should be able to swim free unless his fins are so large that he can't move normally anyway. And, ya know, you should be paying attention. :P Just siphon it into a bucket. I have one of those orange buckets from Home Depot and it works just fine. Looks for plastics with the #2 recycling label, as those are very definitely safe for fish.

Plants can help a bit, but they aren't a substitute for keeping clean. The ammonia wastes immediately produced by the betta and any other animals (pro-tip: invertebrates are neat) becomes nitrite (toxic) and then nitrate (toxic in high concentrations). Plants use nitrate as fertilizer, and they will absorb some other minerals, but they will NOT keep your tank clean. More of a buffer, I suppose, but even then only if there's more plant matter than water. If you want something that you literally cannot kill, I highly recommend Java moss. Even with my black thumb, my original clump has grown by a factor of five or so, and this is after "pruning" parts with algae. You can't kill it unless you try, and even then you might not succeed. As an aside, if you do have huge amounts of green stuff, you might want to avoid charcoal or carbon in your filter. Apparently it removes chemicals that plants can use, but get a second opinion on this before doing it.

Im new to Planted tanks. And I spent a considerable amount of time researching before making an investment (which everything should be coming in tomorrow, cant wait!). The Fluval edge series is gorgeous. However i went with something different. Only because i love to mod the crap of things and tinker. Fluval makes some great stuff but i don't see a lot of mod-ability with the Edge series, (a creative modder could prove me wrong). This past weekend i saw a Fluval Edge 12 gallon at a goodwill New in box unopened for 86 dollars. In all honesty it was the hardest thing to pass up, and if i see it next weekend i may buckle and buy it to tinker with.

What matters is this:

• Does the tank appeal to you? Will you enjoy working with it for a long time to come.
  
• Is it easy to maintain? I know the edge series has small openings. Are you willing to deal with that during maintenance/scaping/Misc. adjustments?
  
• Are the replacement parts easily available? sometimes fluval makes products with specific parts that are hard to find once the product line is discontinued.
  
  These are the top three things i thought about when i tank shopped. I wanted something that i could mod completely (almost a blank slate) but looked nice and was within my size range that i wanted. I went with this because i really just liked the tank design. and the size was nice because i am moving soon to an apartment. i wanted something small that was easy to move and maintain. I have a new pump, and lamp coming with it. I'm sure i will get into large tank eventually.
  
  The main thing is this, If you like this tank, and you know its faults and are ready to make it work. By all means more power to ya! have fun and push the envelope on what you can do with that tank. I have been lurking this subreddit for about 2 months now and i know there is a community here of legit people who are willing to help.

Hey there!

Since space is a concern, I'd highly recommend starting with a fish who prefers to live alone. The humble betta fish is very hardy.

You could get away with a three gallon tank, but your fish would be much happier in something with 5 gallons. The 5 gallon cube tanks do not take up much space and would be perfect! There's actually some concern within the hobby that bowls may stress fish out because of the shape, so it's not just a size thing.

I would not count on an external radiator to keep your fish comfortable. a 25-50 watt heater isn't terribly expensive and would do a much better job of keeping it consistent. Fish are cold-blooded animals, and sudden swings in temperature that we might not even notice because our bodies regulate our temperature internally could be lethal to your finned friend.

So. I'd recommend starting with a 5 gallon aquarium This one is a little pricy but it comes with a light and a filter, so all you'd need is the heater and whatever you want to decorate the tank with. You will also need a good water conditioner. I like Seachem Prime.

Look up the nitrogen cycle. I would highly recommend cycling your tank before the fish goes in. If you do fish-out cycling, you could realistically get it done in about a month, especially if you use a substrate like Eco Earth.

Lastly, give your fish friend some places to hide. And plants! Easy live plants to keep are anubias and swords, and they will help keep your water tidy in between changes.

Hello! The tetra 3 gal is the best choice imo of the 3. If you don't want to go all out, then this hood and basic tank. Petsmart has small 5 lb bags of white or black sand if you don't want to do gravel and depending on what all you will have in you tank, I've found sand to be pretty easy to deal with when cleaning tanks. I'm a big fan of Hydor heaters and I've heard a lot of good reviews on Eheim too.

In all honesty, if you are able to go just a little bit bigger, I'd suggest a Fluval Spec V. I have 3 tanks and 2 of them are the Spec V's. They're sleek, have a nice pump that has not only adjustable flow, but has a directional nozzle, you can fit a Hydor heater next to the outtake tubing, and already has a light. If you get that with a heater, you can take a small bag of sand, the Sponge Bob pineapple home, some colorful silk plants, and a moss ball or two you'd be all set as a beginner and not have it take up much more room. If you do get a snail, perhaps your son would name it Gary? (the snail in Spongebob? haha not necessary but it is possible to have a vacuum to eat any leftovers the betta doesn't eat.)

Just remember that if you move a fish tank, you'll want to drain out some of the water to make moving easier as well as safer. I take it this will be pretty sudden so a fishless cycling won't really be a thing so please make sure to have betta water conditioner.

Good luck!

As someone that's gone thru the same scenario as you I'm going to give you some possible options you can take that will make things way easier on you. The initial investment may be on the higher side but it's the equivalent of a couple dinners and a movie for some high quality stuff that'll last a long time.

• You need 4 things for a happy Betta: A proper tank, a filter, a heater, and proper decorations.
  
  
• First, return that 1 gallon aquarium if possible. While Betta's don't need large tanks I'd recommend something at least 2.5+ gallons. The tank will stay cleaner longer and your fish will be more active.
  
  
• There are different quality aquariums. Look for something that's an all-in-one design (comes with filter and light) Personally I love Fluval, a company that sells all in one contained tanks that are high quality, run silent, and are well designed. For dorm life I'd recommend The Spec 3: https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-2-6-Gallon-Black/dp/B009K0ZKAQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1506546740&sr=8-5&keywords=fluval+spec
  If that's too much money this is also a good budget tank: https://www.amazon.com/Tetra-29095-Cube-Aquarium-3-Gallon/dp/B008CA7W7E/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1506546844&sr=1-5&keywords=aquarium+kit
  
  
• Buy a heater, any basic heater that can sustain a set temp is fine: https://www.amazon.com/Tetra-26447-Submersible-Aquarium-50-Watt/dp/B000OQO69Q/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1506547013&sr=1-2&keywords=tetra+heater
  
  
• Decorations: Bettas have long fins that tear easily on sharp plastic plants. Buy soft or rounded decorations and substrate.
  
  
• It's also highly suggested to buy any type of water conditioner to remove chlorine from tap water etc.: https://www.amazon.com/Tetra-16172-AquaSafe-8-45-oz/dp/B00068JW0A/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1506547213&sr=1-5&keywords=tetra+easy+balance
  
  
• Betta food is subjective, though I like Hikari's brand that comes in those clear packages with the maze looking thing to dispense food.
  
  

A good local fish store, a place that specializes in aquariums, is a great ally to have. Related are local small pet stores (no dogs and cats) and local pet stores. The more specialized you go, generally the better you get. There are bad ones - the LSPS and LPS that are very accessible to me are awful. Sick fish in dirty water, dead fish drying up on the floor :'(

I mostly go to Petco because the good LFS is a one hour train ride for me. Mine is well managed: the fish are healthy, the plants are nice, and the department manager has a lot of experience. A chain store may be your best option, and if the fish seem healthy (the water is clean, minimal fin damage, no visible diseases) then go for it. Not all Petco are created the same.

Live plants: You can buy online (/r/aquaswap and /r/PlantedTank are two subreddits for this) or buy in-store. LFSs often have live plants. Petco sometimes has plants - buy the ones in the tanks, not the ones in the tubes. Petsmart only has tube plants, which have to go through an adaptation period after being submerged, and they may not survive that period. Awfully expensive on top of that! You can do a snail dip to clean up your plants before placing them in your tank.

As for tanks... whatever makes you happy. Betta prefer horizontal space to vertical space, but this seems to be a very popular tank on /r/bettafish. Buying tanks online can be a crapshoot; make sure that the price is competitive because often they'll jack it up to make up shipping costs for a large, heavy, fragile item. I suggest you look in person. I've been happy with this one but I would recommend going 5 or even 10 gallons if it's your first swing after you've been out for a while.

They have a betta care sheet at /r/bettafish, and if you search "tank recommendations" you'll turn up a whole slew of what's worked well for others :)

Good luck!

Okay so I am new to this whole thing thing and I don't have much time on my hands but I want to grow marmio balls. I know they don't like direct sunlight and are easy little creature but I still have a few questions.

• Is a tank light okay for these little guys or is it to much
  
  
• I know they like cold water so would they be alright in say room temperature in Canada which is around 20 c or less.
  
  
• a lil tank 1.8 gallens I know they like currents but would they be alright with this small waterfall thing going on?
  
  
• would 1.8 gal be enough water for four of this little agle balls?
  
  
• I much would I need to change the water for this tank?
  
  *since it's just going to be small plants is it safe to take the filter out? Or can I just leave it in?
  
  Sorry for the lame questions about marmio ball care, I just want a cute nice little plant that I can spend my little of free time taking care of and I want them to be very happy little plants and it's hard to find exact information on the web so that is why I am here.

Ha, love the name idea!

I'm not sure if you have read around and are aware of the proper care for a betta (if you have then ignore me) but if you haven't I'll go ahead and say a two gallon bowl isn't the best place for him, and is also another reason for the downvotes. He can live in it but he's not going to thrive. He does need a heater and a filter, if you have those then that is awesome, if not you can even get them as a broke college student.

If I can tell you one thing I'm positively sure of, there is always room for a fish tank. ;)

I'm just going to link you a cheap list of good stuff for little moneys:

Sponge Filter

Air Pump

Airline Tubing I bet you can find this in stores for less. Also less as an add on item.

Check Valve Most likely less at a store.

Heater, Heater 2 Costs a good bit more but I really love these.

Tank, Tank 2 There are many other options to look at.

If you go with the cheapest it will run you just about $58 with prime.

Hope the list gives you something to think about. If you've got any questions at all I'd be more than happy to answer them if I can.

Edit* Added a link.

Wow, thanks for taking the time to provide an in depth answer!

Im currently looking at this Fluval Spec V; though I cant tell if its version 1 or 2 (im thinking its the newer model, since Amazon lets you know if there is a newer version available).

In regards to plants, I have a leaf hammock and a plastic log, and I will be adding more (silk), but wont be ordering from amazon; im also looking to add driftwood and some live plants.

As far as live plants go, I think I understood that its better to cycle without them, as they could alter the process as they feed on ¿nitrate?. So I would add them later on. What do you think?

Id rather go with Seachem Stability, just because of the ease of measurring.

