Stumbling back into fishkeeping

Hello all happy to be joining this forum, how very cool there's a place on the internet for fishy people to interact.

Quick intro: Had a betta about 6 years back, researched the heck out of fishkeeping but unfortunately after a year and a bit my betta succumbed to dropsy. My mother bought that fish but that fish made me into a fish person.

Two months ago my mother decided ooh pretty fish and bought two bettas, about two weeks ago she gave them to me to take care of over the weekend and I had to jump straight back in and try to save these fish from their living conditions.

I've kept the receipts but I don't want to face how much I spent in 3 days just to take care of these fish. Even though I did research back in the day I realised now how little I knew back then so it's like I'm starting from scratch.
Unfortunately Sir Bluetholomew the 2nd ended up passing, he already had raised scales when I got him home but I did try my hardest.

Now we are left with Sandra (my gf named him), my 30L tank is still far from perfect but I intend to take care of this little fella properly.

Some questions I have for the kind members:

1. I live in Kempton Park, I've made friends with Exotic Aquarium and Pets Woodbridge with how much I initially spent there. Been to Airport Pets a couple of times and Premium Aquatics by Greenstone.
   Where else in this region are there good reputable stores I can go to for good aquarium supplies?
2. I cannot for the life of me find API Freshwater Master Test kits anywhere, can anyone point me to the right direction or at least another test kit that works out quite cheap per test?
3. Root tabs, everywhere I look seems to only stock the expensive Seachem ones, the closest store that seems to stock cheaper ones is Saturn Shrimp in Centurion.
4. Kempton water, is there anything I need to know about it?

Sorry for the wall of text but I hope some helpful members will help me level up my fishkeeping game.
Pictures to follow.

 

First Betta named Lil Blue, initial bowl my mother kept him in.


Eventually upgraded to 30L tank with snail friend (looking back it was not very good)


RIP to Lil Blue in 2018


Surprise sad fish 2024 (during cold front so their water was under 20 degrees)


Quick interim tank that night


Where I currently am with my tank (Still a lot of work but Sandra is energetic and eating well at least)
Is the hardscape rock too jagged for bettas? Thinking maybe covering with java moss in future.


Close up


Next on the to do list:

1. Add more gravel and root tabs (don't want to mess with aquasoil just yet)
2. Plant a whole bunch more plants (going low-tech nature aquascape route)
3. Change up filter config, right now it has activated carbon but I'm thinking to change it to Seachem Matrix and also add an airstone (https://mcmerwe.co.za/shop/antopie-sponge-filter/)
4. Bought a piece of perspex from builders, gonna try to fashion a custom lid
5. Once everything is settled maybe introduce a couple of snails and cherry shrimp
6. I have a smaller 15L tank that I also intend to setup properly and give back to my mother so she hopefully doesn't go and buy more random bettas again (ideas for keeping it as low maintenance as possible are welcome)

Thank you and have a good night

 

Fanies fish room.He has a website. I use a deep substrate sand caped for my plants. It consists of coco peat moss 1\2 cup of dolomatic lime 1\2 cup bone meal and organic compost(soaked to remove floating bits) mix these compounds together and lay in tank then add a layer of pool filter sand over it(atleast 3 or 4 cm). Makes a super cheap alternative to aqua soil. Note adjust the amount of ingredients according to tank size. fill the water with a piece of plastic or plate to not disturb the sand cap...repeat DO NOT DISTURB THE SAND CAP. advantges of this method are great plant growth. Stem plants don't float free as easy as aqua soil and you don't need root tabs or ferts.

 

I did see the api master test kit at exotic pets in oakfields shopping centre Benoni. I think it was around R1200

 

@Nick77 Thank you for recommending Fanie's Fish Room, will check them out, surprised I didn't find them while googling stores near me. I'll also check out Exotic Pets Oakfields, it'd be great if they have the API test kit.
Your substrate sounds very much like a terrarium substrate just capped with sand, very cool application. When I level up my tank maybe I'll give it a try, thanks.

@Whoknows I did come across Rebel Pets online, unfortunately also out of stock but will give them a try.
Oooh I'll keep that in mind, maybe we can Pudo locker it, how much are you selling them for and also how many should I ideally have for a 46x22,5x30cm tank?

 

Thank you @Whoknows I'll PM you and we can hash out details there.