Marbles or Gravel?

[Baby_Baby]

I had one of those 3 gallon betta boxes for each of my bettas
(which at the time was 3)
and I filled them with distilled water and then put the bettas in there, then about once to twice a week, I did a ten percent water change with distilled water (Which is about 50 cents a gallon at wal mart)
I didnt use a filter, and one had a marble bottom, the other two had gravel.
The marble one looked pretty freaking sweet, but as said earlier, waste did settle inbetween the marbles, but if you clean it out every now and again it shouldnt be a problem.
The biggest problems with those boxes are keeping the temperature at the right level and making sure its steady all day long, so SueM recommended these little heaters for small tanks such as my own that you can get at Petco for about 10 bucks apiece and they work very well.

P.s.
bettas dont really like plastic plants as much as the ones made from fabric or real ones, as their fins can get torn on them and that can lead to infection.

Just a tidbit for you.

:]

[Scuba Kid]

Not to mention marbles look incredibly fake....I prefer natural looking tanks.

Gravel vacuums do not suck up gravel. They suck up water and all of the crap in the gravel. You throw out this water and replace it will fresh, treated (with tap water conditioner) water.

[ikermalli]

is distilled water, clean for a fish already or do I still have to put a conditioner in it? What about silk plants? Because I definitely do not want my betta to get hurt. We don't have petco in canada what about petsmart will they have a small heater?

[Baby_Baby]

The marbles (Which by the way I used kiddy marbles, more colors and swirlie things) looked pretty nice in my betta box just because they brought out all the color in my betta and made the "tank" look colorful and happy (which, if you know me, is like, my thing!)

But I mean, like katie said, they can look fake, but its based on what you like I suppose. I would definitely not put them in any other type of tank other than a betta tank, thats for sure.

Distilled water is a-ok and ready to go!
No conditioner needed

Silk plants you might want to rinse off a little as with all ornaments you buy for your tank, just run it under a little warm water.
I'm sure Petsmart has the heater

[ikermalli]

okay, thanks for all the help, when I am putting my gravel and other stuff in today can I vacuum out some water into a bucket and put my betta in there for a bit, because I am afraid he might jump out also how fast are gravel vacuum at taking water out of a 5 Gallon Tank

[Baby_Baby]

Yuppers, that would work. Just make sure the little buddy doesnt get hurt

[ikermalli]

Alright, I definitely won't, my local petsmart just got in a bunch of crowntails WOOT WOOT (the same day that i am going to get another betta lol)