• You are viewing the forum as a Guest, please login (you can use your Facebook, Twitter, Google or Microsoft account to login) or register using this link: Log in or Sign Up

Wild Betta Jungle Scape

Joined
26 Feb 2020
Messages
54
Location
West Midlands
Hello Everyone!

The aim of this aquascape was to create a natural planted tank that will provide a great habitat for my future wild bettas! This tank was set up on 1/3/20 (I have been really lazy and forgot to post this earlier!).

Tank: 50cm x 30cm x 30cm (45 Litres) (Opti White Front Panel)
Hardscape: Manzanita Wood
Substrate: ADA Power Sand Advance (Special) S, ADA Aquasoil Amazonia, and ADA Aquasoil Amazonia Powder
Lighting: Twinstar 450 EA
Filter: All Pond Solutions EF-150 External Filter with Glass Spin Pipe and Glass Inlet Pipe
Heater: Aquael Ultra Heater 50W
Fertilizer: Tropica Specialised Fertiliser and TNC Liquid Carbon

Plants:

Anubias Nana Petite
Bucephalandra Theia
Cryptocoryne Balansae,
Cryptocoryne Petchii,
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green,
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Tropica,
Helanthium tenellum 'Green',
Microsorum pteropus 'Trident'.

1. Added the ADA Power Sand Advance (Special) S (Base Layer).
CmQmPsX

zyx6QIA

Screenshot 2020-03-04 at 23.22.28-min.png
2. Next goes in the ADA Aquasoil Amazonia and the Manzanita Wood (which is attached to a piece of slate)
Screenshot 2020-03-04 at 23.23.07-min.png
3. More substrate is added this time I am using ADA Aquasoil Amazonia Powder.
Screenshot 2020-03-04 at 23.23.50-min (1).png

4. I then placed the Microsorum pteropus 'Trident' (Java Fern Trident) into the back corner of the tank.
Screenshot 2020-03-04 at 23.24.04-min.png
5. Next, I superglued the Anubias Nana Petite and Bucephalandra Theia to the Manzanita Wood.
Screenshot 2020-03-04 at 23.25.17-min.png

SsXT7rS

6. The crypts are planted next.
Screenshot 2020-03-04 at 23.27.38-min.png

6Y6SVMW

7. The Helanthium tenellum 'Green' is planted in the foreground of the scape.
Screenshot 2020-03-04 at 23.27.55-min.png

Kj62vTB

8. Finally, the rest of the water is added along with the Lilly pipes and heater.
TPYY2Jd

Screenshot 2020-03-04 at 23.28.17-min.png

Here is the tank after it has been filled up!
89381753_250051612670953_377761682190952886_n(1)-min.jpg

pjC76dZ


I made a step by step video on how to set up this aquascape.


Please leave any feedback and questions, please!
 
Last edited:
Hi all,
Please leave any feedback
Looks good. I always like a floating plant and definitely would include one if you are aiming to keep a wild Betta spp. If you don't want Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) or Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), Indian Fern (Ceratopteris cornuta) would do. Personally I'd also add some moss (any one would do) and some structural leaf litter.



cheers Darrel
 
Looks good. I always like a floating plant and definitely would include one if you are aiming to keep a wild Betta spp. If you don't want Amazon Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum) or Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), Indian Fern (Ceratopteris cornuta) would do. Personally I'd also add some moss (any one would do) and some structural leaf litter.

Hi Darrel,

I have added some salvinia auriculata to the tank and it is doing well so far! Once I get the bettas I am going to add some Indian almond leaves and turn this tank into a blackwater tank. Any idea on what moss I should get? I want something slow-growing ideally.
 
How dark are you making the blackwater? If you go for dark tannin stained water then it really reduces the light and can slow the growth of many plants. It might also rule out some of the higher light loving moss.

I have Christmas moss in my blackwater and the growth is ok but not super quick. Java moss tended to be a bit stringy and not particularly aesthetic but it does survive in very dark areas.
 
How dark are you making the blackwater? If you go for dark tannin stained water then it really reduces the light and can slow the growth of many plants. It might also rule out some of the higher light loving moss.

I have Christmas moss in my blackwater and the growth is ok but not super quick. Java moss tended to be a bit stringy and not particularly aesthetic but it does survive in very dark areas.

I think I am going to go for a light tea colour, on my Twinstar I have a dimmer and the lighting has been set to 1,125 lumens. Christmas moss sounds like a good idea I can attach it to the wood.
 
Hi Everyone,

Here a 4-week update on the scape the Helanthium Tenellum has grown so quickly and has sent out runners all over the tank and the crypts have also shown signs of growth. I also added some salvinia auriculata too. So I think it is time for a trim, I will post another update after I have done it. I am having some brown and green algae problems if anyone can help that would be great.

91211750_888441411593499_6814572435109761903_n(1).jpg


Thanks,
Krish!
 
Looking really good! Your brown algae problem (diatoms) will likely go away with time as it’s common with new setups. Do you have any otocinclus or shrimp in there to help out?
 
How are you finding the flow and the filter?

I bought a soon pipe for my Betta tank but have never had time to play with it and set it up.