Ive since added Fluval Spec Carbon Filter replacement and Fluval Spec Bio Max.

Read on several websites that the current could be too strong for a betta, and the sponge cover seemed like an easy fix.

For substrate, I will most likely get gravel.; would love to have sand (too hard to care for as a begginer?) or ADA Africana (weight/cost).

Will check at my LFS for quality substrate, but have low expectations.

As for stock, I would like to add shrimp (ghost and/or RCS) but once my tank is established and settled. In reality, I would love to have Khukli Loaches (3) but general consensus is that a 5g is way too small.

Ill be looking into other bottom feeders (fish), but it doesnt seem I will be able to add them to a 5g.

Hows your setup, what do you have?

the fluval spec V is very popular, but also pretty expensive, you can also look around on craigslist for a nice 10g with a decent filter, heater and lid! A long tank is better than a high or round tank, since it has more horizontal swimming space (and it makes it easier for the betta to chill near the surface).

You can also get a bare glass tank and then shop for the rest. A sponge filter + air pump is great, a 25 or 50 V adjustable heater will do fine. Then all you need is a lid and maybe a light. If you live in the US, you might want to wait for the dollar per gallon sale to pick up a nice 10 or 20 gallon!

If you do want to get a kit, fluval, eheim usually have good systems. Be sure to always look up the filters and lights! The filter might be a little too strong for a betta, or the lights might be too weak for live plants (if you want them).

Well, like you said, life is busy which is why appreciate your thoughtful replies. And is also why my own reply is so late!!

I just uploaded some new photos to an imgur link..to help portray some of the things I might refer back to as I go through this post: https://imgur.com/a/aXGPf.

As I am typing this I see an earlier suggestion of yours that addresses one of my photo's subjects. So due to the fish-in cycling stress of the tank it's normal for Christopher to be chilling mainly on the filter intake...upside down (for me it's the 3rd pic down, and he's bit opaque)?? He seems to swim normally and happily whenever he feels like it, and easily removes himself from the filter. A google search shows it may be okay behavior. I mean, if he wants that, I am totally fine with it, but I know I need to somehow slow the current of the filter to avoid too much more stress. I'm concerned more about a small bit of redness on the bottom of Christopher's belly/bottom fin. Elsewhere he looks fine, just a bit of new redness at the fin's tip. By, the way, I have say thank you again. By the time I got to doing the salt bath I mentioned earlier, to me he looked like a fish that wasn't going to make it. I was already looking at how to treat the tank if the betta died in it. But he is back to his old self, energetic, so I am pretty grateful. There's not way of telling, but I really think he might not still be here if I hadn't read through that link.

Thanks for suggesting the Polyfill, as you can see, my second, half-assed attempt at baffling isn't too effective. But at least the water is directed only to the tank's center, and not all over, so there's to move around it all. My first attempt where I carefully cut up the sponge was useless. Maybe since the water's not going straight down, Christopher Lee suddenly likes resting on the intake?

The first pic might seem random, but it is another new tank I am trying to fishless cycle. It's a Merineland 5 gallon portrait tank: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. It's highly rated and the pump/filter(?) strength is adjustable. So the first pic is this filter on the slowest adjustment, but it still looks strong to me, especially since the tank is deeper and the fish would have to swim up a bit to eat and breath.

I don't believe the filter on the first (Walmart) tank is adjustable, but someone else set it up and got rid of the box and instructions immediately after, and I had no clue what I was doing yet.

And the Amano Shrimp sounds like a good place to start. I never looked into what I wanted as tank companions beyond the tetras, which are Dwarf Emerald. I was never much of a fan of Plecos. I knew what they looked like, but not their name. They likely would not have been my choice when I got to the point of adding more tank pals. I'll definitely be doing much more research and referring back to this advice when I get to point of adding more companions.

By the way, do you have any quick, general suggestions for possible tank mates for a five gallon tank with just a betta?

Sounds like I will have to start googling live plants as an eventual goal as I already have a lot of "playing around" to do. Can I ask one lazy (and maybe silly) question though? Can a tank have a mixture of live and fake plants? Is there more attention and effort in maintaining live plants? Ok...I think I'm starting to get into the google questions.

I did water changes on both of my tanks this morning, and the filter on my first tank, the Walmart one, suddenly seems to have stopped working. It could be the cords, but will this affect the fish a lot if it takes a day or two to get a new filter? Any suggestions on a decent one on the lower end of price ranges? The heater seems to be working and the tank is at a good temp.

I apologize for my lazy formatting, especially with how wordy this response is! I only have short patches of time here and there to try to write anything, so this is pretty much get any sort of reply I can get sent at all.

What is your lazy betta's name? And what is(are) your setup(s) like, what kind of communities? Pics are cool!

Might I suggest getting him a slightly larger home? I know larger setups are expensive, but a tank like this would make him much happier! :) This is the same 5g I have for my betta, and there's a 3g version of it too if 5g is too large for you. The tank comes with a filter. It's a great tank and my betta loves it! Good luck with Doug. :)

Some people keep shrimp in small couple gallon bowls with success, judging by stuff I see on jarrarriums? The smaller the tank though the faster the water can go toxic. This portrait 5 gallon has been on sale for a while, it's what I'm using to make a shrimp tank. I haven't had success yet but that's another story... Cycling is hard x_x

As for plants, I've heard they love plants like Java moss, hornwort, and elodea, because the amount of surface area encourages the growth of biofilm and other things they eat especially as babies.

There are some commercial pellets out there, they can also eat some veggies. I hear that rotating different foods is best for them.

For water parameters, you just need to make sure there's enough calcium/minerals for them to molt properly.

This is all hearsay since I haven't had success yet but good luck!

I'm not trying to sound argumentative, but there is a reason people are telling you the same (above 2.5 gallons) for a betta. This is a LIVE creature that you have and are taking care of. Please make sure to put the life of a creature into consideration as your betta cannot take care of himself in captivity.



I think I have the perfect analogy for you today. Just like you in your dorm room, you can survive in there, but it lacks many of the amenities that a normal house might have. I'm sure you don't want to spend the rest of your life in a dorm room, huh? The same will go for a smaller tank for a betta. While it is true they can live in small spaces for a significant time, it is different from thriving. A tank size of 2.5 gallons or bigger (something like http://www.petsmart.com/gsi/webstore/WFS/PETNA-PETUS-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewProduct-Start?SKU=36-2831438&utm_campaign=2831438&utm_source=googleproduct&mr:referralID=a3adbc2b-4ea5-11e4-a1c0-001b2166c2c0 is awesome for the price!) with a heater and filter are necessary for keeping any betta, unless you are going to do daily 50%+ water changes. This shouldn't break the bank, and most dorm policies allow up to a 10 gallon aquarium/terrarium. Think of it as "graduating betta school"



If you are in the Atlanta area and funds are an issue, I have an 8 gallon that housed my betta after moving to Atlanta (previous tank broke on the move, this was a replacement) that I am no longer in need of (http://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-AQE17102-Evolve-Aquariums-8-Gallon/dp/B006OMKMFG).



Please consider the quality of living for your Betta before deciding what you currently have is sufficient.

Hi there! So here's the thing: betta can be pretty f-ing hardy fish even in the worst of conditions. They should be in a 5 gal or more with a low flow filter and heater and lots of plants and hiding spots. Do that, they will be so happy and pretty and healthy.

But i grew up watching my mother care of our family betta fish. We had 3 over the years and each lived for 3 ish years all dying because my mother would drop something on them, drop them, or poison them on accident. And she kept these boys in a 1 gallon tank with 1 hide or plant. Plastic plants of course (when they had them). She would use tap water for their weekly water change. No filter. No heater. Water anywhere from 60-67°. Those betta were not very active or happy, but they lived (somehow) for 3 years.

To anyone thinking I'm justifying that type of care: I am not! They are so much more enjoyable when they are happy and healthy in a 5 gal with a filter and heater. That being said, OP I believe your boy will be ok, just keep an eye on him.

As for good tanks I highly recommend the 5 gal portrait tank. Its $70 on Amazon but comes with a filter and light. Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_9Mi8tkRNTC8Fv

As for a heater I recommend one that has a temperature control so you can set it between 78-82°.

1. Since you mentioned tank mates, I think the most affordable way to go would be to snag a 10 gallon during petco's dollar per gallon sale, (I think going on til almost the end of this month?) You can then price out affordable heater, filter, and lights, and the rest. Altogether, I bet you could get everything for ~$50.00...
   
   Otherwise, they have some alright 'kits' out there. I have both of these, and they're fine to get started, but I still needed to get a heater/thermometer, ended up upgrading the stock lights, etc... so they were more expensive than just starting from scratch.
   
   
2. I always prefer live plants, since they actually somewhat help with your water quality. Marimo moss balls are great. They just kind of... do their thing. Other easy, low maintenance plants include anubias, java fern, anacharis, najas (or guppy grass,) and those bulbs you can find at petsmart or petco are some kind of Aponogeton, those are usually hardy.
   
   
3. I like having a 'clean up crew' - pretty much any combination of snails, shrimp, and some otos.
   
   
4. I personally prefer natural rocks, driftwood, and plants... but they can get pricey. Some cheap/easy things I've seen have been coffee mugs or terra cotta planters laying on their sides.

>Due to size constraints I think a 3 gallon aquarium is as high as I can go.

If the footprint is the problem look into a tall aquarium with a little more volume. The one I linked comes with filtration/lighting built in (as will most nano tanks that size) and all you need is a small heater for the back.

As for what to put into it, for your experience I would recommend shrimp as others have. They're fun to watch, rather hardy, and you'll get good feedback on water quality/quality of care based on their behavior. Once you get them to breed you can consider them well cared for.

Getting a low light plant or two will help you a lot in the long run in terms of water quality, plastic obviously are 0 care but they don't fulfill the plant's natural role in the ecosystem.

So yeah, buy an all in one nano tank and stock it with some hardy shrimp. The good looking shrimp are a bit more expensive, ghost shrimp are several for a dollar and good for learning. Get a low light plant.

If at all possible, find a local pet store and go ask the clerk questions, they'll help you find good plants. If you get a 5g you might be able to swing 3-5 neon tetra, but I'd recommend shrimp for your second (first earnest) try.

So after a ton of research (mostly watching hours upon hours of YouTube videos), I finally decided to dip my jump into a planted tank.

​

Background on the Set-Up

I bought a basic Aqueon 10 Gallon LED Starter Tank , cleaned it and laid a base of CaribSea Eco-Complete substrate.

Put in two pieces of driftwood that I picked up at Petco (had been previously soaking in water for a couple days to add the weight and clear most of the Tannins before setting up the tank).

