The Emerald Dragon Grotto

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OtherIntermediate

The Emerald Dragon Grotto

"Unleash the fire of your Betta's personality in the Emerald Dragon Grotto! This setup uses the jagged, cratered textures of Dragon Stone to create a vertical landscape full of caves and crevices. Draped in Java Moss and surrounded by the rich bronzes of Cryptocoryne, it's an intricate, high-energy environment that rewards the curious explorer in every Plakat Betta."

Minimum Tank Size

5g Wide (14x9x9 inches)

Volume

5 gal

Water Parameters

75°F-80°F

7-7.5 pH

Substrate

Fluval Stratum (Active Soil)Fine Natural Gravel cap

Hardscape Components

Dragon Stone (Ohko Stone)Vertical arrangement in the back right corner forming a series of small caves

Fauna Inventory

Koi Plakat Betta

Fish

All levels (active swimmer)

Ramshorn Snail

Invertebrate

All surfaces

Flora Inventory

Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Brown'

Rosette plant

2 bunches

Midground right

Java Moss

Moss

1 golf ball size portion

Tucked into Dragon Stone holes

Salvinia Minima

Floating plant

1 portion

Water surface

The Emerald Dragon Grotto

Other Aquascape Plan

aquascaping.ai

January 15, 2026

Tank5g Wide (14x9x9 inches) (5 gal)

Parameters75-80°F • pH 7-7.5

DifficultyIntermediate

Fauna

1x Koi Plakat Betta
2x Ramshorn Snail

Flora

2 bunches Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Brown'
1 golf ball size portion Java Moss
1 portion Salvinia Minima

$Project Visualization$

Shopping List

Tank & Supplies

Item	Qty	Est. Cost
5 Gallon Wide Rimless Glass Tank (14x9x9 inches)- A wide footprint is preferred for the Plakat Betta's activity level.	1	$45.00
Small Hang-On-Back Filter with Intake Pre-Filter Sponge- Pre-filter sponge is vital to prevent the Betta's fins from being caught.	1	$22.00
50W Submersible Heater- Maintain temperature between 75°F and 80°F.	1	$15.00
Programmable LED Light with Sunrise/Sunset Mode- Helps mimic natural light cycles and reduces fish stress.	1	$35.00
Fluval Stratum (Active Soil)- Rich in minerals for the Cryptocoryne roots.	4.4lb bag	$18.00
Fine Natural Gravel Cap- Used to cap the soil in the foreground for a clean look.	2lb bag	$8.00
Water Conditioner / Dechlorinator- Must be used during every water change to remove chlorine.	1 bottle	$10.00
API Freshwater Master Test Kit- Crucial for monitoring the nitrogen cycle during setup.	1	$35.00

Hardscape

	Item	Qty	Est. Cost
	Dragon Stone (Ohko Stone)- Select various sizes for vertical cave stacking in the back right corner.	5-7 lbs	$25.00

Flora

Item	Qty	Est. Cost
Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Brown'- Plant in the midground soil; do not move once established.	2 bunches	$14.00
Java Moss- Tuck small pieces into the crevices of the Dragon Stone.	1 golf ball size portion	$8.00
Salvinia Minima- Floating plant to provide cover and help with nitrate export.	1 portion	$7.00

Fauna

	Item	Qty	Est. Cost
	Koi Plakat Betta- Choose a healthy, active individual with vibrant colors.	1	$30.00
	Ramshorn Snail- Excellent algae eaters for small setups.	2	$4.00

Setup Guide

Hardscape & Substrate Foundation

Day 1

Rinse the Dragon Stone thoroughly to remove excess clay and dust trapped in the craters.
Place the 5g tank on a level surface and add the Fluval Stratum to the back right corner to create a slope.
Cap the Stratum with a layer of fine natural gravel to prevent the active soil from clouding the water.
Arrange the Dragon Stone vertically in the back right corner, ensuring the pieces are stable and form small caves for exploration.
Install the 50W submersible heater and the HOB filter, ensuring the intake pre-filter sponge is attached.

Tip: Dragon Stone is brittle; you can break smaller pieces off to fill gaps or create more intricate textures at the base.

Initial Planting & Filling

Day 1

Mist the substrate with water to make it damp for easier planting.
Use tweezers to tuck small clumps of Java Moss into the holes and crevices of the Dragon Stone.
Plant the Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Brown' bunches in the midground area near the base of the stones.
Place a saucer or bubble wrap over the substrate and fill the tank slowly with dechlorinated water to avoid disturbing the soil.
Place the Salvinia Minima on the water surface, ensuring they are not directly under a heavy filter flow.

Tip: Don't worry if the Crypts lose leaves in the first week; this 'Crypt melt' is normal as they adjust to new water chemistry.

Establishing the Ecosystem

Weeks 1-4

Set the 50W heater to 78°F and run the filter 24/7.
Set the programmable LED light to a 6-8 hour photoperiod with a sunrise/sunset ramp to limit algae growth.
Perform 25% water changes twice a week to manage the initial ammonia spike common with Fluval Stratum.
Test water parameters weekly for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate.

Tip: Adding a small pinch of fish food every few days can help provide a source of ammonia to kickstart the beneficial bacteria.

Introducing the Inhabitants

Month 1+

Verify that Ammonia and Nitrite levels are consistently 0ppm and Nitrates are below 20ppm.
Acclimate the 2 Ramshorn Snails by floating their bag and slowly adding tank water over 30 minutes.
Acclimate the Koi Plakat Betta using the same slow-acclimation method to prevent temperature or pH shock.
Observe the Betta to ensure it is navigating the Dragon Stone caves easily and not getting its fins caught.

Tip: Keep the water level about an inch below the rim to ensure the Betta has access to the surface for air and can't jump out.

Maintenance Schedule

Daily

Feeding and Health Observation

Feed the Koi Plakat Betta high-quality pellets or frozen food; provide a small algae wafer for snails if needed. Observe the Betta for active behavior and ensure the Ramshorn snails are moving across surfaces.

Temperature and Equipment Check

Verify the 50W heater is maintaining the water between 75°F and 80°F. Check that the HOB filter has steady flow and the sunrise/sunset LED light cycle is functioning correctly.

Weekly

Partial Water Change and Siphoning

Perform a 20-30% water change. Use a small siphon to lightly vacuum the gravel cap, taking care not to disturb the Fluval Stratum or the roots of the Cryptocoryne Wendtii.

Water Parameter Testing

Test for Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. Ensure the pH remains stable between 6.5 and 7.5. Clean the interior glass walls of any minor algae buildup to keep the Emerald Dragon Grotto aesthetic clear.

Monthly

Plant Trimming and Thinning

Trim the Java Moss to prevent it from clogging the Dragon Stone crevices. Remove approximately 50% of the Salvinia Minima from the surface to ensure the midground Crypts receive enough light.

Filter and Pre-Filter Maintenance

Rinse the intake pre-filter sponge and internal filter media in a bucket of removed tank water. This removes debris trapped from the moss while preserving the beneficial bacteria colony.

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