Recommend me plants for betta tank

[SilentMajority]

I just set up a MiniBow 2.5 gallon tank for my girlfriend with a halfmoon betta. The fish is gorgeous. I now realize that I should have opted for the 5 gallon system, but for now he will call the 2.5 his home.

I rinsed some pool filter sand really well and made a 1.25 inch bed of sand in the tank. A flat piece of slate is in there as well, in a way that he can swim under it too.

I'm looking for options of some live plants to add there. I have read about swapping the crappy 7 watt incandescent bulb for a coralife CF bulb and plan to do that ASAP.

Can anyone recommend me some good plants to help with filtration and environment that will stay happy in the low lighting? I have some italian vals, windelov fern, and anubias nana petite in my main tank that can donate, but do not know if these will work.

Thank you everyone.

 

[Riiz]

I would go for the Walmart CFL they have in the pet section, I use one over a 5gal hex. Cheaper at $5, and supposedly better in reviews on other plant forums. You could try an anubias or a Java fern, both dont need to be planted, just tied to a rock or a weight.

 

[SilentMajority]

Good ideal about Wal-Mart's CFLs. I'd like to try one but the hood/socket might not fit the bulb. It is quite small.

 

[Riiz]

Good ideal about Wal-Mart's CFLs. I'd like to try one but the hood/socket might not fit the bulb. It is quite small.

Here's a comparison to a normal 15watt incandescent.

 

[SilentMajority]

Thanks!

That picture shows how it should fit, I will definitely try it. I appreciate it.

Any more recommendations for plants?

 

[skyypeaches]

I'm a big fan of marimo balls. easy to maintain and also helps absorb the nutrients that algae need so it lessens the chance of algae growing as the marimo ball itself is a type of algae. Because the ball pearls quite a bit (depending on your lighting) i've noticed that my fish sometimes suck on the little oxygen bubbles as well.

 

[msjinkzd]

I think that your nana petite would do very well in the tank and maybe some moss. My betta loves to lay on his moss "bed". I also have needleaf java fern in my 5g betta tank, not sure scale-wise how it would look in your tank.

 

[Squawkbert]

The WM light looks nicer, but I suspect the Coralife is better for plants.

I've grown low & some med. light plants in minibows under 10 & 20W Coralife bulbs.

I couldn't quite maintain Cabomba under the 10W...

Bacopa, Crypt, Val, Mosses, Najas - all OK under the 10, I've got HM going under the 20.

 

[SchizotypalVamp]

Also, water sprite