Then planted the three plant species I decided to give a try at:

• Amazon Sword (2x in the background)
  
• Vallisneria (2 shoots - seen flanking the right-hand sword in the pictures)
  
• Crypt Parva (3 pots, broken up some and distributed in the foreground)
  
  ​
  
  I chose the above three as they've all been labeled hardy, beginner-friendly, low-light, and low-tech (no-CO2).
  
  ​
  
  After setting it up this morning, the picture is one, I took this evening of the tank.
  
  ​
  
  The Questions
  
  So my question centers around how low-light is low-light? There are no stats regarding wattage with the included hood/LED light but if you click the amazon link above to the kit, it has a nice photograph of the underside of the hood and shows the LED lights. That coupled with the size of the tank (e.g. not a lot of depth on a 10 gallon) and the plant selection, I was hoping you all might have some advice.
  
  ​
  
  Is the included light in this kit sufficient for the plants above and the tank? If so, how long should it run per day? 8, 9, 10 hours?
  
  ​
  
  If the basic light, hood included with the tank is not sufficient, is there an alternative for a 10 gallon tank you might recommend for my tank and plant load?
  
  ​
  
  Also any other tips or advice that I may not already have come across through many of the popular YouTube channels would be welcome too for a first time planted tank keeper.
  
  ​
  
  Additional Information
  
  Additional information, I'm looking for the plants to stay healthy but I don't necessarily need them to thrive like crazy either where I have Val take over the tank.
  
  ​
  
  Eventually, I want to populate the tank with a small school of Neon Tetras and perhaps some Red Cherry Shrimp.

We bought the Tetra Crescent 5 gallon kit from Amazon. It’s prime eligible if you have that. If not, Chewy has it for the same price and ships for free when you buy $50 worth of stuff. By the time you purchase the kit, a heater, and a thermometer, you’ll surpass the purchase amount for free shipping. Hope this helped!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00324X5L2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
(Link to the kit on Amazon) Something else to note is that we went ahead and purchased the bundle that Amazon offered for an additional $10 or so. A box of 3 filter cartridges and a fairly cheap thermometer. From there, you’ll be able to get a 10w heater for like $8 from any fish store. From there, purchase silk plants and hides with no sharp edges and you’ll be good to go! The tank will seem a little crowded aesthetically but it’s well worth it for a happy, healthy Betta. Hope this helped!

Hello there. Always fun setting up a new tank. My tips are:

3g is quite a small tank! Though as a simpler solution to your tank+light+filter problems perhaps a fluval spec 3 this is only 2.6g but an all-in-one design. If you can swing it, I recommend the 5 gallon option!


All you will need to do is slightly modify the filter intake to make it baby shrimp safe. This is done by placing some black filter sponge at the filter input.


Substrate wise: depends on the shrimp you want to keep. Simply put: basic gravel works with neos, buffered substrate (e.g. Amazonia, black earth, shrimpsand) for Caradinas


At your room temps I do not think a heater is necessary. And on this tank temperature topic, bigger tanks are better for stability.

Good luck

Well that depends on the size. I think anything under 5 gallons would be easy enough to move, but it will cause the fish stress if you have them. I suggest getting an all in one kit if you're not going to do anything more than some easy plants, shrimp, and a few hearty fish. Spec V is a good talk that's also easy to transport.

Also to answer one if your questions, yes I think a fish tank is a great addition to a classroom or School setting. As long as you can keep it safe where kids wouldn't tamper with it if they felt mischievious.

The Fluval Spec lll makes a great shrimp tank. I comes with everything you need(built in filter) except a heater, and you won't need a heater if your office temp is consistently 68-73f+. You will need to fill the very top of the filter compartment with floss to keep baby shrimp from getting sucked into the filter intake but floss is super cheap and the mod takes about 30sec.:) It's also a very nice looking tank and is super quiet. I have a number of Fluval tanks and am very happy with the quality.

I never imagined that I would be a fish owner, but I have found myself with one, and I have a huge soft spot for all animals, so I can't stand to see them neglected so I want to provide the best home the little guy I can! Here is the list of what I've gotten so far. Let me know what you think and if I have made any mistakes!

Aquarium Rocks

He already has ~5lbs so I figure 10 lbs should cover a 5 gallon tank pretty well.

Betta Balls

Gravel Vacuum

Seachem Prime

Thermometer

Heater for 5 gallon tank

5 Gallon Tank

API Freshwater Test Kit

He already has a betta log, betta hammock, a small decorative plant, Tetra betta pellets, and some bloodworms for treats. Hopefully this covers all bases for little Zazoo! (Yes, my gf named him after the bird from the Lion King. Lol) If you have any other tips for a complete beginner, I'd love to hear them! Thank you for your suggestions!

As someone who loves both aquariums and interior design - please god no. Get a nice coffee table then put a nice rimless tank on top. Look at how pretty this one is. Put in a beautiful betta fish or fill it with shrimp. Good beginner fish.

EDIT: changed suggested tank, this one has a better filtration system. (It's also the same one I have.)

I'm getting him this for his birthday :) Along with some tankmate friends. Any recommendations are greatly appreciated!

Also if someone know where to order live plants or decorations for a good price I'd greatly appreciate the links :)

Hannibal is my first fish ever, so I want the best for my little fighter!

So... I tend to be a bit of an outlier here, but I keep my bettas in Fluval Spec 3 gal aquariums. Many people will tell you they require 5 or 10, but honestly in my experience a nicely planted, filtered 3 gal is more than enough. The only betta I keep in a larger tank is my 3.5 inch king betta, who lives in a 9 gal Fluval Flex.

Fluval Spec 3 is the perfect betta tank imo. Great built in filtration and what i consider a good size home for betta. It's a bit pricey but totally worth it, I have never had a betta with a problem in this tank.

Fluval Spec III Aquarium Kit, 2.6-Gallon, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009K0ZKAQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ALn4CbB0N4FJ3

It's not bad, but I would HIGHLY recommend that you get a larger aquarium, at least five gallons. For example. It is even on sale and comes with an overflow filter. A larger tank ensures that the betta will have enough space to swim and help you to maintain the tank as a larger volume of water is more forgiving in terms of water parameters. Also I would get different plants, this is because the ones that you listed are plastic and plastic plants will often have sharp edges that could damage the long fins of a betta. Instead get silk plants as they won't damage the fins. Also with the gravel you are getting, it is a very small amount, so either get more bags of it or go to your lfs, petco, petsmart or even walmart and see for yourself. Also the water conditioner you are planning to get is only 50mL which is really small, you might as well get a medium sized bottle instead of having to buy multiple small ones, save some $$. But otherwise everything is good.
Also, since this is your first aquarium, please do lots of research(if you already have then great). Especially look into "how to cycle your aquarium"
Sorry for writing so much lol.

In the picture submitted you can clearly see a healthy betta fish in the top 3 pictures. Those pictures are from May 2017 when he was first brought home from the pet store. The bottom 3 pictures are from last night.
This is a betta fish. I wasn't aware of the type of care that these fish truly need. I did however do weekly 100% water changes adding conditioner to the water each time. I fed him 2x every day. He was active sometimes but preferred to stay in some artificial plants found in the tank. Last night I changed the water and that's when I noticed something was truly wrong. After I put him in the tank it stayed at the surface and I could see a clear struggle to breathe. Or as you can see in the pictures, it sunk to the bottom and stayed there for a while. I tried feeding it but it would not move. It did not even acknowledge the food.
I am ashamed to admit that I have yet to get a kit to test these values so I am unaware.
Currently it is in a 1.5 gallon tank. This tank has been set up since May 14 2017.
I do not have a filter. Again, I've been misinformed about the care that these fish need. I read online that if you do weekly 100% water changes you do not need a filter.
There is only 1 fish in the tank.
I've had this fish for about 4 months
I have added a new betta hammock last night. Also, I added a heater about a week ago. I also noticed that this new conditioner that I bought has white flakes in it? I have purchased this conditioner before and it did not have white flakes in it. It is this one https://www.chewy.com/aqueon-betta-bowl-plus-water/dp/130982?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=Aqueon&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8suZoZmT1gIVm7XACh2R3wpYEAQYAyABEgIhM_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
I know I have failed as a fish owner and I did not realize the damage that I have caused it. I know it is not much but I recently order a new tank and am waiting for it to arrive. Which looks like this https://www.amazon.com/Aquaview-Gallon-Aquarium-Lighting-Internal/dp/B002DRLESA/ref=sr_1_6?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1504791599&sr=1-6&keywords=fish+tank
Any help is greatly appreciated !! I would really love if I could save my fish even though my neglect may have caused severe damage. Thank you.

Haha thank you! He loves watching everything move around in there but doesn't really understand it yet.

I bought this aquarium a few weeks ago while it was around $50- keep an eye on the prices, they fluctuate like crazy. You by no means have to spend that much on a tank, I just preferred glass because it won't scratch like the poly ones, plus I like the kind of "minimal" look to it (all electronic components like the filter and heater are very discretely hidden), and it came with the filter and light. Besides the aquarium, which is by far the most expensive part, you can decide if you want it to be planted or just go with fake plants, then choose your substrate and decor accordingly. Non-active gravel is $1.00 at PetCo, or active substrate is around $15. A water dechlorinator is about $5, and a water test kit is around $10 depend on which one you choose. After that, there's pretty much just the cost of the inhabitants. I bought all of the plants, wood and animals (everything except the tank and the substrate) in my tank from AquaticArts.com for about $60 total- that includes two pieces of cholla wood for climbing, four Marimos, three rooted plants, a floating plant, six shrimp and four snails!

Phew. Startup can be pricey (or not, depending on what you choose) but after that, costs are minimal. If you ever wanted to start a second tank, especially with the shrimp and snails, you'd already have animals because the shrimp and snails will almost certainly breed.

I know that's a ton of info, let me know if you have any questions. :) It's so rewarding and worth it, IMO!

The Fluval Chi might be a good tank, but might be more difficult to find a good light to fit it.

I'd recommend the ADA substrate system. It's more expensive than Fluval but ultimately worth it.

As for a filter, the tank I've suggested has one built in, but if you don't go for that, then YES! If you've got critters in it, filter the water. (Also get a heater!)

I'm currently running a Fluval Spec 19L using a combination of this substrate, along with the power sand and some other substrate additives (all sold on that site). I'm growing HC Cuba (dwarf baby tears) and it's doing well with plentiful CO2 using one of these and lots of light with two of these.

This is a really handsome tank right at what I'd consider the absolute minimum for a betta fish, that seems like it'd be great in an office environment. If you've more room, here's the 5-gallon version.

I'm a sucker for bettas. My last one had a ten gallon tank with live plants because I spoil my charges, but yeah.

