How long will it take FloraMax to settle w/out a filter?

CargoRed

Hi - I'm a super newbie to fish keeping. I impulsively purchased a betta at my daughter's school's science store, and now I'm playing catch up.
I have a 2.5 gal tank with 1 Betta and 2 plants. Right now my substrate is large river rocks and I need to change it for my plants (Wisteria and Java Fern). I was planning on putting down a layer of Floramax and some gravel on top of that...but I"m worried that the Floramax won't settle w/out a filter. The bag says it has a "biomagnet that clears water fast" but I'm not sure i trust that. I guess I could just dump some in a regular vase and add water and see.

I'm eventually going to upgrade to a 5 gal tank w/ a filter after I absorb some of the other expenses from my $5 fish. So in the meantime....should I just do the gravel (it's pea sized) or do both and hope for the best?

TIA!!
Cargo

El Nandez

You should be fine with just the gravel, you should not plant Java Fern as planting will cause the roots to rot attach it to drift wood, ornaments or rocks and the roots will eventually attach themselves where you placed the plant. Wisteria does fine floating or planted. If you really want to use a plant substrate I recommend laterite. You could mix it right in with your gravel, just put some in an old sock and rinse it until the water is clear then add it to your tank. Do you have any lighting for these plants?

CargoRed

Thanks.
I'm hoping on going with low light/low maintenance, so I don't have any plans for lighting right now. I figure I'll cross that bridge when I start shopping for my 5 gallon tank. I know the Java Fern is low light. Hopefully the Wisteria will be ok. It's the fish's favorite.