Scouter

Here's my first set up for my betta tank. I use to have him in a 1 gal bowl but decided to do this when I got a bunch of free java fern from another aquarist. My sister says she thinks its too busy, but my intentions were to provide enough cover for him and the dwarf frog he likes to pick on. What do you guys think? how could I fix it? I plan on getting a better light source soon. Sorry about the poor pic.
Thanks,
Scouter

foofooree

maybe add a tall grass plant to the back left corner like maybe blyxa...
also some nana petites in front of/ partly under the wood with flat stones with moss tied on them in front of the petite

cs_gardener

Nice start! Mostly I think it needs time to grow and fill in. The ferns do look a bit messy right now, but once they get growing they will look great.

xandert

Scouter

Ok, thanks for your input guys. I'm going to start looking for something to fill in that area. Right now its occupied by an experimental terracotta pot that I sewed a net sleeve to cover it and laced it with java moss-it was supposed to hide the fact that it was a flower pot and look like a moss cave but it's not doing too well. I'll ax it soon and get a grassy plant.

I was also wondering, what do you think of an aponogeton bulb in the right corner? My betta likes to sit right under the surface but only when there's cover for him, so I was thinking of planting a bulb and letting it grow leaves to the surface for him. I planned on selectively trimming them to keep them over to the right half of the tank, which would protect the african fern from getting too much light(it really seems to hate light). What do you think??

Thanks for your input and I'll keep you posted with pics as it fills in. The Java fern was pearling quite a bit today.

Thanks,
Scouter

Neal

In my opinion the scale of the plants is wrong for a small container. I would try narrow leaf java fern and replace the bolbitis with some of the miniature anubias.
Both the fern and the bolbitis are going to be hard to prune and have them be attractive in a nano.
I've got a nano with narrow leaf java fern in it and even it is slowly taking over more and more space.

Scouter

Yhea, I knew that it was big when I put it in and that the setup wasn't ideal, but I got the plants for free and figured I'd keep them until my betta is no more (he's 3 1/2 yo.). Then I'll sell them and get something a little different. I was hoping to for some advice on how to change this set up with the stuff I had, with the possibility of buying one or two more plants. Thanks though.
Scouter

Tex Gal

If you want the lacy fern leaf look you could use Java- wendelov. It doesn't get as nearly as big as regular java or the narrow leaf. It will get bushy and would be a good fit for your tank. The moss would cover your pot, sounded like a great idea to me. It will grow slowly and will take time. Hang in there - you have great start.

Scouter

Ok so I got a new tank for rufio and smee ( my betta and dwarf frog) and now this tank can be rescaped. I still tried to use the java fern until I have some extra $$ to buy different plants, but here's what I came up with for this tank. I'm planning on removing the java moss off of the twigs and replacing it with weeping moss. What do you think? What plants should I keep my eye out for to replace the java fern?
Thanks,
Scouter

Sorry about the lousy pic

foofooree

That is a very clean and pretty little critter keeper tank you got there