Noah's Mini Haven

[Noahma]

Tank:
Auction bought 5.5 Gal. All-Glass Tank.

Equpment:
50watt Stealth heater
Hagen Elite Mini filter
Red Sea HOB fillter
Hampton bay desk lamp including 24 watt 6500k fluorescent bulb.

Substrate:
Activ-flora black sand substrate.

Decoration:
one Twisted peice of Mopani driftwood.

The grey thing under the wood is to show the slope at which the wood will sit once the substrate is in.

[Noahma]

I was surprised how quickly the Driftwood sank. I boiled it for a couple hours, and then floated it in a spare 10 gal over night, and this eve it was sitting at the bottom.

Now to figure out what plants I should put in there. I have access to four aquarium stores that carry live plants. Some can order specifics for me, others I just have to wait and pick through their stuff on delivery day.

Any suggestions for this tank? I want it to be pretty heavily planted, I think I will transfer quite a few of my cherry shrimp from the 36 into this tank.

[ZooTycoonMaster]

I like that piece of wood!

Are you going to inject CO2 in this tank?

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by ZooTycoonMaster

I like that piece of wood!

Are you going to inject CO2 in this tank?

I found the wood over at petco the other night while getting some more food for the 36 gal.

Eventually I will set up CO2, but until then I will be dosing Excel. I had thought of doing DIY, but since this is going to find its way into my office at work, it might be a pain to set up the DIY system, and keep it fueled

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Then I think Marsilea Minuta will work as a nice carpet plant for you.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by ZooTycoonMaster

Then I think Marsilea Minuta will work as a nice carpet plant for you.

I have that in my 36 gal, it is on my short list of carpets. The only problem I have with it in my 36 is the speed it grows, its like watching paint grow lol. but with this little sucker having more light than the 36 it might grow a bit quicker.

[Eden Marel]

HC, some moss, and some rotalas.

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Originally Posted by Noahma

I have that in my 36 gal, it is on my short list of carpets. The only problem I have with it in my 36 is the speed it grows, its like watching paint grow lol. but with this little sucker having more light than the 36 it might grow a bit quicker.

Really? Marsilea Minuta grew really fast for me :/

[Noahma]

I have more than enough moss that I can transfer from the 36, The Rotala might be a good option. I think Aqua imports stocks that regularly. I was also thinking of Lawn Marsh pennywort as well (I think one of the stores in Lakewood stocks). I do have Creeping Jenny in my 36 too that I absolutely LOVE, that might be an option for the back of the tank. I also had thought of transferring one of my dwarf lily's into the tank too.

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by ZooTycoonMaster

Really? Marsilea Minuta grew really fast for me :/

lol yea, it is really creeping. it is though packing itself in very densely where it is growing.

[Eden Marel]

If you add the moss are you going to tie it to the wood or make a carpet?

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by Eden Marel

If you add the moss are you going to tie it to the wood or make a carpet?

I figured that I would attach it to the wood near the surface. The Java that I have in the 36 gallon decided to grow horizontal near the surface, and it has a very nice look to it. If I can find where I found the Crypt. parva again, and get a hold of 5-6 pots of that, I could plant the foreground on the front right side in front of the driftwood.

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Crypt Parva grows REALLY slow. But it looks nice

If you want, I have a fast-growing carpet plant called Hydrocotyle sibthiorpoides. I can ship it to you for the cost of shipping if you're interested

[Noahma]

Originally Posted by ZooTycoonMaster

Crypt Parva grows REALLY slow. But it looks nice

If you want, I have a fast-growing carpet plant called Hydrocotyle sibthiorpoides. I can ship it to you for the cost of shipping if you're interested

Let me see what I can find in the local stores first, I might take you up on the offer though, it looks like a very nice plant.

[Noahma]

Started planting it this eve. I am not anywhere near the final plants. I wanted to get some of my quick growing stems in there to help eat up any ferts in the water column to keep the algae at bay. So I added several stems of Egeria najas, a few clippings of my Creeping Jenny and my Red Ludwiga, both of which will be permanent in this tank, with final placement to be decided later. I also picked up a couple small Anubias nana tonight to glue to the driftwood. I have not done so yet... well due to the fact that the water is cloudy from disturbing the substrate while refilling after a quick water change lol. I plan to add more pictures late this weekend, they might be nice to look at, or well... plain depending on what my trips to a couple of the aquarium stores that carry plants yield. One trip today did not bring much luck, except the owner told me that next friday they will be receiving their usual plant shipment, and that I should get in sat. morning right after they open to get the best pick.

I would like to go with the water shamrock carpet, but I am having a hard time finding any of it in the local stores, and shipping costs eat me alive whenever I do an order. So I might go with something else.