Products Used In This Tank
Substrate –
Light –
Heater –
Filter –
Fluval Bug Bites –
Hikari Micro Pellets –
Filter Media –
API Stress Zyme –
🛒 Check Out My Product Review Videos On Amazon –
(Affiliate Links – I Get A Commission From Qualifying Purchases)
My Other Videos Mentioned
Make A Moss Carpet –
Best Nano Tank Filters –
Best Filter Media –
How To Cycle An Aquarium –
MMS Designs For 3D Prints –
Aquatic Plant List
🌿 Amazon Frogbit
🌿 Limnophila Sessiliflora
🌿 Anubias Coin Leaf
🌿 Bucephalandra Kedegang
🌿 Cryptocoryne Crispatula Balansae
🌿 Cryptocoryne Wendtii Mi Oya
🌿 Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green
🌿 Cryptocoryne Nurii
🌿 Echinodorus Tropica
🌿 Eleocharis Pusillia
House Plant List
🌿 Tradescantia Green Hill
🌿 Marble Queen Pothos
🌿 Monstera Adansonii
🌿 Peace Lilly
MY YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS
🐟 Walstad Method Aquariums –
🐡 Care Guides –
🌿 Aquarium Plants –
🦐 Shrimp Keeping –
Easy Jungle-Style Betta Fish Tank Setup! A Beginner-Friendly Planted Aquarium To Keep A Betta Happy!
Welcome to my three-month update on this lush jungle-style betta fish tank! In this video, I walk you through how I set up this 8-gallon portrait planted tank, how it’s evolved over time, and my future plans for it.
This isn’t a brand-new build — it’s a rescape of my betta’s previous tank, reusing materials like Fluval Stratum, Seiryu stone, spider wood, and narrow leaf fern. I’ve designed it to be one of the easiest planted aquariums for beginners, featuring hardy, low-maintenance plants and a forgiving jungle aquascape layout.
The plant selection includes Anubias ‘Coin Leaf’, Echinodorus ‘Tropica’, Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Green’, ‘Mi Oya’, and ‘Nurii’, Limnophila sessiliflora, Eleocharis (hair grass), and moss, all of which thrive in low-tech setups. For filtration, I upgraded to a Nicrew Slim HOB filter, which I believe is one of the best options for a nano tank — compact, quiet, and highly efficient. I’ve customized the media using 30 PPI sponge and filter floss to maximize biological and mechanical filtration.
My betta, Marmalade, was reintroduced after setting up the tank, along with a cleanup crew of ramshorn snails and Neocaridina shrimp. She’s a curious and peaceful fish who quickly adjusted to her new surroundings — even letting the shrimp steal food without fuss. Watching her interact with the environment adds so much personality to this fish tank.
Throughout the first three months, the tank has seen plenty of growth and a few challenges, including a bacterial bloom, snail waste buildup, and an algae outbreak following the introduction of bottled waste-eating bacteria. To manage this, I relied on frequent water changes, adjusted my fertilizing routine, and shifted floating plants like Amazon Frogbit to more suitable areas of the tank. It’s been a learning experience, but seeing the plants settle in and the tank develop into a true tropical fish jungle has been incredibly rewarding.
I’ve also introduced some houseplants — Pothos, Tradescantia, Peace Lily, and Monstera — using a custom 3D-printed holder that fits perfectly on top of the tank. These help soak up excess nutrients and add to the immersive jungle vibe. Marmalade seems to love resting among the Frogbit roots and exploring every corner of the scape.
As part of a fish room reorganization, this planted aquarium will soon be moved to a new rack, alongside two Walstad-style setups. I’ll be sharing monthly updates on how this tank continues to evolve, and I’m planning a full-year recap once we hit the 12-month mark.
If you’re looking to build a beautiful and low-maintenance betta fish tank, I hope this video gives you some inspiration. Thanks so much for watching — and good luck with your own fish tank journey!
#aquarium #fishtank #bettafish
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Intro
00:25 – Planting The Tank
04:35 – Filtration
06:42 – Stocking
09:45 – Month 1
14:51 – Month 2
22:37 – Month 3
26:18 – Current Day
Comments
16 responses to “Easy Jungle-Style Betta Fish Tank Setup! A Beginner-Friendly Planted Aquarium To Keep A Betta Happy!”
Cloudy water is a bacteria bloom not an algae bloom
21:03 Copepod. They are great to have if Marmalade doesn't hunt them to extinction. Cleanup crew and a free food source that encourages hunting and exploratory behavior 🙂
what type of betta is she? she is so cute!
She is beautifull❤
But i've never seen a female with longfins😮
Could I put a betta in a 30 gallon I was told it was to large
Love the video, I have just wedged the anubius between 2 rocks and put little stones to fill any gaps will they survive
Do you siphon it or not? If yes how? If no how do you manage the waste?
I really love this jungle style for betta. This was great inspiration, what kind of floating plants did you use? The roots are so interesting looking.
Amazing love your videos mate
Greetings from Alberta Canada. Is that really a female? Wow she is hug and alot of fin. Beautiful tank. Thank you for sharing.
Wow she is so pretty with such long fins ❤
21:02 looks like an copepod, no?
Looks amazing. I am looking to upgrade one of my Bettas from his (entirely too small) tank up to a 10 gallon rectangle. I can't wait to see what he thinks of it. Also, i must say, i love your betta. She is so gorgeous. Seen your update about her marbling awhile back. I saved screenshots and show to everyone who has any interest in fish lol. My guy is marbling up. When we got him, he was just silverish and red. Now he has navy blues and jade/olive greens as well.
Great video! Do you do anything with the biofilm that forms on the surface when adding the plant ring?
i love listening to your process! this tank looks amazing so far, and Marmalade is SO curious she's so charming!! i'm brand new to the hobby and doing a LOT of research before starting my first tank and your videos are my favorite 🙂
I always glue the rhizome and never have problem's, is it best to glue the roots or the rhizome? Great video yet again 👏 👌 👍