MiniBow 7 AGA

[LostFisher]

What do yall think of the Minibow 7? Its the glass one not the acrylic. I am wondering if this would be a good start up aquarium for some easy plants and easy fish. I was thinking of picking easy to grow plants and then put a beta and some guppies in it? Is this at all feasible?

Thanks

lost fisher

 

[TKOS]

Generally Betta's don't do well with guppies, or I should say that the guppies don't do too well cause of the colourful tails. But a betta in their with plants would be great. Maybe add some small cory catfish (3) and the Betta. No one their would be competeing for food. That would be a fun tank and everyone would get along. And with real plants it should be easy to maintain with a weekly water change.

 

[125gJoe]

Small tanks are fine! We have one set-up as a 'reef' tank. I think the Betta and a couple small catfish is good. A few low light plants would look nice... Have patience on the cycling of the tank..

 

[tricksterpup]

The 7 gal mini bow is a nice tank, gave it to a friend of mine for X-mas one year.
If you want to grow plants, you will need to get the proper lights for it. The one strip light may not be enough wattage for plants. I recently bought myself the 2.5 mini bow from Walmart which has the incadecent bulb. Instead of using the bulb the supply, i went out and got the mini power compact that you can screw in. I have crypts in the tank right now and they seem to be doing fine. But I have the tank for only a few short weeks.
It might be cheaper to get a 10 gallon and start with that. In the long run a 10 gallon can be a cheaper setup for the cost of that 7 gallon mini bow. I have now seen 15 gallon talls going for $24 (us) at petsmart. So there are many options you can try here which are far cheaper.
But if you go with fish, If you do not go with the betta, guppies would be fine or a paradise fish. I have kept Bettas with guppies but only in large tanks. There are many other types of fish that would be good to keep in here. A small school of Danios would make a nice selection here.
As for small tanks, i use them all the time. I currently house many live bearers in these tanks.
In my 15 gallon i house, Endlers with Merry Widows.
I currently use 5 gallons for housing Gambusia (mosquito fish) and Pygmy Killie Fish (Leptolucania ommata).
In my 2.5 at home, i keep Least Killifish (Heterandria formosa). Which i think would be the perfect fish for a tank like that. You would be able to keep about 15 - 20 fish in that tank easily.
jim

 

[cpr4cpu]

take a look at your local water supply. If the water is bordering at pH 7 with a fairly low carbonate hardness (KH) you can have just about anythign in there. My water is pH 8.8 and KH of 330ppm (low end of very hard) and I have livebearers like Endlers and platies. I really like the Endlers Livebearers because they love green algae water so I don't have to be so concerned with lots of light (screw in compact fluorescents do that for you). All you have to do is keep the front clean so you can see them, and change the water weekly (50% in my 8 gallon).