New Betta Aquarium Setup – Dennerle 30L

[_fido_aquascape]

Hey everyone! Thrilled to share my journey of setting up a new home for my Betta fish. This is just Day 1, but I’m more than excited about how things are coming together. I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions as I progress. Here's the setup so far:

Tank Details​

• Tank: Dennerle 30L (30×30×35 cm)
• Filter: Superfish HOB 100
• Heater: Aquael Comfort Fix 25W

Substrate & Hardscape​

• Substrate:
  • Tropica Plant Growth Substrate 1L (base layer)
  • Oase ScaperLine Soil Black 3L (top layer)
  • Added 8 Tropica Power Capsules for extra nutrients.
• Hardscape:
  • Bogwood chunk
  • Grey pillar rocks
  • Coconut shell hideout for my Betta
  • Glued together using cotton and Gorilla green gel glue for stability.

Currently, I’ve sprayed some grass seeds on the front (wet substrate) and covered the tank with cling film to help them grow.

Using a temporary light from eBay for now but planning to upgrade to the Chihiros B Series with Commander

Future Plans​

Once the grass grows, I’ll start planting. Would love any feedback, especially tips on planting ideas for a Betta-friendly tank. Thanks, and stay tuned for updates!

 

[megwattscreative]

Welcome to UKAPS!

Is this your first tank, or your first Betta tank? And could you share your water parameters? Just helps people give accurate and informed advice 🙂

I've never heard of grass seeds for carpeting - good luck with it! Carpeting plants and low light no co2 setups often don't go well together - carpeting plants are difficult to maintain without co2 and high light, which Bettas don't tend to enjoy. I'm no expert on carpeting plants, but someone with more experience can definitely advise you!

Bettas are blackwater fish, so worth adding lots of tannins by adding dried oak leaves etc - there's a good thread on collecting botanicals here. Floating plants will also do wonders for making the Betta feel safe & secure. Personally I think that drift wood is crying out for some moss and epiphytes like anubias & java fern, but that's my taste 😉 Bettas like lots of cover and leaves to rest on, so dense planting is ideal. Interested to see if your Betta will use the coconut hideout - I really enjoyed watching my dad's cichlids use theirs!

It's worth noting that Betta can and will jump. I would either reduce the waterline or add a glass)perspex top - although this will effect your lovely emergent bogwood. Worth it to preserve the fish in my opinion! Assuming there's still ample swimming room with the hardscape?

One other thing to bare in mind is sharp corners on the stones - not sure what kind of Betta you're going for but fancy finned varieties can cut/nick themselves on hardscape.

Good luck, hope this helps 🙂

 

[Little]

Sometimes (often?) the seeds sold as aquarium carpeting are just terrestrial grass and won’t last submerged long term.
None of the reputable aquatic plant stores stock them e.g Aquarium Gardens, Horizon Aquatics, Riverwood aquatics, Aqua Essentials, Pro Shrimp, Maidenhead Aquatics etc….
Not to alarm you but just to set your expectations that they may not work out.

Regarding planting advise, you cannot go wrong with Anubias. It is an easy plant, will love low light (as do Betta fish), comes in many varieties - big and small and most importantly the larger leaf ones are excellent resting spaces for your Betta to snooze on.

All the best 👍

 

[Maf 2500]

Yes, I have heard that the seeds sold as "aquarium grass seeds" are a scam. It would be wise to test them out in a plastic container before introducing them to a display aquarium.

 

[_fido_aquascape]

Hi Everyone,
I’m thrilled to join this forum and be part of such a knowledgeable and passionate community! While this isn’t my first tank, it’s the first time I’m engaging with an online community, and I believe there’s so much we can learn from each other.

Right now, I’m experimenting with seeds in my tank. It’s an exciting project, and I can’t wait to see what comes of it! Once the initial phase is done, I plan to add proper plants and get the water cycle started. Here’s what I have in mind for the setup:

• Plants:
  • Anubias for the rocks and wood.
  • Vallisneria and Amazon swords for the back to create a lush green wall.
  • Floating plants like water lettuce for a natural look and shading.
• CO2: Considering adding CO2 for better plant growth.

There’s still a long way to go, but I’m looking forward to the journey. I’ll keep you updated as things progress, and I hope my experience will be interesting and maybe even helpful to others here.

Thank you all for your comments and advice so far. I’m excited to learn from this wonderful community and share my progress along the way.

 

[_fido_aquascape]

I’m so excited about my new tank! I’m not sure if my current heater, a fixed 25W, will be enough for it. I’m thinking about getting a stronger one with a thermostat instead. What temperature do you usually keep your betta tanks at? My old one was around 26-27°C.

 

[Little]

26-27 degrees is ideal for a betta.

You can try your current heater and check the temperature with a thermometer regularly to see what temp it holds at. If it’s too cool, you can get a better one while the tank matures.

It’s much easier to run your tank without any fish for a month or so anyway so you have plenty of time to see how things are doing.

