I added water lentils on top which should help with nitrates and such, my main worry is that I don't know how to keep the water stone in it since it pushes them underwater but with a single fish and plants I think oxygenation should be fine?

it should be ok. bettas also breathe some air!

Mhm! Labyrinth lungs and all. I just didn't realize how fragile water lentils area until I saw them spinning wildly inside my tank due to the filter's 'fountain' and the water stone's bubbles

are water lentils duckweed?

they're not fragile if it's duckweed

they'll be fine lmfao

yes it's duckweed

yep. But they also. HUH. get pushed down REAL HARD by the pump and bubbles?

don't worry they are indestructible.

you have them in your tank and they will be there until the end of time

THAT is actually VERY good to know!

i have to scoop out fistfuls weekly

the only tank that doesn't have duckweed is my 55 gallon and it's because barbs really like to eat duckweed

I'm always afraid of hurting stuff, even if it's plants.

Awwwwwww

so my barbs ate it all

Well, I only have a spoonful so far (they also gave me a HUGE bag of water from their acquarium at the shop to help settle mine so I think that's what helped kickstarting the cycle much faster?)

bacteria doesn't live in the water it lives on surfaces in the water but i bet the plants brought it in

Well, they're a huge source of proteins so that's great!

yes!

I just know I'm getting my spike up right now so I'm waiting for everything to settle and I'll go collect the boy

(It is also worth mentioning I'm still learning, i'm glad to learn where bacteria is and I guess you're right, the water lentils totally brought it in. Probably)