QIYUAN IPX6 Waterproof Outdoor Power Strip, Surge Protector with 8 Outlets & 3 USB Ports (2A1C), 6FT Flat Plug Extension Cord for Garden Patio - Fireproof ABS, Black

Inert sand is a recommended substrate for beginners, so you have less to worry about. Some plants are substrate “eaters” and some are water column. The substrate ones will need root tabs for nutrients. You want them buried well enough they won’t be exposed to the fish, and you completely forget where they are and panic because now you want to move a plant but not poison your fish. Water column ones you don’t put in substrate and you can wedge, glue, or tie them where you want until they anchor. After a couple weeks of absolute paranoia brought on by posts of “my heater failed and boiled my fish while I was at work”, I recommend this guy. I still use a separate thermometer since it’s not as accurate as I would like. Petco is having a 50% off sale on tanks right now. Shipping tanks is expensive, in case that’s a way for you to save money without giving up cool things. I set my tank with substrate, heater, and filter. I let them sit for 24-ish hour hours before adding plants and decorations. I waited another 24 before starting my fishless cycle by adding 2ppm ammonia, which I skipped for my fish in cycle. Make sure if you get driftwood you boil it (unless already submerged at a fish store) and sand it down so there’s nothing sharp that can catch a betta fin. They make aquascape tools that make trimming and placing things easier. I thought it was silly at first but I admit to being wrong. Lot easier to get your tools in when the plants get bigger over your hands. Im a huge fan of keeping meds on hand, but using them sparingly. And I’ve been looking at mesh lids as solid lids can make floating plants a challenge due to trapped humidity. I’ve got a tiger lotus sending up surface leaves like it’s plotting world domination, so I haven’t decided how much more coverage I want to add. I also really liked this plant holder I’ve used to propagate pothos in my tanks. It holds the plant steady for when I need to get in there, and still has the roots exposed for the betta to play in. Also. please play with water and electricity responsibly