My thoughts were pretty similar to yours... I wanted easy maintenance, so my tank is in the bathroom a few feet away from the toilet and bath tub. (I know, kind of lazy, but I'm also doing a fish bathroom so it works.) I originally thought a 5g would be perfect for a Betta, but then heard so many people say that a 5g would be more work than a 10g, and I didn't believe my counter could handle the extra weight.
DH and I both agreed the Eclipse 12 was just about the right size, and now that it's up, I agree. I'll get a beautiful center piece fish, a beautiful school of fish, some bottom critters.
I got dried/dyed plants that are real so they look/feel real, but require no maintenance. I will be adding a few small real, low maintenance ones to balance things out.
I have a Seachem Ammonia Alert next to my thermometer, and plan to get a pH monitor as well, so I can eyeball these critical things.
The tank is only a month old (has been redone several times) and is currently cycling, so I don't have a maintenance plan yet. But it'll be pretty often, since it's so conveniently located.
I also do not have sand... I'd had it previously and it was a challenge to clean.
DH and I both agreed the Eclipse 12 was just about the right size, and now that it's up, I agree. I'll get a beautiful center piece fish, a beautiful school of fish, some bottom critters.
I got dried/dyed plants that are real so they look/feel real, but require no maintenance. I will be adding a few small real, low maintenance ones to balance things out.
I have a Seachem Ammonia Alert next to my thermometer, and plan to get a pH monitor as well, so I can eyeball these critical things.
The tank is only a month old (has been redone several times) and is currently cycling, so I don't have a maintenance plan yet. But it'll be pretty often, since it's so conveniently located.
I also do not have sand... I'd had it previously and it was a challenge to clean.