Planning 10g

[Kuli_Loach]

I plan on making a 10g so that it houses 3 breeder males. I was wondering, do I need a substrate at all? I plan on putting a small decor in all three slots for the betta to half way entertain himself. Do I need fake plants in each one also? I want it to be as low maintenance as possible. I plan to run a Whisper 30 on it and it be open top. Another question, if I run a sponge filter in a 1g bowl can I have a betta? Probably a stupid question but I am just curious. I have a spare 5g I am gonna move one of my current bettas to and I am gonna stock up with about 3 females in my planted 29g.

[Ellen4God]

Wow! It's fun to see how excited you're getting over the bettas. I don't have any answers for you, but it'll be interesting to see what people say.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

You don't HAVE to have a substrate. If you wanted something, then you could put marbles on the bottom so their wastes get trapped between the marbles but they can't eat them. That is a fairly low-maintenance option.

Yes, plastic plants is another low-maintenance option.
Or chuck in Elodea, which is hardy and fast growing and considered a weed in many parts of the world, thus being cheap to buy.

I guess, Kuhli, it's about the quality of life you want to give them.
Are they just breeding machines? Then strip thier habitats right back.
Are they pets you hope may also have babies? Nice quarters are called for. The happier and healthier the fish, the better the mating and the better the babies.

[Kuli_Loach]

What about a very thin amount of sand? Would it make them feel more secure? I have a LOT of Anacharis, could I put a piece of that in each one to help with them? I want them to breed and be pets that I can show.

[Tigerbarb]

I thnk a beta can definitly go in a 1g bowl with a sponge filter, though it is not reccomended. You are better off putting one in your 5g.

[shalafi04]

you dont want any substrate in the breeding tank. This will make the eggs easier for him to gather after mating. However, if you are talking about normal living area... dont use sand! I put sand in my bettas 2.5g and it turned out to be a nightmare!!! I would go with some small pebble type gravel or marbles that have color that accents your bettas colors well. Each betta should have its own little plant in its section because they like to rest on them when they are tired.