Betta Tank Build FIRST TANK! <3

[TheReefJedi]

I know this a saltwater forum, but since i'm in the planning stage of my 120 gallon reef (mainly just waiting until my funds are sufficient) I decided to get a little experience to see what it's like to maintain a fish. I know it's a small scale experience builder but it's better than nothing, right? So anyways, here's some pictures:

http://s12.postimage.org/ul0znlxfh/betta.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
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http://s15.postimage.org/6ht8nwb63/WP_000134.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
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If anyone has tips to share it would be greatly appreciated! Oh, and I dunno what the plant is, it's a live plant but since my mom was yelling at me to hurry up I grabbed what was nearest, anyone have an ID?

P.S. Sorry for the poor picture quality, was taken from my phone :P

Thanks guys! :spin2:

[bobears03]

It's a start. I, my wife, actually has a betta in a 3 gallon tank kinda like that. First they are air breathers, so you can screw up a lot. Get those rocks out of there and spend $5 for pool filter sand no more than 1 inch deep. The plant, I forget the name, but I don't think they do well completely under water without the proper care. We have some sort of Anubis in ours and I can't seem to kill that plant. Change 36oz of water every week.

Congrats on starting out and good luck. I hope you have many successes and few failures.

[TheReefJedi]

Thanks a lot! :) I was actually looking for sand at Petco but all they had was live sand for saltwater tanks, so I went with the rocks. We'll see how the plant does, it's no biggy if he doesn't make it (only $4 :P), so have any suggestions for plants that are successful in freshwater?

[TheReefJedi]

Oh and I think I found what my plant is:

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=768+796&pcatid=796

[TucanSam007]

Hey its a start. Many of us on here have had tanks our whole lives so if you spend your free time lurking around the forums you'll learn a lot! The plant looks like water sprite to me. Hard to tell by the pic. The cabomba has fine leaves. Water sprite is one of the hardiest plants so you'll be fine, as is the betta. Reasearch research research your 120 as long as possible, figure out what you want to keep, then research equipment. In this hobby nothing is cheap, Save up some funds and invest in some quality equipment. Research everything that can (and will) go wrong and make plans to give you as fail-safe setup as possible. As much as I love reef tanks, I still can't get away from fresh. Still love my planted tanks and they look awesome contrasting next to my reefs :). P.S. take everything you hear at the LFS with a grain a salt. I used to work in one and I left because I HAD to tell people to cycle with a fish. just FYI

[TucanSam007]

As for other plants java ferns, amazon swords, brazilian swords, java moss and anacharis are all hardy and easy. Just may have to add iron supps to your substrate, and just use regular tap water. You'll prolly need to use water ferts as well down the road. Good luck in your research, try and browse the forums as much as you can

[TheReefJedi]

Thanks for the input, it really took the weight of my shoulders hearing that the plant is hardy xD. And i've been reading as much as I can on this forum for my 120 gallon reef, i've been non-stop researching for my 120 gallon build for I think 3 weeks straight already, I think i'm getting there and I can't wait to set it up! :) I'll look into those plants and probably add some more if possible! Thanks again!

[bobears03]

2nd on the water sprite. A flourite substrate will help with those guys. Look into Java fern, it's easy.

[TucanSam007]

anytime thereef jedi! Wait so is this your very first tank? Jumping into reef may be a bit extreme, I had freshwater tanks my whole life and just last year jumped into salt and soon after reef, may want to start out fish only with live rock till you get it all down :)

[TheReefJedi]

Well, it's not my VERY FIRST, I kept a 20 gallon freshwater with my dad a while back (maybe 5-6 years), but he did most of the setup and maintence, so I don't remember much. And yeah, I'm not going straight to reef, i'm going to keep the 120 gallon a FOWLR for around 6 months and maybe even a year until I add corals so i'm not overwhelmed with cairing for an array of animals.

[TucanSam007]

Thats a perfect plan! try and buy equipment that can handle a reef as well to save some money down the road ;)..