changing my 5 gallon betta tank to planted tank?

Question

i currently have had my betta in his 5 gallon tank for about 7 months. his tankmate is one apple snail for algae control.
it currently has a 15 watt light bulb, i think its incandescant.

could i change this to a planted tank for my betta?

can i use the same gravel?
do i need some sort of mini flourescant light bulb?it only holds one.( its a hex tank)
and what kind of plants are cheap and can live without a heater?

thanks

Answer 1

Java Moss is perfect for what you need. It grows very easily, doesn't need a heater, or a lot of light. Just tie a little clump to an interesting looking rock (not painted, paint is toxic to fish), and drop it in the tank. It will look perfect and give your Betta hiding places, and still give him room to swim. Use as many rocks and clumps as you want until you like how the tank looks. Good luck!

Nosoop4u

Answer 2

I have a betta in a planted 3 gallon tank. I don't have a heater (although it is in a very warm spot.) All I have planted in there is java fern... lol, I use a flourescent desk lamp for lighting, and it works fine :) Plants will need a flourescent lamp though to thrive. You should be able to use the smae tank, and your fish will love it. to be safe though, don't spend too much $$ on plants ;-) Oh yeah, and the snail might munch on them.

Answer 3

I've planted most of my tanks. My faves are crypts, java ferns, and anubias - I find they are pretty bullet-proof in terms of needs for light and etc. You might add wisteria, but be prepared to remove it if it doesn't thrive - they like LOTS of light. (Be prepared, too, for "crypt melt;" when you first plant crypts they like to fall apart - you'll think it's dead, but just pull out the melted leaves and watch it perk up again.) No need for heat with planted tanks, and mine have liked gravel better than most of the specialty soils, which seem to encourage algae growth rather than plant growth. Add a couple fertilizer pellets when it seems like the thing to do.

Also, rather than make do with the limited varieties of plants you can find at stores, you might consider buying from sites like the ones I've linked to below. I've purchased some really nice specimens from both sites, as well as shrimp from the azgardens site, which arrived very healthy and have lived now for several years.

Personally, I think planted tanks are the way to go. Plants go a long way to help your water chemistry stay stable, they add oxygen to the water for the fish, and they just look nice!

Answer 4

Java ferns and java moss are great plants to keep with bettas. They thrive in the same brackish water conditions that bettas do. You can leave java moss floating or you can root it to some driftwood or some rocks by tying it down with fishing line or a rubber band.

Answer 5

My aunt has a betta in a bowl with green ivy on top of it. It is really cool because the ivy gives the oxygen to the betta and the fish seems really happy. She does not have a light and her fish has lived for several years now.