Today, I ordered Marineland's Explorer tank, which, at a mini 2 gallons, is the smallest bio-wheel aquarium on the market (for now). Two gallons of bio-filtered water is very attractive, especially if you're as big of a Takashi Amano fan as I've become (see posts below). So, here's the plan...

2-gallon tank

1 small piece of Malaysian driftwood

Fine gravel substrate

1 small stone

Riccia Fluitans, Riccia, as foreground flora

Vesicularia, Mini Moss, across the driftwood's upper face

I'm thinking of Microsorum pteropus, Java Fern, for the background, but the jury's still out: I want something soft-looking and unusual. Only one thing is for sure: all plant specimens in this nano-tat will be live. Check out how others have successfully used the plants I mentioned.

Vesicularia, Mini Moss from Jason's My Nature Aquarium

Microsorum pteropus, Java Fern from Soren Petersen's Disky Design

Riccia Fluitans, Riccia from Jason's My Nature Aquarium

But what of the fish? Betta, baby. Betta Splendens, or Siamese Fighting Fish, are sold in cups and then usually "stored" in bowls containing only water. Yuk, not much of a life.

Betta Splendens from LiveAquaria.com

The revolutionary addition of a bio-wheel to the nano-habitat increases opportunities for a controlled and healthy environment for the Betta. And a planted 2g tank is way preferable to a globe with tap water in it.

I'll keep you updated when the new tank arrives and I start planting specimens. It'll be a few weeks (perhaps even months) before the Betta comes home.