Betta Fish: Daughter’s 8-month burn-up story

Grandma bought my daughter a betta for her 7th birthday back in September. My daughter named him Dory (which causes me to refer to him as "her" still!)

Progression:

Day 1-6
Dory was in a 1g with a heater and plastic decor. Research quickly led to a bigger plan for the next weekend.

Day 7
Idea was to keep it low tech:
• Aqueon20g long
• Master test kit
• Fluval Stratum
• NICREW C10 LED
• Marineland canister filter
• Fluval Spray Bar output across the full back wall with about 30 additional holes I drilled into it (I think this is my favorite part about setup; it produces a ton of surface agitation and a very light flow, given the massive GPH of the filter)

Day 8
Perams were good to start a Fish-in cycle

October
• 3 Nerite snails
• 3 Amano shrimp (Tank was a bit immature for this, looking back. 2 left today)
• Red Tiger Lotus bulb

December
• 16 ember tetras in 2 batches
• Dwarf water lettuce
• Light stand bracket to raise LED

February
• 20 Cherry Neos in 2 batches

Challenges:
• pH/KH low due to Stratum. Added crushed coral to canister.
• A few of the tetras were sucked into the filter. I put some netting around the intake but it requires weekly cleaning now.
• Well water has iron. Added Seachem Cuprisorb. Have not lost any Neo's since

I think we are done with stocking. My daughter helped a lot and spent some of her own allowance money on the ember's. I personally enjoy the shrimp the most. Hoping to see some berried females.