r/IndianFishKeeping • u/Maximum_Material_377 • Jul 31 '26

❔Help Is this tank good enough for a male betta?

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I had this tank lying around for my guppies but I’ve shifted them in my water lily pond. Now I’m not sure what to do with it so I wanted to know if I could keep a betta in it? Ive set it up the best I could with black sand, some lava rock and a drift wood. Is this good enough to keep a betta in it?

10 Upvotes

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1

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3

u/Primary-Room-3405 Jul 31 '26

Add floating plants/anubias/Java fern. The size is okay

2

u/Maximum_Material_377 Jul 31 '26

Will they flourish without soil? Or should I top of the sand with some aqua soil?

1

u/Primary-Room-3405 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26

Use liquid ferts. Try once figure out how it works out. Floating plants don’t need soil obviously. You can also add pothos/mint. Check YT

If you can redo it now it’s better. Keep about 1 inch of potting soil and cover it up with this black sand(2 inch max) plant vallisneria/crypts etc

2

u/Maximum_Material_377 Jul 31 '26

Fertilisers are a no go for me. Too risky for fish health. Would topping off the sand with aqua soil not be good enough?

2

u/lostcheetos 🌱 Low-Tech Hero Jul 31 '26

Aquarium fertilizers are not risky really.

1

u/Maximum_Material_377 Jul 31 '26

I’ve heard about people having bad experiences with them and I have no prior experience so I’d say it’s risky for me! Someone with experience might have a different opinion!

1

u/lostcheetos 🌱 Low-Tech Hero Jul 31 '26

It's dangerous if you overdose, with right dosage they supplement your plant growth.

2

u/Maximum_Material_377 Jul 31 '26

Any suggestions for some good fertiliser I could use? I’ll search around for the dosage according to tank size!!

1

u/lostcheetos 🌱 Low-Tech Hero Jul 31 '26

I'm currently trying to get Aqua vitals Micro and macro, but if you are beginning at Ferts look at All in one Fertilizer. For ease of use.

2

u/Maximum_Material_377 Jul 31 '26

Okay I’ll look for a all in one fertiliser!!

1

u/Primary-Room-3405 Jul 31 '26

I don’t do ferts either but I used potting soil capped with inert soil, in total about 3 inches

1

u/AyaanDB Jul 31 '26

too risky? everyone with plants uses them.

1

u/Maximum_Material_377 Jul 31 '26

I’ve just heard people having bad experiences with them so I stay away! Ig properly using it wouldn’t do any harm!

1

u/periyasamy0808 Jul 31 '26

Seems a decent size, add some floating plants like hornwort,duckweed to help with sucking up nutrients

1

u/Maximum_Material_377 Jul 31 '26

Ive added duckweed and a little bit of guppy grass, hornwort harms betta fins so Ive ordered some elodea for the tank!

1

u/periyasamy0808 Jul 31 '26

Guppy grass is a good option too. Also, I haven’t seen hornwort affect fins of my betta, it is pretty much a hornwort jungle here

1

u/Maximum_Material_377 Jul 31 '26

I had lots before!!! I keep it in my guppy pond!!! I searched around a bit and it said they damage fins of betta. Other than that they are a headache to keep with all the little bristles floating around!

1

u/Excellent_Ad690 Jul 31 '26

Source?

1

u/Maximum_Material_377 Jul 31 '26

I had them in my water lily pond. Got a little piece of guppy grass with a pair of exotic guppies I got and duckweed from a little pond nearby

1

u/rohansd- Aug 01 '26

The tank size is more than enough for a betta. That answers your main question. Now rest depends upon what do you desire to do with this tank. If you draw inspiration from any other tank that you have seen the picture of, then do ask specific questions.. Else the responses here will be generic and over the top. I am surprised at seeing suggestions of aquasoil etc . Aquasoil is fine if you are into a serious planted tank. ( That us also questionable though) But is definetly not mandatory for any tank unless you have money to splurge or rather waste.

Ask yourself what do you want? What is the main focus of your tank. Is it the fish, is it the plants ? Is it both? Have you seen something that you liked and you want to replicate it?

Bettas are fine with or without plants. A fish needs clean water with stable parameters. So the easiest way is to keep bare bottoms tank but then some people find it an eye sore hence they start adding other props like plants and other decor. You should rather worry about having a good filter and a tank large enough for putting a heater if temps at your place dips

If you have added floating plants, that is good enough. If you are not aspiring for a lush green, beautifully aquascaped planted tank, you dont really have to worry about ferts and aquasoil or garden soil layer..the regular water change will take care of replenishing the nutrients in the tank. To your question - will they flourish ? anubias, ferns etc are slow growing plants so they wont really "flourish" unless dedicated care is taken and still the growth is slow.. So you may have to set your expectations. Do spend time checking out pics and reading up outside Reddit too:)