I'm pretty sure that although scientists and teachers often keep axolotls in pretty small set ups, that they actually deserve tanks larger than what would be reasonable in an office environment, though they're my next dream pet personally.

Check out /r/aquariums!

Sorry if this is a lot of links but heres a lot of tanks i found for a good price,Do you think these are good and which one(s) would be the best.Heres the links (Most of the tops ones are from chewy.com rest are from amazon.com and petsmart/pet.co

1. https://www.chewy.com/aqueon-led-neoglow-aquarium-starter/dp/184971
   
   
2. https://www.chewy.com/marineland-contour-rail-light/dp/192853
   
   
3. https://www.chewy.com/aqueon-led-neoglow-aquarium-starter/dp/184969
   
   
4. https://www.chewy.com/aqueon-led-neoglow-aquarium-starter/dp/184971
   
   
5. https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML90609-Portrait-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=pd_sbs_199_5/145-3104720-5242664?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00O8SZTKQ&pd_rd_r=0f454631-940a-44bf-949b-2525ce0827ad&pd_rd_w=lQ50Z&pd_rd_wg=U2f3q&pf_rd_p=52b7592c-2dc9-4ac6-84d4-4bda6360045e&pf_rd_r=7850RYZ9WMZEJ2FHDZM4&psc=1&refRID=7850RYZ9WMZEJ2FHDZM4
   
   
6. https://www.amazon.com/Lifegard-Aquatics-Full-View-Aquarium-Gallons/dp/B0759P8WF7/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_7?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Z9NY9YD9FNR6QPV97XER
   
   I will also look at my locally-owned pet store and see how many aquariums they sell there. Anyways i hope this is not too much!

You're welcome. This is the exact one, but I think I grabbed it on sale for about $50 from Amazon a little over a year ago.

Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_.4TbBb4BS0E30

Our son was gifted a Betta in a small plastic 0.5 gallon tank, and he was looking pretty bad. I got thid for him, got some black sand for the substrate which I LOVE, but it is a little bit of a pain when cleaning the tank, it can get everywhere. I pour new water with a large drink cup from a movie theater into the back filter chamber to prevent sand clouds. This is my favorite tank of the 3 we have, because it just looks really elegant and sleek. The LED has also kept Java Moss and an marimo moss ball alive for just about a year. I tried duckweed but it didn't live. I am goi g to try moving a small cutting of an Anubias to this tank too, we will see how it does.

I didnt use any original gravel. . . And the filter is too strong. I got this https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-Fish-Aquarium-Starter-Gallon/dp/B01LCZMHPM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=19TWF5W2CJOT5&keywords=aqueon+10+gallon+kit&qid=1555868307&s=pet-supplies&sprefix=AQUEON+1%2Cpets%2C200&sr=1-1
From the fish store because it was cheaper than buying the new filter (the kit was 40 dollars). The aquarium guy told me the current would be fine for a betta, but it's way too strong, even when I baffled it. And for some reason my betta likes swimming in the current. His 5 gal is still on my desk, half full, but I threw the filter away. Should I fill the 5 gal, add the sponge filter, and put him in? I mean after I test the water. Then should I take some water from the 5 gal and add it to the 10 to start cycling it? Also one thing I didn't mention, I have two marmino moss balls that I had with him in his 5 gal that I transferred over. Should I just leave them in the 10?
And thank you so much for your help, its obvious I dont know much

I have a 5 gallon tank with a filter and a heater. It stays out of the sunlight (sun can help encourage algae growth) though he does get natural light in the day. I do 30-50% water changes a week (and test regularly with strips to make sure the water is safe). I use water conditioner when adding more water.

Here is my tank that comes with a baffled filter. The filter is nice because you can adjust the flow. Keep it on low flow for your friend.

If your tank is big enough to support it, you can get yourself some algae eaters as well.

I would honestly recommend the Marina 5 gallon kit. It comes with an amazing filter that's super adjustable and some other stuff that I didn't end up using. I got the 10 gallon and its amazing!


Marina LED Aquarium Kit, 5 gallon:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0173I55IS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_eArHzbYAHM0H0

Necessities

api liquid test kit

sponge filter

airline tubing for sponge filter

air pump for sponge filter

thermometer

fluval spec v kit. Comes with filter, decent light that can grow some lowlight plants, idk what else but I hear it's pretty good, I would look around on other sites to find it cheaper

dechlorinator if you don't already have it

heater, I happen to live somewhere where the temperature of my tank floats right in the bettas range, but if this isn't the case for you then you'll need a heater

You'll need something for a lid, can't find anything on amazon but you have a few options: going to a petstore and looking for a 5 gallon lid, going to other websites to look, or making a DIY lid, which can be done with greenhouse panels, or even wood if you don't mind cutting.

Substrate is optional, but if you want it you can either get pool filter sand, which you can find at your local Home Depot or lowes (assuming you're in the US), you'll have to rinse it first but it's really cheap, $8 for 50lb which is more than enough.

I would buy the tank in person at a store or on some site like Craigslist where you can find used tanks for cheap

Also, don't forget to cycle your tank, if you don't know what that is I would do some research on it, it's possibly the most important thing in keeping any aquatic creature

Off the top of my head, will continue to edit to add stuff

Currently learning after buying Dori for my son who fell in love with her while looking at gerbils one afternoon. Yes, he named her.

This is what I bought for her this paycheck. I know its janky but its 5 gallons with a filter- I had enough $ for the test kit or Seachem Prime so I went with Seachem, next paycheck I'm trying for a heater and the test kit and some plants.

Till the new tank gets here I've been doing 50% water changes daily. I'm going to the Petco to see if they have any "used media" for the new tank- but they're not exactly knowledgeable so, fish keepers, would you keep Dori in the current set up while I try to do my first cycle for her new 5 gal, or would you do a fish-in cycle since she's so cramped? Her ribbony fins break my heart.

Really open to visual inspection, hence the video, and all feedback. This sub has been SO helpful.

Edit: is Dori a boy? When we got him/her she had little nubby fins, they've grown since I started the Indian almond leaves and I don't know another way to tell gender.

If you can manage a little over $35 I'd recommend this tank from [Amazon] ( https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KIRR8BY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_oGiMzbMSHNNS5). After that some nice aquatic plants like an [Amazon sword] (http://www.aquariumcarebasics.com/aquarium-plants/amazon-sword-plant/) or [Anubias] (http://www.aquariumcarebasics.com/aquarium-plants/anubias-barteri/), bettas love broad leaves, and a heater. Finnley will be the happiest guy in town.

My fiance and I are looking to get a small tank for a table-top(big table attached to wall) placement in our kitchen.

We're not looking for anything larger than this. It'd go up against one of the walls.

Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_-5b7BbZM9RYN5

How is this one in terms of quality and ease of care?

What sort of fish/aquatic animals should we expect to be able to safely care for in that kind of tank size?

Whoever lives there will be named...SHARKBAIT-OOO HAHA

That is the smaller 14 gallon unit. I would stay away from that one for the same reasons everyone is saying smaller aquariums are harder to take care of. I have to be very careful when I do my water changes, because when I take 5 gallons out of my tank it is about a fourth of it's capacity. So if my water is 10 degrees cooler than the rest of the tank when I go to refill it, it can be a huge shock to the tank.

This is the tank I would recommend

Seriously though look online and find them used Mine was in pretty much perfect condition and I only paid $150 for the whole thing with stand.

A couple of weeks ago I saw an Innovative Marine 30Gal tank

At the LFS for only $200 and it was pretty much ready to go.

Hello! I'm looking to start a 20G tank with a Betta and a few tank mates that will play nice. Along with some easy to care for live plants. I've found 2 starter kits on Amazon and was wanting to see if these would be good place to start. There is this one and then This second one. I don't think either comes with a heater so I would have to snag that. Basicly wondering if the filters and lights will be enough or if it would be way cheaper to buy all the parts by themselves.

Well, 1st thing...
You dont want to mix the red and blue neo shrimp in the same tank. They will crossbreed and the offspring will be ugly wild type shrimp.

If you want multiple colors, consider going with a neocaridina and a caridina. Either the reds or dream blues and tangerine tigers or Orange eye blue tigers (OEBTs are kinda pricey) would work, and have compatible water params. You could also keep crystal red or black shrimp, or any of the tawian bees with the neos, but theyre more expensive and much more delicate, so not great for a brand new shrimpkeeper. I would also warn against that specific seller. I have seen a LOT of complaints about them... from shipping/communication problems to sick and poor quality shrimp.

Check aquabid, ebay, or the marketplace on shrimp specific forums like shrimpspot.com


For the price range of the tank you listed... I would go with this . It comes with a much better filter and is a nicer looking tank (nice rounded glass corners, rimless tank). It's also made of actual glass, so will not scratch as easily. Despite the description, it does NOT come with a light, however. Just as a heads-up.

You listed a sand substrate, and you listed dwarf baby tears. Sand has no real nutritional value, so plants won't grow well in sand. You will need to supplement with root tabs or switch to a more nutritious substrate. Dwarf baby tears are in general a really demanding plant. Youre going to need high light for them. Since it's such a small tank, a 6500k-7000k compact fluorescent clip light should do it, but you will likely also need Co2, or at least Excel to keep it alive. Monte carlo or glossostigma would both be a LITTLE easier.

For shrimp, you'll need to get a prefilter guard for your intake so you dont suck up babies.

You'll also want to get yourself a GH/KH test kit, as well as a standard water testing kit (API master test kit is my suggestion). If your PH is high, you may want to go with a shrimp specific PH buffering substrate. With Neos, you may be just fine without it, they are not nearly as picky about params as cards. If your KH/GH is too high you may need to use some distilled or RO water mixed with your tap, or your shrimp will be unable to successfully molt, killing them.


You want the tank to be fully cycled and well established before you add shrimp.


If you DO want dwarf baby tears, and do not plan to go with a fancy high tech Co2 setup, I would STRONGLY recommend dry-starting the tank. It's the only way youre really gonna get a nice carpet without Co2.

It depends. I suggest checking out the Walstad method if you would be interested in a shrimp tank. Shrimp can do well in a jar or bowl with plants, no filter, no light, presuming you have the bowl in a spot with enough light for the plants. Some plants would do fine with just regular office lighting, but others are picky.

Fish usually require a filter because they're dirty poop machines and benefit from the current. Betta fish like calm water and can live in a bowl (that's why you see them in those depressing cups at pet stores) without filtration, too. They require a lot more water changes because again, poop machine and nothing to stir up oxygen into water.

/r/shrimptank and /r/aquariums are good resources if you're looking to get set up. If you want to go bigger, I have this tank for my desk. It's silent and acts as a great lamp and I've never once did a complete water change and I've had it over a year (just topping off tank when it evaporates).