 

[_fido_aquascape]

Yes, that’s what I was thinking too. While I’m waiting for the grass seeds to rise (day 2 not much going on 😂, keep moist them with spray water), I’ll start looking for more plants. I’ve already got a few in my other tank, but I’d really like to add a nice java plant and some more Cryptocorynes. But I’ve always struggled with java fern. Some of the leaves tend to turn black after a while, and I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong.Rest of plants healthy and with a good grow

 

[bazz]

While I’m waiting for the grass seeds to rise

Hi,
Do you have any more information on these grass seeds, I'm interested as to what they are?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

While I’m waiting for the grass seeds to rise

Do you have any more information on these grass seeds, I'm interested as to what they are?

We have a thread ......... <"(Probaby not) Glossostigma from seed - impulse eBay buy.">. Unfortunately I'd guess the grass seeds are exactly that "grass seed".

The "hair-grass" is a real grass (Poaceae).

The grass "seed" is a fruit (<"Caryopsis">), but Eleocharis species (below) are from the <"Cyperaceae"> have a little black fruit like a sedge (Carex).

A thought occurs that if I wasn't too scrupulous about what I was selling as "Glossostigma" etc. agricultural seeds would be a good option as they are cheap to buy and will germinate quickly, with a high percentage germination.

cheers Darrel

 

[_fido_aquascape]

Hi Guys seeds from eBay. Please see below picture.They arrived in a simple envelope, packed in a small plastic bag. I’m honestly not sure if they’ll grow, but I thought I’d give it a shot and will update with pictures later if they actually sprout!

For now, I’m spraying them with water regularly, and they’re under a light with cling film covering the tank to keep the humidity up. Fingers crossed this works!🧐🧐😁

 

[Miniandy]

Welcome and glad to see you have some nice plans.

Try the heater, it should just about be big enough.

I would personally abandon the seeds and go out and get some Eleocharis acicularis mini or pusilla as its now known. It's quiet cheap in invitro (lab plants), you'll need 2 pots ideally if you break it down into small portions. This plant can be dry started like you are doing with the seeds (moisture + light + clingfilm) with excellent results.

Tropica and dennerle produce the plants, there are producers, but I've not tried them. Look at the forum sponsors for a supplier.

 

[_fido_aquascape]

I’ll give them a chance, but I’m already considering other options switching to some nice in-vitro plants. Pusilla or Monte Carlo are at the top of my list.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I would personally abandon the seeds and go out and get some Eleocharis acicularis mini or pusilla as its now known.

Sensible advice.

seeds from eBay. Please see below picture.They arrived in a simple envelope, packed in a small plastic bag. I’m honestly not sure if they’ll grow,

I'm pretty sure they will germinate, but they aren't an aquarium plant.

cheers Darrel

 

[_fido_aquascape]

Quick Update on My Tank Setup – Rookie Mistake & Seed Progress!

Hey everyone, just a quick update on my tank! The seeds have actually started rising and growing now, which is awesome. Super excited to see them coming to life!

However, I made a bit of a rookie mistake… I didn’t secure my bogwood properly, and it popped up to the surface. Right now, I’m trying to sink it with some weight while my tank is cycling. Lesson learned—always glue it down well!

Anyone else had this happen? How long did it take for your bogwood to stay down naturally? Let me know your tips!

Cheers!

 

[Miniandy]

Thanks for the update, fingers crossed they continue for you.

Anyone else had this happen? How long did it take for your bogwood to stay down naturally? Let me know your tips!

I haven't had it happen in an aquarium, but in my early days I've put wood in buckets for weeks before it stayed down. It depends massively on the type of wood.

Mopani, for example, sinks when dry.

 

[_fido_aquascape]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to share an update on my tank! It’s nearly finished—still in the cycling phase, but it’s already putting a big smile on my face. Watching everything come together has been such a rewarding process, and I can’t wait to add fish once it's fully ready.

Here’s a picture of how it’s looking so far (let me know what you think!). Always happy to hear from fellow fishkeepers!

Excited for the next step—thanks for following along!

 

[Wookii]

Hey everyone,

Just wanted to share an update on my tank! It’s nearly finished—still in the cycling phase, but it’s already putting a big smile on my face. Watching everything come together has been such a rewarding process, and I can’t wait to add fish once it's fully ready.

Here’s a picture of how it’s looking so far (let me know what you think!). Always happy to hear from fellow fishkeepers!

Excited for the next step—thanks for following along!

Looks good - only thing I'd add is you may need a lid or net covering of some sort, as I believe Betta's can be decent jumpers!

 

[Little]

Looks great.
The grass seeds seem to be holding up.
Plus 1 for a lid, or at very least a ton of floating plants with a plant portal in the middle to let light in.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

The grass seeds seem to be holding up.

It does, I wonder if they are a Hygrophila spp. ? <"ID please">.

cheers Darrel