Looking at Betta Tanks

[Dan White]

Hi. I'm just looking for something simple and cheap for a betta. I was
looking at a couple of models from 3 to 6 gallons. They are a package deal
with a light hood and filter, and are quite inexpensive. They don't come
with a heater, and don't even mention the need for one, but I'd like to have
one. Anybody own any of the models below, and can they have a heater
hanging inside, or does the hood get in the way? Thanks!

Top Fin Aquascene 2 gal or 5 gal
Eclipse System 3 or System 6 (3 or 6 gal)

dwhite

[bettasngoldfish]

I have a couple of the top fin aquascene 2 gallon tanks and I
don't/won't use a heater in them. Petsmart carries a glass 2 1/2
gallon tank that looks like a regular fish tank trimmed in black for
$9.99. I have several of these tanks and I use a 25w neptune heater in
them (works very well) I use a piece of plastic canvas (found in the
craft section of any store used for needle point) that I cut to size
and to fit around the heater for the top of the tank. It works out
very good and does not cost alot. I also have a mini bow (costs a bit
more) and I use the neptune heater in that tank as well.
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=84552444177 9403&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302030099&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023693&bmUID=1129605173626
For some reason they don't have the glass 2 1/2 gallon tanks showing on
the online store. Here is a picture of one of mine
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v231/bigmiss/MrFishworkfish003.jpg

Hope this helps, Maria

[default]

Dan White wrote:
> Hi. I'm just looking for something simple and cheap for a betta. I was
> looking at a couple of models from 3 to 6 gallons. They are a package deal
> with a light hood and filter, and are quite inexpensive. They don't come
> with a heater, and don't even mention the need for one, but I'd like to have
> one. Anybody own any of the models below, and can they have a heater
> hanging inside, or does the hood get in the way? Thanks!
>
> Top Fin Aquascene 2 gal or 5 gal
> Eclipse System 3 or System 6 (3 or 6 gal)
>
> dwhite

Hi Dan, I've got an Eclipse 3 and I will say it would be perfect for
a Betta. The pump motor sits in a submerged housing and heats the
water to a comfortable 78 degrees all day and night long. It gets down
to about 60 in my office area at night or on days when they open the
hangar doors. The supplied flourescent light is sufficient to grow a
tropical jungle of java fern, anubia and even a nice vine of ludwigia.

steve

[IDzine01]

I have the Eclipse System 6 for a betta. It's worked out pretty well.
It's just big enough to put in a tiny piece of drift wood and a variety
of small plants. I added a 25 watt neptune heater and an airstone too.
I had it on my desk at work (which was quite warm) and never used the
heater once. Now it's at home and the water temp is slowly dropping so
I expect to need it this winter.

[Elaine T]

Dan White wrote:
> Hi. I'm just looking for something simple and cheap for a betta. I was
> looking at a couple of models from 3 to 6 gallons. They are a package deal
> with a light hood and filter, and are quite inexpensive. They don't come
> with a heater, and don't even mention the need for one, but I'd like to have
> one. Anybody own any of the models below, and can they have a heater
> hanging inside, or does the hood get in the way? Thanks!
>
> Top Fin Aquascene 2 gal or 5 gal
> Eclipse System 3 or System 6 (3 or 6 gal)
>
> dwhite
>
>
I have an old 2 gallon hex that's very similar to the Aquascene. I
don't like UGF so I run a sponge filter in it and use an old 25W Hagen
submersible heater. The heater is about 2" shorter than the tank so it
fits in upright in a corner. I've got Flourite substrate and a 14W
spiral compact light screwed into the hood, and am growing all sorts of
plants. It's got maybe double the plants now as it did when I took the
pic on my website.

--
Elaine T __
http://eethomp.com/fish.html <'__><
rec.aquaria.* FAQ http://faq.thekrib.com

[Dan White]

IDzine01 wrote:
> I have the Eclipse System 6 for a betta. It's worked out pretty well.
> It's just big enough to put in a tiny piece of drift wood and a
> variety of small plants. I added a 25 watt neptune heater and an
> airstone too. I had it on my desk at work (which was quite warm) and
> never used the heater once. Now it's at home and the water temp is
> slowly dropping so I expect to need it this winter.

Thanks Maria, Steve, IDzine and Elaine for the comments and links. I like
the idea that the Eclipse motor heats the water and evens things out so I
might take a second look at that one.

dwhite

[Dan White]

default wrote:
> Dan White wrote:
>> Hi. I'm just looking for something simple and cheap for a betta. I
>> was looking at a couple of models from 3 to 6 gallons. They are a
>> package deal with a light hood and filter, and are quite
>> inexpensive. They don't come with a heater, and don't even mention
>> the need for one, but I'd like to have one. Anybody own any of the
>> models below, and can they have a heater hanging inside, or does the
>> hood get in the way? Thanks!
>>
>> Top Fin Aquascene 2 gal or 5 gal
>> Eclipse System 3 or System 6 (3 or 6 gal)
>>
>> dwhite
>
> Hi Dan, I've got an Eclipse 3 and I will say it would be perfect for
> a Betta. The pump motor sits in a submerged housing and heats the
> water to a comfortable 78 degrees all day and night long. It gets
> down to about 60 in my office area at night or on days when they open
> the hangar doors. The supplied flourescent light is sufficient to
> grow a tropical jungle of java fern, anubia and even a nice vine of
> ludwigia.
>
> steve

I was also considering to divide the tank somehow with plexi and have 2
bettas in the Eclipse 3. Do you see any problems with that? I imagine 1.5
gallons, plus 3 gallons of "visual space" would be much better than those
little bowls, that a betta would appreciate it even if it were only 1.5
gallons.

