Help with my first nano (56k, I feel your pain)

[Steven_Chong]

hey random_alias, I haven't been checking back with this thread-- sorry!

Lesse, about the light . . . I tried DIY set ups with 19w spirals, and 13 w pc's. the 19w's in particular are easy to aim over a small tank, though of course the efficiency isn't as good with the shape, it still ends up being a lot brighter than simple 13w. Well, your tank and best of luck man.

Hmmm . . . my opinion is the mid ground doesn't have enough height. At this rate, you might end up with the "field in front of a wall of stem plants" that seems to be the downfall of many an otherwise well-planned scape. I'd try to build more strength and thickness into the mid ground. BTW-- is there enough room for stems in the back? This seems like one of those lay outs that needs stem plants.

[random_alias]

I'm hoping the foreground and hairgrass can be dithered together, but that may be wishful thinking. I don't think there's enough room for stems. I have to use extreme measures just to be able to clean the glass because the wood is so close to the glass in some places.

I'd rather clean the glass in my 55 than this 2.5 anyday.

I'm going to let it grow in like I have it and then see if the midground needs something to fuse the scape together. I hate to fiddle with adding something to it now and end up having to pick HC and HG out of it later.

I really don't know what I could use anyway. All that wood is very delicately placed and bumping one piece always disturbs at least 2 others.

I had forseen the midground as an issue though. I got some mini moss to soften up the edges here and there but I really can't "see" where to put it until the foreground fills in.

I have a feeling you're right though and that I'll end up needing a third species.

[melbourne]

Something I use on my nano-reef tanks. Its a nano magnet cleaner using rare earth magnets. Works great.

-Mike

http://www.nimblenano.com/

[random_alias]

wow.

That's
so...


perfect.



Do you use the regular or the super?

Do they scratch the glass at ALL? If I mess these tanks up I can't get new ones without flying from NC to Singapore and back.

[melbourne]

Hi,

I use the regular. I've had no issue with scratching glass, however if you have sand or a rock stuck on the cleaning side it could scratch your glass but its unlikely unless your tank is made of starphire or low iron glass. Really good magnet cleaner for nano's.

-Mike

[random_alias]

Sweet. This thing may deserve it's own post so people can find it when searching. I'm gonna order one.

[turtlehead]

Is there something like that in size but cheaper?

[random_alias]

I'm not aware of there being anything else like that in size, period!

[random_alias]

So, let's say you have a HOB filter that's vibrating your tank and your lights and your desk and everything else, turning it's surroundings into a noise amplifier. I've tried different ideas on how to cut down on the vibration transfer from the filter to the tank.

So far, the best method is to take a length of airline tubing and slice it down the middle on one side. Then, push it over the lip of the tank. Sit the filter on it. Cut another length of tubing but do not slice it open. Place this round tubing between the bottom of the filter and the tank. Now your entire HOB filter is floating on rubber/silicone dampeners. Seems to work pretty well.

[random_alias]

Out of desperation, I dropped a few mats of mini moss in and a couple rocks to hold them down. Quick, easy and I like the look. I need to build height, etc..but this is by far the best direction I've been able to take this 1.3g. All the other plants I tried looked too big.

Floating riccia for a sense of size.

[A Hill]

great little journal i really like how that scape looks with the sticks VERY natural looking and the scape with the mini moss loook awwsome i think i wouldnt toutch it idk if id go shrimp only in that tank because u might want something in the higher shtrata of water what about some endlers? just a suggestion

great job so far!

Fish Newb

(i also just made a good sized order from Dr fosters and smith.... and i SAVED about .... 50 60 bucks because they had sales and the heater alone saved me $30 since they sell them for so low and its free shipping for orders over $60 so there is ur shipping rate gone =-o im waiting for it shoud get here by newyears so ill let u know how they shipped if u ever are interested in buying from them..)

[random_alias]

I've planted it a little more since the last picture but it was still planted sparsely. It's grown in a little since then. I trimmed all the hairgrass down to try to encourage it to fill in. It used to be 1-1.5 inches taller.



Things still don't look healthy to me. This is my first non Co2, Excel tank. Is this growth normal looking? You can compare the dates of the picks in the other posts. I may put the pressurized Co2 on it for a few weeks and see if anything spectacular happens.

I guess it's progressed well for non Co2 and pitifully planted but I want LUSH!

[Perfectblue]

Looks good.

[mrbelvedere]

I love nanos. May start my own someday. Fantastic looking tank, BTW. I am legitimately impressed.

[Stan the Man]

Damn, that is a fine looking tank! Love the arrangement of the driftwood... haven't been able to find nice little pieces like that yet! Also like how you have the tank open... has the potential for emersed plant growth? Look forward to see more pics as things progress.