Hey, thanks for replying.

The betta I'm caring for now has a lot of personality...he loves to pace the front of the 10g, weaving through the plants. I guess each one is different, but maybe something like this tank would encourage that behavior. I really want a very small footprint though, which is what attracted me to the compact cube design. I just worry that there's not enough space for really swimming in it, you know?

This tank was nice the brief time that I used it and I believe barely fits in your space. I can't remember if there are sponges covering all the holes leading to the back though, so you may need to get some sponge filter media and something like a zip tie to cover those:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/

For species, you can usually easily get Ghost, Amano, and Neocaridina (most commonly "Red Cherry") shrimp. I've found that Ghosts and Amanos are the hardiest but don't have much color. Neocaridina come in tons of colors, but don't mix them because the offspring will be mostly clear/brown.

For plants, moss provides a large surface area for shrimp to graze on. Tropica.com has a nice list of plants that most LFS should be able to order (since most carry Tropica at least in my area). The pictures you find of plants often show them growing with CO2 though, so keep that in mind as far as expectations.

This subreddit's sidebar has some links that would be helpful as guides. If you want guides on the shrimp, usually you just want to try to match whatever the breeder's conditions are (including the lesser known GH, KH, and TDS).

The cats I have "rescued" have went from me to a no kill shelter because I was taking care of them in the alley. My own cats are inside and have never been out since I've had them. The one I took into the rescue last was placed in the bathroom when I took him in (for isolation). The director had let me know that when they went to see him he was gone (from a closed room). He actually went up into the ceiling vent! Can you believe? I went to visit him after he was fixed and incorporated into one of the open cat rooms. I was able to pet him still while no one else was. I went to visit again after a while and he made some more progress. Last time I looked on their website he had been adopted.

The reason I tell you is because as painful as it is to hear the yowling you have actually saved her. Maybe try giving her a stuffed animal that you have slept with, something to cuddle with. She might have had other cats with her outside and be lonely for them. Also is there a window that she can see out of without climbing the walls or being able to open it? She doesn't need to be outside but cats do like to look outside. I also leave the TV on for my cats. I don't want your mother to be upset so maybe something like this would help. I think the kitty needs a distraction. Also I leave my radio on to music (classic rock like Journey, Queen - my preference). No one likes to be in a closed and quiet room all alone, but don't worry because that is why you are making it so nice for her. How is she when you are in the room? Also I saw someone recommended Feliway and I make sock babies for them. Take some old socks and tie them inside a tube sock (a longer sock) and tie a knot in the end. It is like a kitty body pillow. If you sleep with the socks in your bed first for a day or two then they will smell like you.

https://www.amazon.com/Lightahead-Artificial-Aquarium-Swimming-Bubbles/dp/B00MXFIFJS

Thanks for the info. Does the shape of the tank matter (a shorter, wider tank would have more substrate surface area for example)?

How good is an all-in-one tank kit like this? Or would I be better off going to the pet store and buying parts individually to put together?

What volume of water does it hold? What is the filter? Looks to me like it is too small, lacks a filter and lacks a heater.

Absolute minimum for bettas IMO is a 2.5 gallon and a filter like this

I always kept my bettas in a 5 gallon. Bigger tank lets you do more with it in terms of plants and hardscape. Plus the fish enjoy the room.

Here is a tank for $25 or one for $49.99 that would better serve your fish.

I've also got one of these. The curved glass is amazing looking. The filter is OK, light is Meh. But the price is worth the tank alone.



https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0069RPRHO/ref=mp_s_a_1_14?ie=UTF8&qid=1522757024&sr=8-14&keywords=Fluval+spec

Edit: guess these don't come with lights anymore. Which is good. Lol

Hey there! I want to stay posted on this situation. Everyone else who has replied to your post has exhausted their good advice, however, I wanted to just share this with you!

Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter

If you happen to have 10 square inches of surface to spare, this tank could be a great investment for you! It’s dimensions are 9.5x9.5x16.

Christmas is coming up. Maybe someone in the family could help chip in??

While some people run canister filters on saltwater tanks with success, they are generally not used. Most of the biological filtration in saltwater tanks is done by the bacteria that cover the surface area of the rockwork and sand. Canisters end up filling with gunk and waste that then leeches nitrates and phosphates back into the water and can be counter productive if not kept exceptionally clean. In planted tanks these products are used by the plants, but are detrimental to most marine invertebrates. HOB filters can be used, but generally they are only used for water flow through chemical filtration bags like chemipure, purigen, or GFO. The amount of surface area a HOB filter adds is minimal compared to the porous rock and sand in saltwater tanks.


I ran a sumpless system for about 2 years and many people do the same. Although the system was successful in the short term the waste export was not great and the clarity/water surface were not what they have been since I have set up a new system with sump, filter socks, and skimmer. If you want a simple setup for ~$500 maybe look into some of the plug and play systems like the nuvo aquariums or all-in-one cubes. Some of these systems are more customizable than others if you think you may want to upgrade the tank in the future.

For example:
http://www.marinedepot.com/Innovative_Marine_30_Gallon_NUVO_Fusion_30L_Aquarium_(Tank_Only)_Nano_Cube_Aquariums_Tanks_30_39_Gallons-Innovative_Marine-0I10443-FIAQNCNTHH-vi.html

http://www.amazon.com/Coralife-15607-Biocube-Size-29/dp/B007UQA7CS

http://www.amazon.com/JBJ-Nano-Cube-Aquarium-Fluorescents-Moonlights/dp/B002BC4XIU

Very nice of you to rescue him! Poor little guy. Not enough people care about fish. As you can see on my profile, I'm a betta person :D

He'd probably love a 5-gallon tank with a filter. This was my starter tank and I really liked it! Only $45 and has everything you need as goldfish don't require a heater.

https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML90609-Portrait-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=5+gallon+fish+tank+kit&qid=1555020352&s=gateway&sr=8-2

Thanks for the write up! Here's the kit I got: https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-Fish-Aquarium-Starter-gallon/dp/B01LCZMHPM

Would you recommend switching to a higher intensity light for plant growth? Also what ferts do you recommend? Do LFS sell them?

Check out the Marineland Portrait (5 gallon) on Amazon - full kit, only needs a heater. - $57.46 - https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML90609-Portrait-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1X2LC9K1PR12Z&keywords=marineland+portrait&qid=1550531669&s=gateway&sprefix=marineland+po%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-1

​

Add:

Indian Almond Leaves - $7.95 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HG1TMIW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Marino Moss Balls - find the cheapest with the best reviews - $7.95 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MT8YO3E/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

VitaChem - $9.12 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BS96V78/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Betta Hammock - $7.56 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079ZM9H97/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05__o00_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

My betta's favorite hammock - $5.99 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BTMKNY2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Seachem Ammonia Alert - $6.99 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000255R5G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pipettes - $6.19 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B073WLCQWD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thermometer - $6.99 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01A0TMS6Y/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Tweezers/Scissors for plants - $11.39 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y9ZGYMK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Algae Scraper - $7.50 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01726KDKG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

API Freshwater Testing Kit - $17.59 - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000255NCI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09__o00_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

Hmm. yes that does seem to be something wrong with a fin. Though I don't know how to tell for sure. I'm not sure what to do. Putting him in a hanging net is a start. I would suggest getting a breeding net just for cases like this, it's pretty useful if you need to dose as well.

You can learn a lot by joining us over in the IRC channel as well. There's a link in the Helpful Links section of the sidebar.

I have this tank, I'm not sure what kind of prefilter sponge would work with it? It says it uses Tetra Whisper S replacement filters, so I'm not sure if there is a specific sponge filter for it or not. a quick Google search shows circular sponges, so not sure how that would fit with the intake being on top like it is.

I may go with the panty hose option if I can figure out how to cover it. Or I may just say F it and get an entirely new HOB filter that I can use the sponge or pantyhose easier and hopefully the current filter cartridge

> The set up includes a filter, light, and cover, and runs $80.

$80 for a 3.5 gallon? What a con, lol. My 5.5 was $27 on sale but its base price wasn't $80 and it had all that stuff. The stock light is meh but it grows my plants. If you want to spend $80, get this instead. For $80 or less you can get a bigger tank with filter/light/cover.. heck, you can get a 10 gallon for that much. Is the 3.5 at the store? If so he wants commission off that sale lol.

I'd need to know where you live to say about your tap water. I've used tap water in every west coast state and the Cali water tastes rancid but my boy is doing just fine on it. I use this to condition the water. BTW don't buy betta-specific conditions, they're smaller volumes for more money but do the same things. I couldn't say personally if bottled water is an improvement, having no experience with it, but the real problem is you have no filter.

Here's /r/aquariums article about cycling. It's fishless which is the ideal but the concept is there. With fish in you need to water change every day or two. Which is why you need the API master test kit so you can check the levels.

I'd imagine a couple months before he shows improvement since you're fish-in cycling so the water quality won't be top notch. A lot of bettas show fast improvements, though, once they get out of tiny, no-filter cups. We'd need a pic to determine if he's got fin rot or anything else.

i would suggest this one instead. It has TONS of great reviews & the light is apparently fantastic. Same price as the one you linked. I also like the glo fish one too, & i have a minibow but i got a different heater for it. None of these tanks contain a good heater though so i would recommend getting a hydor 25w adjustable one, i use them in my betta tanks. They are $15 i believe

I've had two bettas (separated) sharing a 5-gallon portrait tank while I've been trying to cycle a second identical tank. Several months in and several restarts later I'm having zero luck fishless cycling, despite having been successful in the first tank. I mean, the first tank is really doing well, apart from having two fish in it.

So I'm starting "fresh" (so to speak) in the new tank, completely replaced the water twice (Prime both rounds), next I'm trying a sponge filter; I've ordered a biologically active sponge and a small air pump, the idea being when both arrive I'll plop them in and have cycled media.

Other than the obvious API test kit tests, is there anything I should have to do before moving one of the bettas into his new tank? Should I continue running the powered filter while the sponge is going, too?

So I have the marine land 5 gallon portrait it's about the same foot prints as what you have just a little taller. I love it . Check it out this might work for u . Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_pkUXCbH6SZFQM
Your tank is beautiful tho. I really want to upgrade to some live plants

350$ is more then enough, for a 5 gallon tank. The bigger the tank the less the water quality fluctuates which makes it better for the fish and easier for you to look after. I would advise getting a 5gallon over the 2 gallon.

Read this: http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_51/fishless-cycling-article.htm

and this: http://www.firsttankguide.net/fishlesscycle.php

These 2 links are the most important part of keeping an aquarium. Please read at least one of them before you buy any fish!!!

