Flourite?

[OOwl]

I couldn't yet post in the WTB section (says I need 20 posts) so I thought I'd add to my post tally by asking here. . .

My sweet little betta, Lazarus, that I've had for several years helped me cycle two new tanks recently when I decided to re-enter the hobby from a three-year absence (rest). It was really great to see him the larger tanks, clearly enjoying himself. Putting him back in the two-gallon bowl was just not what I thought he deserved after tasting the better life. So, although I said I wouldn't have more than these two tanks. . . I did go out and buy him his own five-gallon tank. Since I have mini Coralife PCs, I thought I'd go ahead and set this up as a little plant tank with the Betta as its only fish. I have the gravel but I need small amount of Flourite to go in the bottom of the tank. I sure hate to buy a huge bag for needing just a tiny bit (and I don't trust myself either with a full bag of that stuff. . . I'll probably convince myself I need to use that rather than waste and before you know it I'll have tht quarantine tank turned into a plant tank as well LOL). So, wondering if anyone in the Fort Worth area has a bit of it I could buy. I'd also like to find some plants locally rather than buy the icky ones available at Petsmart and the like. I definitely don't want to mail order for such a small tank (and, again, if I go that route I'm afraid I'd have to "justify" yet another thank).

Please let me know if anyone has small amount of Flourite and plant cuttings that they'd like to sell. Thanks!

[Haiven]

I'll give you some Soilmaster Select to use instead of Fluorite. It's a medium gray. Let me know if you're interested.

[ElijahTurtle]

Yeah I have left over soilmaster select as well. It's already been rinsed well. I could part with enough for your 5G tank so you wouldn't have to spend any money on substrate. I may be a little closer to you than Havien is. I really like the look of small planted tanks.

Here's an old pic of a 2.5G tank I had planted with just a betta.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q83/elijahtturtle/2GJan18.jpg

And here's some of a walmart special 5G hex tank I had planted with just a betta as well. I never could get good filtration in these things with the factory fiter system though.
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q83/elijahtturtle/BT4.jpg
http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q83/elijahtturtle/BruceTank.jpg

[OOwl]

Thank you both very much! Such generosity here!

Turtle, I'd love to have some of your substrate! Thank you. I'd be happy to pay you for it. I just didn't want to buy a full bag for a small tank. I absolutely love your little Betta tank and had something like that in mind for my Betta, Lazarus. What is the little plant you have planted in the foreground? Where can I get those? So, if you'll email me your address and a time I can come, I'd like to come pick that soil up this week, if it's convenient for you. I'm pretty flexible at work and can come during the day, as well as the evening hours. Just let me know. My email is oowlinn@charter.net and I'm in north Fort Worth.
Thanks again!

[ElijahTurtle]

I sent you a PM with my contact info.

The little plant I had in it was dwarf saggitaria it stays very short. another good choice that looks similar is blyxa japonica & there may be some members with some of that laying around in their tanks. It grows alot quicker than the dwarf sag

[OOwl]

Thank you for the information on the plants. I really like those and would like to do something like that in my little planted tank. As soon as I have enough posts, I'll put a WTB ad on that section to see if anyone has any they'd like to sell.
Thanks again!

[supersmirky]

If you are looking for plants, many of us can give you some for free. On my next clipping, I can contribute some to you however, I am not very close. Someone closer may be able to do that for you as well

[OOwl]

Smirky,
I am but it's a TINY tank (5 gallons) for a Betta, so they'd have to be pretty small plants. I really like the dwarf ones in Turtle's tank pictures above. I have pretty good light for this little tank. It's a small PC fixture with two 9-watt 6700 bulbs. I don't have enough posts to be able to post in the WTB forum but I will as soon as I do. Thank you for your offer. Not sure where exactly you are but maybe some weekend I could meet you at your local fish store and collect plants. I'm always up for a trip to a different fish store.
Thanks again!

[supersmirky]

Java would probably be a good plant for that tank. I'm sure others have suggestions too but none the less, I'm sure we could give you some plants rather than having you go out and buy some!

Betta's are great fish to keep...so much character and personality

[xtc]

yea, don't buy plants unless you KNOW what you want- there are far too many quality clippings around here.

BTW- I have a 20L with plenty of Soil Master Select if anyone wants it.

[OOwl]

Thank you both for the offer of plants. I'm not crazy about Java Fern. I guess maybe because I've never seen specimens that look at their peak of health; they always seem to be in some stage of rot. I have a tank of baby Peacocks I'm growing out so I had been thinking of putting some in there, but my main focus is to get some tiny dwarf type plants for that five-gallon. I used to have a 60-gallon planted tank with MH lighting so I sure don't want something that high maintenance again, just a small, planted, low-tech Betta "retirement" tank. Please help me not let it get out of control. roflmaoI will pretend I did not see the offer of a tank above. :-)
Thanks, Ya'll!

[xtc]

good- it wasn't. :hehe:

Just the substrate.

Peacocks? Planted tank? PH issues?

[OOwl]

Don't worry, Chris, I wasn't going to fully plant the Peacock tank, just stick a couple of Java Ferns in there. Not my favorite plant but some green in there wouldn't hurt for looks. They are also 1" babies. It already is decorated with rock and a huge piece of African root. Although that tank has PC lighting, as well, I have no grand plans of a planted paradise in there. Just the Betta tank. I CAN do this within reason. Think Nano Planted tank. :-)
Thanks for the help. . .

[rolloffhill]

I have some water sprite you can have, that's a dwarf right??? :hehe:

[ElijahTurtle]

I have some water sprite you can have, that's a dwarf right??? :hehe:
Well it's pretty small, but the problem is that it always invites it's family to come live with it. Then you've end up with 20 water sprites living in a run down 3 room trailer house with 9 cars in the yard of which only 1 runs. :confuzeld:

[rolloffhill]

roflmao

[dcacjc]

I have some duck weed I can send your way! :D

[bra8ndy8]

Well it's pretty small, but the problem is that it always invites it's family to come live with it. Then you've end up with 20 water sprites living in a run down 3 room trailer house with 9 cars in the yard of which only 1 runs. :confuzeld:


:hehe:roflmao

[OOwl]

No water sprite, no duck weed. Thanks though. I think I'm going to order some small plants online. Almost ready to start that little tank.

[kSpieler]

Waaaaait! Before you spend any $$ let me know what you are ordering...I have a great little piece of wood with Windelov Java Fern and some java moss attached to it, also some little grasses (MicroSwords), plus some floating stuff - non-invasive! I will be in Keller Friday evening/Saturday so could bring it most of the way there.

[fredtex]

Hay! just got a new 29.g where can i buy some SMS around Ft Worth.

[cookieboy]

whats sms

[greeneyed]

SoilMaster Select

[xtc]

I have a 20L worth of SMS in the Plano area if anyone wants it.

[ambitionz]

Hay! just got a new 29.g where can i buy some SMS around Ft Worth.


i looked for sms and didnt found any i did found some aquatic plant soil in home depot it looks ok in my 29 i like it :D

[biggin]

SMS is only sold at the John Deer or Lesco or whatever it is called stores.

[ambitionz]

they said they dont carry it anymore

[biggin]

There are a few that still have it.

Google is your friend...

http://www.lesco.com/Default.aspx?PageID=27&ItemNumber=083365

[rolloffhill]

This might help some out...

http://www.dfwfishbox.com/forums/production/attachment.php?attachmentid=1196&stc=1&d=1220192268

[xtc]

I still have a small amount of SMS- it is 2-3" deep across a 12"x30"