Desk top tank

Derek · 01-13-2004, 05:53 PM

Hello all:

I've just contracted the aquarium bug after my wife suggested a small tank for our 3-year-old to enjoy. I ended up giving him (well, me actually) a 10G with anubias on bogwood, crypts, java fern and vals on 10 lb of 5mm gravel and an 18W all-glass deluxe hood. It's in its fourth week and I love it - my own model lake bed!

Anyway, I'm thinking that a little desk-top planted tank for my office might be nice so I've been reading a bunch of threads and so far I'm thinking:

5-1/2 gallon glass tank
DIY hood with 1x13W AHSupply 6700K compact and reflector
25 watt heater (suggestions?)
10 lb Eco-complete
Aquaclear mini (opinions/suggestions welcomed) with output throttled
Low-light plants like I already have, or others
Oh yeah, a few fish (corys, tetras)

I really don't want to go much bigger than 5 gallon and I want to keep the light levels lower to negate CO2.

Derek

Nordic · 01-13-2004, 06:10 PM

You know, I cna remember the first aquarium I ever saw, and I was only 3 as well...

**GulfCoastAquarian** · 01-13-2004, 06:36 PM

The 13w AH Supply light sounds good.

For the heater, I'd probably go with a Via Aqua Preset 50w Heater with external temp control and stainless steel heat probe.

Aquaclear Mini sounds good. Eco-Complete, check. Low light plants, along with some faster growers, as well, to keep algae in check. Possibly a clump of riccia? It takes some work to maintain, but in such a small tank it should be very manageable.

Ray1214 · 01-13-2004, 08:35 PM

I prefer flourite to the eco-complete but my wife reports no real problem. (I like the looks of it too), I agree with Sam, but I used water wisteria and cacomba to get ahead of the algaes and it seems to work well. I like utilizing Cherry shimp and a lot of plant matter for an active tank as well as Pygmaeus Hephasteus (Dwarf Cories). I am buying some rasbora masticulas for my 3 gall as well as I have a meeting at a petstore for the Reef club tonite that has some.

Ray

Derek · 01-14-2004, 04:45 AM

I saw a thread somewhere else on PlantedTank about one of you running an Eheim Aquaball internal filter on a little tank. Big Al's has a 2206 for $32.99 (Canadian) which is not much more than what an AC Mini goes for...

hypsophrys · 01-14-2004, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Derek

I saw a thread somewhere else on PlantedTank about one of you running an Eheim Aquaball internal filter on a little tank. Big Al's has a 2206 for $32.99 (Canadian) which is not much more than what an AC Mini goes for...

I think it would be way too big for your five gallon. You can see it on Momotaro's 15g in the Photo Album forum.

Ian

Derek · 01-14-2004, 08:05 PM

Yeah, I visited Big Al's today (quite a place), looked at it, and decided that it would take up too much space in a tiny tank. I liked the idea of not having a filter hanging off of the back of the tank though, since it would allow me to place the tank right against the wall at the back of my (side) desk. Thinking about mounting an AquaClear Mini on one end of the tank since I'm planning to build a DIY cover and hood and I can notch the end of the cover.

Thanks for all the help so far people.

01-13-2004, 06:10 PM	#2
Nordic Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Cape Town Posts: 696	You know, I cna remember the first aquarium I ever saw, and I was only 3 as well... __________________ Cape Town, South Africa 25 Gal. 54watt, DIY CO2 5 Angelfish, 1 male dwarf gourami + 2 females ,2 female betas, 3 albino corys, 2 pepper corys, 2 CAEs 15 gal. Dwarf gourami fry tank 10 Gal 3 variatus platies, 4 black sailfin mollies- 5 Gal guppy birth tank with dividers 5 Gal guppy frytank 1 Gal guppy frytank 40 Gal Pond with 10 female guppies, 1 male tons of fry. On various pieces of furniture, 6 cats!

01-13-2004, 06:36 PM	#3
GulfCoastAquarian Planted Tank VIP (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 3,577	The 13w AH Supply light sounds good. For the heater, I'd probably go with a Via Aqua Preset 50w Heater with external temp control and stainless steel heat probe. Aquaclear Mini sounds good. Eco-Complete, check. Low light plants, along with some faster growers, as well, to keep algae in check. Possibly a clump of riccia? It takes some work to maintain, but in such a small tank it should be very manageable. __________________ - Sam P - plantedtanker in limbo - all tanks currently in storage

01-13-2004, 08:35 PM	#4
Ray1214 Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Lawerenceville, Ga In a Van down by the river. Posts: 136	I prefer flourite to the eco-complete but my wife reports no real problem. (I like the looks of it too), I agree with Sam, but I used water wisteria and cacomba to get ahead of the algaes and it seems to work well. I like utilizing Cherry shimp and a lot of plant matter for an active tank as well as Pygmaeus Hephasteus (Dwarf Cories). I am buying some rasbora masticulas for my 3 gall as well as I have a meeting at a petstore for the Reef club tonite that has some. Ray __________________ Ray Bunches of tanks. Reef, Planted, vivarium, terriarium, salt. I worked my self up from nothing to a state of extreme poverity

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01-13-2004, 05:53 PM	#1
Derek Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 45	Hello all: I've just contracted the aquarium bug after my wife suggested a small tank for our 3-year-old to enjoy. I ended up giving him (well, me actually) a 10G with anubias on bogwood, crypts, java fern and vals on 10 lb of 5mm gravel and an 18W all-glass deluxe hood. It's in its fourth week and I love it - my own model lake bed! Anyway, I'm thinking that a little desk-top planted tank for my office might be nice so I've been reading a bunch of threads and so far I'm thinking: 5-1/2 gallon glass tank DIY hood with 1x13W AHSupply 6700K compact and reflector 25 watt heater (suggestions?) 10 lb Eco-complete Aquaclear mini (opinions/suggestions welcomed) with output throttled Low-light plants like I already have, or others Oh yeah, a few fish (corys, tetras) I really don't want to go much bigger than 5 gallon and I want to keep the light levels lower to negate CO2. Derek

01-14-2004, 04:45 AM	#5
Derek Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 45	I saw a thread somewhere else on PlantedTank about one of you running an Eheim Aquaball internal filter on a little tank. Big Al's has a 2206 for $32.99 (Canadian) which is not much more than what an AC Mini goes for...

01-14-2004, 08:05 PM	#7
Derek Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 45	Yeah, I visited Big Al's today (quite a place), looked at it, and decided that it would take up too much space in a tiny tank. I liked the idea of not having a filter hanging off of the back of the tank though, since it would allow me to place the tank right against the wall at the back of my (side) desk. Thinking about mounting an AquaClear Mini on one end of the tank since I'm planning to build a DIY cover and hood and I can notch the end of the cover. Thanks for all the help so far people.