Keep in mind you can buy most of this stuff used on craigslist for 1/3 of the price, but I'll link you some options for new 5 gallon tanks.

http://www.amazon.com/Marina-Style-Glass-Aquarium-Kit/dp/B0035HBFWM/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1412914315&sr=1-4&keywords=5+gallon+aquarium

http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-5-Gallon-Black/dp/B0089E5VLC/ref=sr_1_20?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1412914315&sr=1-20&keywords=5+gallon+aquarium

You will probably need a heater -30$, gavel vacuum -15$, water conditioner -20$, nutrafin or api master test kit -40$. ( I recommend nutrafin over api, if your city's tap water contains chloramine)


Things you can keep in a 5 gallon:

Option 1:

• Siamese fighting fish
  
• 2 nerite snails or 5 amano shrimp( make sure they are over 1/2 when you add them)
  
  
  Option 2:
  
  
• 15 cherry shrimp
  
• 3 nerite snails
  
  
  Option 3:
  
  
• 5 Boraras brigittae they get (.7 inches)
  
• 7 cherry shrimp
  
  Here is some info on boras brigittae: http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/boraras-brigittae/
  
  
  
  

Wow this was an awesome response. I feel bad for not typing out something huge in my reply. The tank I ordered is this tetra crescent 5 gal from amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Tetra-Crescent-Aquarium-Kit-5-Gallon/dp/B00324X5L2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1397015200&sr=8-1&keywords=tetra+crescent

From the manufacturers website the rep says the light is around 5000K so I am at the bottom of your scale.

Tank comes with a filter I also ordered a 25 watt heater and a digital thermometer.


edit: added full-site amazon link

surprising, Amazon!! It’s a Marineland Portrait 5 gallon kit. I love this tank. Here’s the link!


Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_scdIDb23N8ECM

Thanks, I'll definitely consider that. A similar one I've been looking at just now that I'm considering is the Fluval Spec 2.6 gallon. I've been reading good things about it. Any experience with Fluval at all?

I would check around your local thrift stores, I recently found a Fluval Spec tucked away in a thrift store for ~20 dollars. Depending on how much you're trying to spend, Marineland makes this fairly sleek looking 5 gallon rimless. Looks like Topfin makes a knock-off Fluval Spec V. And this Petco's Imagitarium kit is pretty nice looking (had to Google it to find pictures of full setup).

LED fish tank for my cats because they need fun things to watch, especially my older girl who can't get up into windows like she used to.

​

a cute tortoise pic

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Snack is: peanut butter crackers

It’s pretty great, and requires minimal maintenance. It’s a wet/dry filtration system, with three chambers build into the back. The water flows into one chamber through very small slits in the back, then over flows into the filtration chamber with a filter pad (I’ve just been using the large pads that you can cut to fit rather than the fancy one designed for the tank) and three bags of bio media, and then flows into the return chamber with the pump. It’s kind of like a built in sump.

For more info: https://www.amazon.com/Coralife-15607-Biocube-Size-29/dp/B007UQA7CS

No one really knows because putting fish in a glass box isn't an exact science, but 36" (90cm) minimum is the recommendation I trust. Still 30" is better than 8.4"

If it's too short a tank to get good schooling behavior from them, then I really wouldn't do it.

I got the kit at Petsmart, but it's widely available. [Here you go!] (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00324X5L2)

It is currently (over)stocked with 6 serpae tetras, 1 zebra danio, and 1 green cory. In a month or so it's going to be broken down when I transition to a larger tank, and will be restocked with one betta and one peppered cory, much more in line with its capacity.

I'm running the stock lights and in-tank filter, though I'm eyeing the Azoo Mignon 60, as supposedly it will fit this tank and free up some space/look better IMHO. Running an airstone off a Whisper pump, too.

>Is cycling essentially setting up the tank and letting it run for a few days before placing fish in the tank?

No. Cycling is creating a viable nitrogen cycle within your tank. To break it down very simply, fish create ammonia. Ammonia is toxic. In order to break down/process the ammonia, you need bacteria. These bacteria turn the ammonia into nitrItes, which are then converted by another bacteria into nitrAtes. So it's more complicated that just throwing a tank together and letting it sit for a few days.

You need to introduce an ammonia source into a new tank in order to start cycling it. This is typically done either with pure ammonia, or leaving fish food (or even a piece of shrimp) in the tank. Cycling requires patience and can take 3-6 weeks, but is absolutely worth it. Here is a "Fishless Cycling For Dummies" guide.

>I keep seeing mixed things about a filter. Obviously, it is better to have a filter than not, but don't most tanks come with a filter of Some sort? Is that enough?

Fish tank kits come with filters- just basic tanks do not. For instance, here is a 5 gallon kit that comes with a light and a filter. You will also need a heater, Bettas absolutely need one. They prefer temperatures of 78-82°F. Bettas also prefer a lower water flow, so you will potentially need to baffle the filter you end up with.

>I saw in a forum about adding live plants to the tank and needing or using soil base-- is that necessary? as a beginner should I just stick with smooth edged fake plants?

Live plants are always better, but silk plants will do fine. Just make sure your betta has plently of hiding spots.

Baby platy for sure! If you want to really make sure they live, you can get a nursery net to hold the babies until they're really big enough to swim with the adults. You do have to feed them itty bitty crumbled amounts of food. It sticks on the inside wall of the aquarium. This one is my favorite:

Pen Plax NB2 Net Breeder Deluxe https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B005JGOBPA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_j2HsDb4443J01

Your fish would love you forever if you gave him a better home!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009K0ZKAQ/ref=cm_sw_r_udp_awd_OqGYtb0N8R59GBW9

Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_4M.SCbAN4NANR

I love this one and have several lol.

for an office aquarium i would suggest finding a 5 gallon tank of any shape you like. how about this one. then you can aquascape it in any manner you like. you can put killifish of your liking or a betta. or you can have a shrimp only aquarium with different colors of shrimp.

Thanks for all the info! I will take all of that into consideration.
I talked to my LFS and he said that if I wanted to go real nano since im brand new at this I should get this and just get a goby and a shrimp. Maybe it would be a good idea for me to start out small like this? He quoted 100 for the tank and everything else I need besides fish. Im not worried about price, more just my lack of experience in salt water.

hello, thank you for the advice and i have researched better options for Charlie and i think https://www.amazon.com/Koller-Products-Panaview-5-Gallon-Aquarium/dp/B00KIRR8BY/ref=nav_ya_signin?keywords=5+gallon+fish+tank&qid=1566959690&s=gateway&sr=8-3&
this might work, please let me know if this is ok

On my desk. The cheap LED light never worked but otherwise this has been a great tank. Have had it running a year now. Album

Fluval CHI 5G Tank - Dimensions are pretty good IMO, construction is awesome as well.

You can get the bundle with filter and light, but I prefer my sponge filters with 10 watt 65k LEDs.

This tank seems really good looking :)

Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_6v3XCb8PBJE0K

Tank - https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-2-6-Gallon-White/dp/B009S8NO26/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479225276&sr=8-1&keywords=Fluval+spec+III

Heater - https://www.amazon.com/Hydor-Submersible-Glass-Aquarium-Heater/dp/B0006JLPG8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479225297&sr=8-1&keywords=hydor+25+watt+heater

The tank requires a small amount of modification to make the flow suitable for bettas but these two pieces of equipment provide an excellent set-up for a betta.

Strange sub to post this in, maybe better suited to /r/Aquariums

Regardless, here's 2 I would recommend that come with nice filters and lights built in.

https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-5-Gallon-Black/dp/B0089E5VLC

https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-6-Gallon-Aquarium-21-LED-Light/dp/B005WEDVIM

If you do end up getting a marineland tank I'd pick up this one.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=s9_acsd_hps_bw_c_x_7
It looks nice, the filter works well, and Takumi seems to like it. The only issue is the lighting is a little subpar for plants.

Yeah they're great, my betta hardly notices the shrimp. I've had ghost shrimp in the past too, but the Amano Shrimps are bigger and nicer to look at.

The tank, by the way, is available on Amazon and includes a filter, light, and compartment for the heater.

It would. Bit for so etching much larger. That's a 45 gallon tank filter. One like this http://www.amazon.com/Tetra-25846-Whisper-BioScrubber-3-Gallon/dp/B000HHQ712/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404539713&sr=8-1&keywords=3+gallon+fish+tank+filter

or this

http://www.amazon.com/Tetra-25816-Whisper-BioScrubber-10-Gallon/dp/B0002DHYF4/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1404539774&sr=8-8&keywords=tetra+whisper+filter

would do the trick. The second is for a 3 to 5 gallon, the first is up to 3 gallon. You can get decent fish tank kits that come with a light and filter for around 20 to 30$ at pet smart, but that doesn't include a heater.


Something like this is a decent setup, and as it's a 5 gallon, it could actually be divided to house both fish. All you would really need at that point is a heater, and water dechlorinator.

http://www.amazon.com/Tetra-29003-Crescent-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00324X5L2/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1404540227&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=tetra+3+gallon+crescent

So which "corporate entity that only cares about profit" would you prefer? Amazon, WalMart, or Tetra (Who seem to have discontinued that model.)

The crowd favorite seems to be the Fluval Spec V which has a good light and filter. You would just need a heater and substrate.

The reason I'm building my own is because I have specific space requirements and a canister filter that I want to accommodate for. The cost of the glass was only $40 so it made total sense for me.

Alright, cool. Thanks for the tip. I'm getting a 5 gallon tank that can be found here. Is that tank suitable for the betta fish?

Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Ej7vCbQKYF9MF

My boyfriend and I have two of these, and they seem like the perfect tank for betta fish.

why are canisters out of the question? i got one of these, and have been using it for a month now and it seems to be doing quite well.

Also i have one of these i for from petco on clearance for 22 bucks that might be an option for you as well. i dont have it set up yet waiting on the ok from my boss so i can set it up at work.

Honestly, I'm still trying to figure it out. "The kit features Marineland 3-stage hidden filtration with a Rite-Size Z Cartridge and Marineland Bio-Foam (included in the kit), and includes an adjustable flow filter pump." So will any of these take out the good stuff from the IAL?