Oh, also, does it make much of a noise? I'm looking for something pretty
quiet.

thanks again,
dwhite

[LÄ?Ê»ie Techie]

On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 22:03:36 -0400, Dan White wrote:

> Hi. I'm just looking for something simple and cheap for a betta. I was
> looking at a couple of models from 3 to 6 gallons. They are a package
> deal with a light hood and filter, and are quite inexpensive. They don't
> come with a heater, and don't even mention the need for one, but I'd like
> to have one. Anybody own any of the models below, and can they have a
> heater hanging inside, or does the hood get in the way? Thanks!

I've kept bettas in half-gallon round tanks without any problems. These
tanks have no filters (I do a 12% water change twice a week), no lights,
and no heater. They even wintered well (I keep my house at about 70-75
F).

I have seen broken blenders used as betta tanks before. Just remember to
remove the sharp blade and *never* plug it in!

I would only recommend a larger tank if you are planning on adding other
fish.

HTH,
Laie Techie

[default]

Dan White wrote:
Eclipse 3

> Oh, also, does it make much of a noise? I'm looking for something pretty
> quiet.
>
> thanks again,
> dwhite


Absolutely silent. I'm getting one for the bedroom.

steve

[IDzine01]

If it were me I would spit the 6 gallon for two bettas instead of the
3. (Both from a water quality standpoint and an aesthetic one.) My 6
gal seems so tiny as is and he actively utilizes every cubic inch.

[Gill Passman]

IDzine01 wrote:
> If it were me I would spit the 6 gallon for two bettas instead of the
> 3. (Both from a water quality standpoint and an aesthetic one.) My 6
> gal seems so tiny as is and he actively utilizes every cubic inch.
>

My two bettas, Bob and Boris, have a 5 gall tank each. They use every
single part of the tank. I couldn't imagine putting them in anything
smaller. Bob shares his tank with a stunted Platy that I haven't got
round to putting in the main Community Tank. Boris is on his own. I
might add some Cories at some point but I actually like the beauty of
watching my Bettas stretch out and swim in their own little worlds with
plenty of space to do so :-) - they seem to like it too

JMO
Gill

[Dan White]

"Gill Passman" > wrote in message
.. .
> IDzine01 wrote:
> > If it were me I would spit the 6 gallon for two bettas instead of the
> > 3. (Both from a water quality standpoint and an aesthetic one.) My 6
> > gal seems so tiny as is and he actively utilizes every cubic inch.
> >
>
> My two bettas, Bob and Boris, have a 5 gall tank each. They use every
> single part of the tank. I couldn't imagine putting them in anything
> smaller. Bob shares his tank with a stunted Platy that I haven't got
> round to putting in the main Community Tank. Boris is on his own. I
> might add some Cories at some point but I actually like the beauty of
> watching my Bettas stretch out and swim in their own little worlds with
> plenty of space to do so :-) - they seem to like it too
>

I picked up the Eclipse 5 corner tank today. I'll try splitting that best I
can. 2.5 gal is better than 4 oz anyway.

thanks again!
dwhite

[John D. Goulden]

> My two bettas, Bob and Boris, have a 5 gall tank each. They use every
> single part of the tank. I couldn't imagine putting them in anything
> smaller. Bob shares his tank with a stunted Platy that I haven't got round
> to putting in the main Community Tank. Boris is on his own. I might add
> some Cories at some point but I actually like the beauty of watching my
> Bettas stretch out and swim in their own little worlds with plenty of
> space to do so :-) - they seem to like it too

A ten-gallon with a mesh divider works well too. Both bettas have a flare
buddy and plenty of room to avoid each other when they wish. I never keep a
betta in less than half-a-ten, and they are quite happy to have a full ten
to themselves.

--
John Goulden

[bettasngoldfish]

John, Have you ever had a betta get through or over the tank divider?
Just curious as that is one reason I have never tried a divided ten
gallon for two bettas.

Maria

[John D. Goulden]

> John, Have you ever had a betta get through or over the tank divider?
> Just curious as that is one reason I have never tried a divided ten
> gallon for two bettas.

At first, yes - particularly when I would have a female on one side and a
male on the other, the female would often find a way to get over to the male
(they are fantastic jumpers and are often slender enough to exploit any gap
between the divider and the glass). I've posted here before about such
male-female pairs in divided tens and noted that after six weeks or so in a
divided tank they can then live together quite happily (just pull the
divider) but usually don't attempt to make baby bettas. I had two males get
together once, but they didn't actually fight so I was able to separate them
without anyone getting seriously hurt (they were divided in the morning,
together when I got home from work that afternoon - I never did figure out
how the intruder managed to get around / over / under the divider). This
makes me think that a pair of males that were well-established flare buddies
might be OK together in a large community tank but I've never tried more
than one male betta at a time in such a tank.

I make my dividers from plastic report cover binders and plastic mesh (both
found at Wal-Mart or hobby stores). Make sure the divider has good, sturdy
support on the sides (I usually attach the binders to the sides with a bead
of aquarium-safe silicon sealer) and that it is well imbedded in the
substrate, and make sure that the top of the divider is well above the top
of the water (you may have to go with a lower water level than usual) and
you shouldn't have any trouble keeping your bettas apart.

--
John Goulden
mostly goldies, guppies, swordtails and bettas

[bettasngoldfish]

Thanks for the info, I had not read your previous posts about this : )
I still may end up giving a divided tank at try!

Maria