New Betta tank set up

[Max]

Hello everyone,
I'm in process of setting up a tank for my Betta. He's been housed in a 5 gallon bowl with no substrate a snail and an air stone up till this point. His new home is going to be a 20 gallon tank with play sand substrate, penguin filter, heater, 40 wat halide light. I have a couple of questions for you guys though I'm mostly into salt water and other than my goldfish ponds this will be my first venture into fresh water fish in a number of years. I plan on adding a small coctail shrimp or some food to cycle with. I'm also going to get some media from a friend to jump start my cycle with. He's got a 50 gallon set up no diseases in a long time stable water parameters etc. Should I add plants prior to adding my fish? I'm planning on useing a small group of ghost shrimp as scavengers other than that it should just be Sushi and some plants. I'm just wondering if that sounds like a good idea? Do my parameteres sound ok for what I want ? I've been keeping salt water set ups for a number of years and don't want what's good for them hurting my Betta.
Thanks for your advise
Chris

 

[Hound]

It sounds like an overall good plan. One thing I'm not sure about is adding food to a tank to cycle it. I don't think it really works that way. One other thing is that I don't think a shrimp would be a good thing to cycle with. Never used sand as a substrate, but I would think it might compact over time. I'd advise using some ammonia and doing a fishless cycle. I'm just curious, but are you going to just keep the betta in the tank with the ghost shrimp? In a decorated and planted 20g I'd think it might still be a bit bare like that.

 

[Max]

I've cycled all my other tanks with food,shrimp etc but, if amonia works the best for f.w. that's what I'll use. What kind I know it needs to be something un-scented aditive free any suggestion on brands? I thought that would be enough fishes I know the beta is a very peacefull guy I suppose I could maybe get a group of black tetra's maybe a Farowella cat ," might get too big". I haven't really given it too much tought just want to get him settled only going to use about 2 inches of sand in the bottom and will get something to keep it stired up. Any suggestions on what's good and won't disturb my plants too much?
Thanks for your advise
Chris

 

[Hpisavage21]

I use a "Stop and Shop" supermarket chain Ammonia brand, it works quite well.