My exact tank is this: http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML90609-Portrait-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00O8SZTKQ

This is a copy/paste from another thread I did on this tank:

Hey!
So I was in your boat 3 months ago and with the help of some local saltwater guys I got my tank up and running. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT9FtqEUfgE[1] (looks a lot different now since i did some rescaping... I'll put a new video up soon)
Anywhosel... Don't go cheap... With anything... If you have to buy one piece at a time until you've got all your pieces do that. What I have:

Tank: http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-5-Gallon-Black/dp/B0089E5VLC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392354430&sr=8-1&keywords=fluval+spec+5[2]

Lights: http://www.amazon.com/Current-USA-Marine-Aquarium-24-Inch/dp/B00GFTK7CQ/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1392354461&sr=8-4&keywords=orbit+usa+lights[3]

Pump: http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Mini-Jet-Powerhead-VERSION-Misc/dp/B009LN1HWW/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1392354739&sr=1-1&keywords=mini+jet+606[4]

Powerhead: http://www.amazon.com/EcoTech-Marine-VorTech-Propeller-Aquarium/dp/B003HLO636/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392354535&sr=8-1&keywords=vortech+mp10[5]

Gravity Tester: http://www.amazon.com/Salinity-Refractometer-Aquarium-Seawater-Agriculture/dp/B005ES6MOQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1392354641&sr=1-1&keywords=Refractometer[6]

Glass Cleaner: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0061PIRGW/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=20GUT5T0T21NZ&coliid=I1FAC5MICMTB5T[7]

I had freshwater fish before the saltwater and it's wayyy more maintenance but way more fun. You will want to abandon the freshwater the moment you get the saltwater up and running.

The Marineland Contour 5-Gallon!

I have the 3-gallon version for my betta. It's a solid beginner setup, but I replaced the light on mine pretty quickly for the sake of my plants.

There are lots of great desktop aquariums you could consider. I personally have this tank, and it takes up no space. There are some longer options that would be just as good (but my betta seems to not mind the vertical space).

Sorry, that tank would be pretty crappy for a betta, due to the shape and the volume.

I would highly recommend the Fluval Spec V if you can afford it. It has more swimming space than other 5 gallon kits, and the quality of the light and filter is excellent.

Did you know Amazon will donate a portion of every purchase if you shop by going to smile.amazon.com instead? Over $50,000,000 has been raised for charity - all you need to do is change the URL!

Here are your smile-ified links:

this one

This second one

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^^i'm ^^a ^^friendly bot

Local chain pet store. It's a Marina LED 5Gallon. This is same on US Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Marina-LED-Aquarium-Kit-Gallon/dp/B0173I55IS

The tank is nice but I don't use the filter that came with it - way too strong and it was noisy.

Thanks! The tank is about 2.6 gallons (which I know is cutting it close, but that's as big as we can go currently). The tank comes with a circulation pump and a foam block/carbon/bio ring filter system. We switch the carbon as necessary and clean the bio rings/block.

https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-2-6-Gallon-Black/dp/B009K0ZKAQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1524163916&sr=8-1&keywords=fluval+spec+iii

Is this a good choice for my first aquarium? https://www.amazon.com/Marina-LED-Aquarium-Kit-Gallon/dp/B0173I55IS

I'm a complete beginner.

Also how many tiny fish could I fit? Like 6 max? (if they're a bit less than an inch long)

If you're interested in a kit and not just a bare tank and don't mind shipping, I'm looking to offload a new Fluval Chi (second model) and get rid of a used 5 gallon Petsmart tank (their knock-off of the Fluval Spec V)

Otherwise if you don't mind getting something bigger, a 20G long and 40G breeders are nice starter tanks with the dollar per gallon sale coming up.

I bought my tank about a month ago and have been letting it run, as per the advice I received here. It is now finally ready to house a fish. I don't want to hurt or stress out my fish at all so I waited til everything was set. Plus my tank decor only just arrived due to the original package getting lost by UPS.

I may buy a betta this weekend if I see "the right one" but I am ok with waiting!

Here is a list of things I got, based on the general reddit consensus. I wished someone had included a list like this so here you go

Fluval 5 gallon (includes filter/light)

Hydor heater (hides right in the side part of the Fluval tank)

Thermometer

Sponge thingy to make the filter stream not too strong for bettas (I zip tied it on)

I personally like the Fluval Spec V for betta. Just add a heater and it's good to go.

Maybe she could look into a 5 gallon portrait tank if she's concerned about taking up space. They really have a small footprint while still giving the fish a decent swimming space and all the benefit of the larger volume of water.

The Tank

https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-Fish-Aquarium-Starter-Gallon/dp/B01LCZMHPM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536884869&sr=8-1&keywords=aqueon+10+gallon

For the gravel I het a $5 discount card since I bought some cat toys, so I got that for $7 from Petco. I would recommend the fluval shrimp stratum though

https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Plant-Shrimp-Stratum-4-4-Pound/dp/B00JGQIY48/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536884958&sr=8-1&keywords=fluval+shrimp+stratum

Then I got this set of marimo balls

https://www.amazon.com/Marimo-Moss-Ball-Variety-Pack/dp/B00I323A0E/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1536884997&sr=1-4&keywords=marimo+balls

Got some pre-filter inlet covers

https://www.amazon.com/LTWHOME-Pre-Filter-Sponge-Fluval-Aquarium/dp/B00J5Z44OE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1536885057&sr=8-1&keywords=fluval+prefilter+sponge

API Freshwater test kit for $20 from amazon

API GH KH test kit for $8 from amazon

a basic TDS electric meter for $10 from ebay

I got salty shrimp 100 grams for about $20 off ebay

Then I bought a piece of driftwood from the Pet store for $10

I got three java moss balls from the pet store for $6 each

Bought an Anubias plant from the pet store for I believe it was $12

I got 3 amano shrimp and 5 CRS from the pet store, prices vary so check your own pet store.

This is the first I've seen that people think live plants are absolutely vital for all fish like having a filter and heater.

OP made an aquarium for his niece than isn't a heaterless 1.5 gallon beta bowl with a gold fish in it. That's more than many parents/uncles/aunts can say. He could have done so. much. worse.

5 gallon is a good size for a Betta. Something like this. If you want any other fish as well, then you need to get a 10 gallon or larger. Just keep in mind Bettas can be picky about tank mates.

I don't know if this fits in your space, but I got this aquarium: It's pretty cheap and has almost everything you need. You will have to baffle to filter, though. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00KIRR8BY/ref=psdc_2975460011_t2_B00324X5L2

I’m planning to have a Betta. This is the tank I got:

Tetra Crescent Acrylic Aquarium Kit, Energy Efficient LEDs, 5-Gallon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00324X5L2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_N2TQBbE6BH5DY

It came with the filter and the lid has a specific opening for it. If I got one that hung on the back, I’m worried it wouldn’t fit in the opening, maybe I’m overthinking it?

I bought a Fluval Spec V 5 gallon tank off amazon.ca (no car, didn't want to carry) a few months ago. Definitely more pricey at ~$110-140 but I have no regrets. It comes with a tank, light, and filter. I liked it as a starter kit because it had most of what I needed, the filter is hidden, and it runs very quiet.

Other websites to add to what was already posted above:
http://www.theplantguy.org/MrAqua-Aquariums_c_130.html (Manitoba, but will ship)
http://www.shrimpfever.com/shop/category/shrimp/tank-kits-and-gifts/ (Ontario, but will ship)
http://www.menageriepetshop.com (local Toronto)

You can check out the closest fish/aquarium forums in your area and do meetups for plants and other goods.
http://www.gtaaquaria.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=7 (general toronto area)
http://www.bcaquaria.com/forum/#classified-section (BC)
http://albertaaquatica.com/index.php?showforum=65 (alberta)
http://www.canadaquaria.ca (canada)

There are usually people getting rid of aquarium stuff on craigslist and kijiji too.

If you aren't going to have any livestock, you can also venture into strange shaped jars/vases (Winners, Canadian tire, homesense, bedbathandbeyond, JYSK, etc.). Also check https://www.reddit.com/r/jarrariums for inspiration!

Slightly off topic: for plant stuff, I relied on the "easy" list on tropica's website for direction. http://tropica.com/en/plants/?tabIndex=1&alias=Easy since my tank is also lowtech

Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_833DCbZGDSNEM says it’s 5 gallons but i think it’s closer to 3. comes with a light and filter, it’s really nice

Eh, idk. I bought my tank at 5g for for almost that and it has everything. The filter is pretty quiet, and the size is good for one betta, plus it was in my price range.

My Wisp really loves his tank. When I clean it, I put him next to it so he can watch. IDK if it makes him feel better but it can't hurt for him to see he isn't going back to that tiny cup I bought him in. It's sad, cuz the moss ball cups are bigger than the betta cups at the pet store!

Edit: added more info

Thanks! I'm guessing it's this one? I've been looking for a tank for a couple plants and some shrimp and I think this may be the one.. what do you have in yours besides duckweed?

I have a Fluval Chi aquarium that happens to make a perfect drinking fountain for my cat. He's always drinking out of it.

Dude, THIS right here is perfect for you.

Oh!

If you're in Baltimore or nearby I also have a 10 gallon you could have for free, just one of those basic ones from petco and I have this 5gallon kit that comes with a filter, lid with LED lights, and I could include the fish net and thermometer that I'd sell for $20.

I recently picked this tank up. 5 gallon for $25 bucks. Comes with a filter as well. I also got a bag of these stones/gravel/whatever you wanna call them, and a heater. All coming in well under 50 with shipping. So far Sir Fishy fishington of Fishville is digging his new home after being confined to a betta cube for a few weeks. Here's some pictures of the tank/Sir Fishy

Thank you! His name is Randy. I’ve had him about a year now. The light came with the tank which I bought on Amazon.

Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_m4dWBbFHAPW9R

Kind of like the Fluval Spec V idea?

I'd get a Fluval Spec V. It's a 5 gallon all in one. It will be good for a single betta.

​

https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-5-Gallon-Black/dp/B0089E5VLC/ref=sr_1_2?gclid=CjwKCAjw04vpBRB3EiwA0Iieasb_yECQmx7hihQMBdHwNu5-gb419jVAYSHApZGrpSVqXhK68zMAHBoC5YgQAvD_BwE&hvadid=178532195030&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1014221&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=b&hvrand=8640727061942101560&hvtargid=kwd-69101103695&hydadcr=16135_9891773&keywords=fluval+spec+v+aquarium+kit+5-gallon&qid=1562629939&s=gateway&sr=8-2

I am a big fan of this tank that I have on my desk. The filter runs very quiet and the tank looks really nice for the price. I currently use this solely as my shrimp tank. Granted you need to get your own light, but the lights included with most tanks aren't sufficient anyway. The tank fits under my regular desk lamp with fluorescent bulb.

Looking at reviews for that tank ultimately stopped me from getting that model. I was looking heavily at an innovative marine kit or an eheim kit and ultimately went with the aqueon nuvo 8 as they had one at petco and I talked them down to $60 for it since there were a few scratches on the acrylic. Here is a link to it I plan on cutting out the filter area making one very large opening instead of two and then inserting a custom made acrylic basket in with my preferred media. It will be a low-tech freshwater with just a couple of fish like some shrimp or a dwarf puffer or something. Not decided yet since I have to do the modifications first.

