Three separate UPS deliveries arrived, containing our filter, decorations (the rocks from Phase One), thermometer, substrate, and air pump. The only things left to be delivered are the plants and snails, both of which should arrive tomorrow.
After setting up the sponge filter and rinsing and adding the substrate, we actually filled the tank with water. We haven’t added the heater yet and will probably add that tomorrow, when the water is more clear. It looks like that may take awhile.
This looks more like a huge cup of coffee than an aquarium.
One important part of owning a betta fish tank (or any other aquarium) is water quality. Today we tested the water, and recorded the results in a spreadsheet so we can track the cycling process. Cycling is the process of getting the chemicals right so the water is safe for the fish.
Much clearer after only a few hours. You can kind of see my rocks, but I couldn’t see well enough to place them well, so I’ll fix that tomorrow.
I think tomorrow will be another fun day, as the plants (live plants) and the snail arrive. I hope the tank will be much clearer so I can see what I’m doing.
I think this hobby is going to be addictive. We’re already talking about our next, larger tank.
A week or so ago we visited my niece and nephew in Little Rock. They just bought this great house, and she’s an artist, so, of course it’s decorated fabulously.
One of my favorite things to look at was her aquarium. It was a small one, with a betta fish, a snail, and some plants. I’ve always loved betta fish and have probably killed more of them than some of you have ever looked at. Talking to my niece, Jackie, I learned that it’s not true that bettas can flourish in a small tank, and they do, after all, need filtration. Hence my poor, dead fish.
We got back in the car to continue our trip and Jackie texted me a link to a series of videos on YouTube by this Australian woman with a lovely accent. I started watching the videos on my phone and I was hooked. So was my husband, Jim.
I was looking for a two- to three-gallon tank. I found this three-gallon tank on Amazon. It’s 10.2″ in diameter and 14.5″ tall. I liked the tall shape because I don’t have a lot of extra table space in my office for it and this one can sit right on my desk. I find it so relaxing to watch fish.
Mind you, it currently looks nothing like this. It looks like an empty clear plastic cylinder.
In the next few days, the supplies for setting up the aquarium will begin to arrive from Amazon. I cannot wait.
I’ve decided to chronicle each step from empty cylinder to lush fish environment over the next few posts. So here’s the before.
This is what it actually looks like at this moment.
I was excited because I had found what I thought was the perfect decoration for my tank. I was looking for something tall rather than wide, and this looked like blue coral, so I thought it would be perfect. Boy, was I wrong.
It was way too rough and had too many sharp edges, and bettas can easily tear a fin. So it went back to the store (we had ordered it online) in exchange for another decoration that was way too large.
It covered almost the entire bottom of the tank. Which leaves no room for the filter and the plants I’ve ordered. We decided to save it for our next, larger aquarium.
Pro tip: It’s probably a good idea to actually measure your tank before you buy stuff for it.
I’ve ordered these small, smooth rocks, which I think will do nicely. Not sure if I’ll use all of them, but if not, it’s just another excuse to get another aquarium, right? 😀
As my cool new stuff begins to arrive, I’ll be adding substrate (kind of like underwater soil that gives the plants a way to grow), live plants, and a snail (and he’s so pretty). Stay tuned.
P.S. I could have gotten SO much Sponge Bob stuff. It seems that’s really popular. Sponge Bob was a no.
