1 gallon planted fishbowl

[emeraldmaster]

Is this a feasable idea? Also, are the steps for making such a fishbowl different that those for say, my 29 gallon thaat I just did? I want to do this for my betta Eric whom DEMANDS that bowl...

[shellieca]

The main difference is going to be the frequency of water changes other than that it should pretty much be the same except obviously on a much smaller scale.

[emeraldmaster]

Thank you for the fast response!!!

[Romad]

Frequent water changes will be necessary but how are you going to keep it heated?

[aokashi]

For a 1 gallon I would recommend for you to have minimal substrate and float all your plants.

Heating shouldn't be a problem. the usual 25w heater with an adjustable knob. fits well in a 1 gallon, be it a bowl or a tank. I have heated half gallons with 25w adjustable heaters, so it really isn't a problem.

Always test your heaters first with a reliable thermometer.

Many stem plants do great floating. guppy grass is one of my personal favorites.

Water changes should not be a problem either. I've never seen traces of nitrates nitrite or ammonia in a healthy, well planted tank. especially since a betta's bioload is quite negligible. I do recommend that you start up the tank for a week or two before putting fish in to allow the plants to settle and adjust.

Plants will need lighting, a desklamp with a 6500k cfl will be perfect.

[itsuki]

dwarf hairgrass and make sure to trim the roots to limit their growth so u can get a carpet of grass and not use up valuable swimming space for your betta. maybe 1 or 2 other types of foreground or middleground plant but floating plants are a good idea too i bought 2 water lettuce plants a week ago for .50 cents each and have grown, theyve now i have 4 :)

[aokashi]

I honestly won't bother with foreground and back ground if you are doing a tank that small. especially if it's your first time.
I don't recommend dwarf hairgrass either, as they need a certain depth of substrate and decent lighting to actually spread and thrive. plus it isn't the best ammonia sink....

they also grow pretty tall for the scale of a 1 gallon :P

[Romad]

[quote=aokashi;1431651]

Heating shouldn't be a problem. the usual 25w heater with an adjustable knob. fits well in a 1 gallon, be it a bowl or a tank. I have heated half gallons with 25w adjustable heaters, so it really isn't a problem.

Always test your heaters first with a reliable thermometer.



That's good to know. I thought 25w would be too much for 1 gallon but that's why I love this forum. I learn something new all the time.

[aokashi]

The 25 watts are much more reliable than the 10w ones that are designed for betta tanks... they're the ones you usually hear about overheating or under heating problems.

[emeraldmaster]

i've been using a 25 watt heater. the tank stays at 75*.