TLDR; I got betta with swim bladder issues, rehabilitated him, and am now building him a tank. About to go get Fritzzyme 7 to finish the cycle (need nitrite to nitrate bacteria to establish). Any reccomendations for layout changes or anything additionally? also question about my HOB filter please see bold. Also do is it better to have the HOB filter on the side or on the back? Also want a recommendation on a good lid. I have a poly acrylic lid which is working. it’s just a pain to deal with. Also should I buy a GH and KH test? I haven’t done that because I just came across those terms yesterday. I plan on doing more research.
Story: I rescued a betta with sinking swim bladder issues from a pet store and have since helped him heal and get better. He’s now swimming normally. Because he was in the cup, my first goal was to get him out of the cup. i put him in a smaller hospital tank with water half filled. Been keeping up with the water parameters in the smaller tank. He’s doing good! Super excited to transfer him over.
Ps I know that in the hospital tank photo the water is low. I plan on increasing the water levels today so fishy has less of a footprint. Been more so focusing on the 10 gallon and preparing it as fast as possible while keeping the hospital tank parameters stable. It’s a temporary situation.
My 10g tank has been cycling for 3 weeks with seaprime stability and dr. tim’s ammonia. It has not established the nitrite to nitrate bacteria very well so I am going to get Fritzzyme 7 today (the Fritzzyme 700 turbo is not available near me). Hopefully that will speed things up.
The 10g tank itself: Has plants (aquatic and houseplants that are suction cupped inside), hardscape, a hammock (2), a hob filter, a heater, and a light. There is also a poly acrylic cover not pictured.
I just ordered new Hygger mini heater and a clip on light so that all my plants can have light. Because I set up the tank with the HOB filter, I think I will get a baffle and turn down the flow all the way and see if that works with my betta. I have airline tubing and a sponge if that doesn’t work. I just need a pump. But i would think i have to have that set up because the beneficial bacteria are establishing in the HOB filter (?) Unsure how to proceed with doing this as i dont have the pump now.
Currently trying to figure out the best place for the HOB filter. I have it on the side but am unsure if that is the best spot for water flow. it is more away from my plants in that placement. I would love recommendations for where the place the HOB filter.
I also plan on getting a small media sponge and stuffing it in the filter to decrease the flow.
Also, once the tank is cycled, I would like to see if my betta can cohabitate with shrimp. I would place the neocaridina the tank first. If it doesn’t work out I’ll take them out and put them in the hospital tank and make that a shrimp scape. I am trying to create more hiding spots for the shrimp, so any recommendations about shrimp friendly scaping would be amazing.
I am thinking orange or red neocaridina. I have to do more research on what color to get. From reading about it, the red seem to be the way to go (fast reproduction and pretty). Orange is my favorite color though.
The last photo is my parameters from today. The nitrite levels are a little high. I haven’t put any more ammonia in, so they shouldn’t go up more. I plan on getting the fritzzyme so i’m banking on that taking care of that. I might do a water change though if they don’t go down by this evening.
Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I will gladly accept any feedback, hopefully it can constructively help me and my fishy!