Are you still getting movement at the far end of the tank and do you think it would be ok for a long finned Betta?
 
Looking really good! Your brown algae problem (diatoms) will likely go away with time as it’s common with new setups. Do you have any otocinclus or shrimp in there to help out?

I have recently put in 10 cherry shrimp and have some stiphodon gobys, hopefully they can control the algae.

How are you finding the flow and the filter?

I bought a soon pipe for my Betta tank but have never had time to play with it and set it up.

Are you still getting movement at the far end of the tank and do you think it would be ok for a long finned Betta?

With the spin pipe there isn't too much flow at all, the end of the tank has some slight movement (can see the java move a little), I think a long fin betta would be fine, I am getting a short thin betta (personal preference).
 
Hi Everyone,

Here is another update (Day 31) from after I trimmed some of the plants (mainly the Helanthium Tenellum). After doing the maintenance on the tank I noticed there is a lot of unused space in the aquascape, so I am planning on buying some crypts to help fill out the midground of the tank. I got Cryptocoryne Petchii, Wendtii Green and Wendtii Tropica, I am looking for another type of crypt, any suggestions would be great!

91934206_225230021919487_1648156454235512019_n(1).jpg


Also here is a video of the maintenance being done on the aquascape, please have a watch!



Does anyone have any good techniques on how to remove runners from the substrate, I found it quite difficult without disputing the aqua soil.

Thanks for looking,
Krish
 
Hi Everyone,

Here is another update (Day 31) from after I trimmed some of the plants (mainly the Helanthium Tenellum). After doing the maintenance on the tank I noticed there is a lot of unused space in the aquascape, so I am planning on buying some crypts to help fill out the midground of the tank. I got Cryptocoryne Petchii, Wendtii Green and Wendtii Tropica, I am looking for another type of crypt, any suggestions would be great!

View attachment 133440

Also here is a video of the maintenance being done on the aquascape, please have a watch!



Does anyone have any good techniques on how to remove runners from the substrate, I found it quite difficult without disputing the aqua soil.

Thanks for looking,
Krish

Hi,

looks great, will be perfect for bettas. What species are you going for?

As for crypts, petchii pink is a beautiful one if you can find it. Cryptocoryne purpurea is a great one too but only dennerle do it in tissue culture, so it can take a while to get going. Wendtii bronze and undulata red and green are also very nice.

In regards to the removal of runners this should be of some help from juris.



cheers

conor
 
Hi,

looks great, will be perfect for bettas. What species are you going for?

As for crypts, petchii pink is a beautiful one if you can find it. Cryptocoryne purpurea is a great one too but only dennerle do it in tissue culture, so it can take a while to get going. Wendtii bronze and undulata red and green are also very nice.

In regards to the removal of runners this should be of some help from juris.



cheers

conor


Hi Conor,

I think I am going to get Betta Smaragdina. I like the look of undulata red and Wendtii bronze. Thank you for sharing that video that really helps for when I need to trim back the runner again.

Thanks for the help,
Krish
 
Hi Everyone,

I'd just thought I would show you lot an 8-week update on the tank!

96534360_125703129122805_3310227729161645765_n(1).jpg


Sadly some of the crypts did not survive, so I thought it was time to add some new ones like some Cryptocoryne Costata, Cryptocoryne Albida Brown and Cryptocoryne Legroi. I also planted on some Bucephalandra Red on the wood.



Thanks for looking!
 
Sadly some of the crypts did not survive, so I thought it was time to add some new ones like some Cryptocoryne Costata, Cryptocoryne Albida Brown and Cryptocoryne Legroi. I also planted on some Bucephalandra Red on the wood.

How are you finding the flow now? Were the crypts not great when you added them or did they turn? Any thoughts it might be flow related?

I am sure still not sure about flow in mine (https://www.ukaps.org/forum/index.php?posts/602448)
 
Sadly some of the crypts did not survive
Always best to just chop off all the leaves leaving just a couple cm and then just new submersed leaves will grow within a week or so ;) I have done that on my new rescape! after a week all have 1-2 50p size leaves coming through!

Lovely little tank!
 
How are you finding the flow now? Were the crypts not great when you added them or did they turn? Any thoughts it might be flow related?

I am sure still not sure about flow in mine (https://www.ukaps.org/forum/index.php?posts/602448)

The flow is okay, not brilliant I am thinking about changing the lily pipe, I think there might be dead spot in that area where I planted the crypts and I did have an out break of staghorn algae.

Always best to just chop off all the leaves leaving just a couple cm and then just new submersed leaves will grow within a week or so ;) I have done that on my new rescape! after a week all have 1-2 50p size leaves coming through!

Lovely little tank!

Oh really I never thought about doing that, I guess it saves trimming of melted crypt leaves. I will give it ago when I buy some new crypts in the future! Thanks for the tip!
 
Oh really I never thought about doing that, I guess it saves trimming of melted crypt leaves. I will give it ago when I buy some new crypts in the future! Thanks for the tip!
No worries, just means it will take 3-4 months for them to be of a decent size, but then they are all new growth adpated to your tank!
 
Back
Top