Setting up a new and unusual tank. I found this 4.5 gallon mason jar at the goodwill awhile back and have decided to convert it into a Cherry Shrimp tank. I've inserted some driftwood inside of it. I'm looking for a low maintenance carpeting plant for the bottom, as well as any suggestions people would have to make this tank look cool. Also trying to get suggestions on how many shrimp I could keep, pulling excess if i need to over to my planted 29 tall if it gets too crowded.
What I'm working with:
6500k 18watt cfl
4.5 gallon mason jar roughly 19 inches high
25 watt heater
double sponge filter size small
Don't know if you've seen the threads above, lots of ideas there.
For easier carpeting plant, some people have had success with dwarf sag (Sagittaria subulata). Moss on rocks or mesh would be good too, you can remove them to trim then plop back in the tank.
Sounds like you got a good find there, that's a huge jar! Pictures please!
Oh, to start off you can put in 4-5 shrimp per gallon. If they like the tank you'll have lots within 3-4 months.
PS congrats on your first post and welcome to the forum!
What's the surface area at the opening? It's pretty narrow looking. May need to leave a lot of head space- between the depth of the tank and that narrow opening, oxygenation is potentially not so good. This is one of those situations where increasing surface agitation with a bubbler would definitely help.
@Daisy Mae as mentioned up above i have a dual sponge filter as the main source of filtration in to the build just didn't post it for ascetics. The diameter of the opening is roughly 4 inch. I plan on dropping the water level down a tad to create more surface area. @randym Its not crazy tall roughly 16 inches between what will be the substrate with plants and the top. I have some fairly long aquascaping tools to tend to the bottom if need be. The 18watt cfl hits the bottom with light pretty good.
Finally finished it. Ended up swaping out the container with a spare carboy my dad had, in which I cut the top off and made a 8inch diameter opening.
The substrate is fluval stratum
Plants are crytocorne balansae, marimo balls, anubias nana, and java moss
Local driftwood mixed with mopani in the back.
18watt 6500k daylight cfl for lighting
5.5 gallons total accounting for wood and substrate displacement.
Looking to stock with a cherries after about 2 weeks once it finishes cycling. Also looking for fertilizer suggestions for shrimps as I can no longer use seachem because of the copper. I have some tetra ferts that are phosphorus and iron. Would that be safe for the shrimp, and be able to keep the crypt alive?
Also attached is my planted 29 gallon which I plan to throw excess cherries in after they start breeding in the shrimp only tank.
Even though Seachem Fluorish has copper it is shrimp safe. I use it once a week or so. I'm guessing this is the seachem fert that you mean?
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