The reason I didn't get an eheim was because I liked the hidden filter compartment options and even though the eheim filter was rated well, it also meant I had to have a heater visible and people commented that the glass top to the tank doesn't easily let a heater cord through and they had to have it cut by a glass cutter. I would prefer glass over acrylic but for $60 bucks, I'll give it a try.

I don't know what dimensions exactly you are looking for, how much you want to spend, or how good these tanks are, but here are some 5 gallon tanks that are taller as opposed to wider.

http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML90609-Portrait-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1458881910&sr=1-2&keywords=5+gallon+fish+tank

http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Pillar-Aquarium-Kit-6-Gallon/dp/B007SUUH7Q/ref=sr_1_13?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1458881910&sr=1-13&keywords=5+gallon+fish+tank

http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Chi-Aquarium-Set-5-Gallon/dp/B00FSQCXF6/ref=sr_1_14?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1458881910&sr=1-14&keywords=5+gallon+fish+tank

http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-Contour-Glass-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00GOFS8P4/ref=sr_1_20?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1458881910&sr=1-20&keywords=5+gallon+fish+tank

5G Mainland Portrait... I really like it! And so does Bunty... https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML90609-Portrait-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1499707516&sr=1-7&keywords=marineland

You can get a Fluval Spec V for that price on Amazon right now. IMO the Fluval is better quality, even if 2.5 fewer gallons. You would still need a heater.

I haven't been thrilled with PennPlax.

https://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-5-Gallon-Black/dp/B0089E5VLC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1482282460&sr=8-1&keywords=fluval+v+spec

It's this one but branded Imagitarium from Petco instead. Looking back I'm kind of wishing I had invested in a nicer tank considering how much I spent on what I put inside it so far lol.

Oh my God, thank you for this wealth of info! I had been considering starting with a tank that came with a filter, after reading some reviews that had solutions to make them betta safe.

This one, for example: Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon w/ Hidden Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_KSaxDb9D0VT49

I'm trying to read up some more on the specific filter that comes with this tank, does anything troubling stand out to you? I'm hesitant about going back to the aquarium store that allowed me to purchase a bowl with my betta in the first place.

You'd be better off ordering it. Should anything happen during shipping they have replacements and I dont. The cost would probably be the same in end any. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006OMKMFG?pc_redir=1407180366&robot_redir=1

https://smile.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-5-Gallon-Black/dp/B0089E5VLC

Be patient and you can find them for less, I got mine for around $50, and it's the new version not the old version, the only real difference is the light is much better on the new one. If it comes in a white box it's the old version, black box is the new version, so if you find one locally that is how to tell.

Sure! Here you go! https://smile.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-2-6-Gallon-Black/dp/B009K0ZKAQ?sa-no-redirect=1

It is this tank kit:

http://www.amazon.com/Marina-LED-Aquarium-Kit-gallon/dp/B0173I55IS?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

The tank has been set up for two weeks. There is one betta in it and approx 1/4"-3/4" natural gravel at the bottom, with the depth of the gravel varying depending on where it is, as I have slightly more gravel around any small bunch plants.

It is a fresh water tank with the levels just fine. The light which came as part of the hood (It's a long skinny LED strip light that is aprox 10" long) puts out alot of light which reaches the bottom of the tank well. It is turned on when I get out of bed in the morning and turned off before I go to bed at night.

Different plants require different light, and I expect that not all varieties will work in this environment. Even still, I assume there would be some baseline guesstimate as to when one might know when they might see deterioration in the plants from the hood light not being a wide enough spectrum. There is certainly ENOUGH light, but I am not sure of the light's quality.

I have a 5g Tetra cresent. It is nice and 5 gallons is very small for a small puffer fish.

Thanks for the reply! I'm really thinking I'm going to make the purchase.

I'm really not sure. I know this is the tank.

Oh I have plenty of equipment, that's not an issue :P

I actually did some more research and decided on this tank instead.

I'm also thinking about a bonsai tree planted set up instead to help utilize the extra vertical space. I plan on stocking this tank with CRS or black bumble bee shrimp.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LCZMHPM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Plus some plants from the local pet store and these cool things https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01LCZMHPM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1. I also bought some bagged rock from the pet store.

I guess the API test strips I bought don't do Ammonia, just Nitrite and Nitrate. I'm going to go out and get a test to see the ammonia level tomorrow, I'll post something when I see it. The tank right now is very cloudy, you can hardly see thru it. I guess for now we will plan to let the tank cycle for a few weeks and try again after getting some new readings. I guess when I was younger I was just lucky, I never bothered with tank setup or chemicals or acclimation, i just bought tetras and Balas and put them in my 5 and 10 gallon tanks and did 100% tap water changes every month. I cant ever remember loosing fish like this. I'm starting to think 3 gallons is just too unstable of a size. Less water makes for a more delicate balance. At this point I cant return the tank, besides a Beta is there any other suggestions on what kind of fish we could get? My 3yo son really only cares that it is blue.

Here is the tank
http://www.amazon.com/Tetra-29005-GloFish-Aquarium-Gallon/dp/B00591C0KI

In all the pics it shows multiple fish in there and in the store they pack those guys so tight into 10-15 gallon tanks. I really didn't think 4 were too many from the research I did. I was reading ~1 gallon per fish. I hate that this has happened and don't want a repeat

Thanks for all the replys.

looks like this one; it comes in 3 or 5 gallons i have the 3 gallon version for my shrimp and assassin snails.

I was going to recommend that or the marineland contour which is about the same. They come with filters too.

My little guy likes to explore a lot, actually. But I do know that the air exchange in a hex or circular tank is a lot worse than rectangular or semi-rectangular tanks.

Didn't really think about the difficulty with planting and decorating. Had these visions of one or two single plants elegantly stretching way up through the center while several lower plants surround them. Now that you mention that, I'm thinking about trying to prune them and rearrange hard decorations. Doesn't sound like fun at all.

Alright, I'll stick to the rectangular and bowfront 5Gs. Thanks for the input.

EDIT: I'm guessing this is the tank you got?

You can get him one of these and it should entertain him. Doesn't have to be alive....

https://www.amazon.com/Lightahead-Artificial-Aquarium-Swimming-Bubbles/dp/B00MXFIFJS

99% sure it is one of these https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML90609-Portrait-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00O8SZTKQ.

From what I see on this photo of the bottom of the hood, nothing. They could barely survive, but this is all. It's for being able to see the fish, IMO.

This low cost bulb will allow to keep practically all not particularly demanding corals, but you will need to get a gooseneck holder for it (or use in desktop lamp with removable shade) and remove the current tank hood.

12W version of this lamp allows grow even sps in 1-3 gal pico tanks, see Reef Vase.

Be careful with NPS, they need a lot of feeding and cleaning water after this, this is much more expensive than keeping sps.

Am in the UK so will probably be buying on amazon. Is this the same one?

Fluval Chi also on sale.

I haven't used the Chi, but if you're using the spec V for bettas, you'll have to baffle the water output. Cut a small corner of the filter sponge, and shove it in the output tube to reduce the flow. Clean periodically when the flow get too backed up.

Yep, sorry forgot to mention I have a full lid. It's the Marineland Portrait 5 gallon.https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML90609-Portrait-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519349916&sr=8-1&keywords=marineland+portrait&dpID=512CrTS1o-L&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Fluval Spec V 5 Gallon Tank. http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-5-Gallon-Black/dp/B0089E5VLC?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00

My company allows the employees to gift each other with points. The points can be turned into gift cards. I got the tank for free using my points.

I'd show a picture of the tank, but im embarrassed about how bare it looks. Once I get some plants in there I'll take some pictures.

The Fluval spec is smaller than the spec iii. It has a round hole in the top.

Fluval SPEC Desktop Glass Aquarium, 2-gallon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0047XMQBM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_byNGDb8SC566M

Fluval Spec III Aquarium Kit, 2.6-Gallon, Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009K0ZKAQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_TyNGDbWPG4FTQ

Here's the Amazon price history.

On Amazon there is this 5 gallons tank.

Check FB Marketplace, Nextdoor and Craigslist. Often I see people selling tanks AND the accompanying supplies and decor for cheap... and you can pick it up in person instead of waiting for shipping.

If you'd prefer online, Amazon has this 5 gallon acrylic tank for under just over $35: https://www.amazon.com/Koller-Products-Panaview-5-Gallon-Aquarium/dp/B00KIRR8BY/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?keywords=5+gallon+acrylic+aquarium&qid=1568651263&sprefix=5+gallon+acry&sr=8-4

marineland portrait I got it on amazon for 50$ last year. It’s 77$ now, I believe petco has it on their website for cheaper

I am really trying to stay simple. I want to keep dosing to a minimum. Was thinking of one of those fluval spec 5, thoughts on the light on that? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0089E5VLC

If not, any other suggestions?

The filter I currently have is the Top Fin Silenstream 20 power filter. This is for a 20g tank.

​

The filter he will be moving to is part of this tank https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

​

Sorry but I don't see a name for the filter in that link.

​

Fluval Spec V.

It was what was most recommended here when I asked about 5 gallons. It seems to go on sale fairly often depending where you look, but I got it from Amazon a little cheaper than what it's listed at now about 2 weeks ago.

I don't know how expensive they are, and you can indeed remove a sticker, but not a filter outlet.
And the thing is that the filter compartment looks identical to that in a Spec 3.
Yours: http://i.imgur.com/1Gks5Yf.jpg
Fluval Spec 3: http://www.amazon.com/Fluval-Spec-Aquarium-2-6-Gallon-Black/dp/B009K0ZKAQ

Another thing I see now is that you might want to add a leaf (a plastic one is good) for your betta to rest on.

It's this one here. Not great for shrimp since they can get into the back compartment very easy. And the light is not great.

https://www.amazon.com/Marineland-ML90609-Portrait-Aquarium-5-Gallon/dp/B00O8SZTKQ/ref=asc_df_B00O8SZTKQ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167149786275&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17610282411160167437&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003862&hvtargid=pla-307731486417&psc=1

This one maybe?
https://smile.amazon.com/AquaView-2-Gallon-Power-Filter-Lighting/dp/B002DRLESA/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_199_bs_img_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Z56Z42NB36CT1XWE349A

What do you think of this with a heater and a thermometer?

Its the Tetra cube 1.5g.

I'm thinking about replacing it at some point with this because it's got some scratches on the front.

aqueon evolve8

That's really really expensive. Biocubes are less than that. Even their 29 is less.
https://www.amazon.com/Coralife-15607-Biocube-Size-29/dp/B007UQA7CS