5G Low Tech, Rocks and Stems...Updated 6-8-2012

[talontsiawd]

This is the first small tank I have had. It is actually my girl friends tank but I set it all up, do all the maintenance, etc. It started off as basically no tech, just a light, no heater, no filter, etc. It is just over a year old. It is also the first time any aquatic animal I have had has a name. She is Liby, aka Liby Liberty as we got her on the 4th of July

This tank has been awesome as it has been the easiest tank ever. I have had no algae except a tiny bit of GDA on the glass, and I mean tiny amount. I only paid about $30 for everything, tank, top and gravel. The light and filter were left over. Pretty much all plants were from my other tanks.

Specs:
-AGA 5 gallon
-Home made light fixture using 2 CFLS (15 watts x2)
-Zoo Med 501 filter
-No Heater
-Critter cage top
-Petco gravel

Ferts:
Food and Excel when I remember

Fauna:
1 Dwarf African Frog

Flora:
Misc Stems


This is really hard to photograph due to where the tank is, the light fixture, and the fact I don't have a tripod here. I did my best but it looks better in person. Probably time for a trim

[PinoyBoy]

Nice scape for the tank, it looks larger than a 5G if the shells aren't visible. How long has the red plant been in your tank? It looks like a red tiger lotus and I thought they get huge.

[talontsiawd]

The tiger lotus has been in for about 4 months. I trim it back constantly. Honestly, I used to trim it so the leaves where only about .5in. My GF likes the bigger leaves so I keep it about the size it is with that size leave. You can keep them small with trimming.

[FIT BMX]

Looks really good, great job!

[Aphyosemion]

A very nice looking low maintenance jungle tank. The only thing that seems to be lacking is a good foreground. You could try some low light options like mosses to fill it in. I'll bet there are some others that might work as well, depending on how much light is getting to the front. I think that would really complete your tank and give it a little extra something.

[talontsiawd]

Originally Posted by Aphyosemion

A very nice looking low maintenance jungle tank. The only thing that seems to be lacking is a good foreground. You could try some low light options like mosses to fill it in. I'll bet there are some others that might work as well, depending on how much light is getting to the front. I think that would really complete your tank and give it a little extra something.

I have tried a few foreground plants. HC was the first, then I tried two types of grasses. The light is not the issue, the frog rips it up. HC was too fragile, anything that throws out runners gets pulled up as the new runners don't root deeply enough.

Right now there is some glosso, about 1/3 of what I originally planted. I am hoping that it will be durable enough. It is just starting to spread but I may buy some more to have it fill end more quickly.

I totally agree with you, it really needs something, I didn't take the frog's behavior into account on previous attempts.

[firefiend]

Absolutely gorgeous! Great work.

[talontsiawd]

Small update. I trimmed and put in some Blyxa. I am planning to add some more Glosso, it really needs a foreground

[talontsiawd]

Sooo, unfortunately Liby died. I am not sure what happened, my girlfriend had been working a lot and I had been sick so I wasn't over there for a week. I tested the water and everything seemed fine, don't know what happened.

I also had to tear out all the plants in the back to find the body. I didn't take pictures but it will have to "grow into itself again". I am thinking it will look back to normal in about 2 weeks. The good thing is I made more room for new plants.



My question. We are not sure if we want another frog, or fish. As much as my girlfriend likes frogs, I think fish will bring a lot more life to this tank.

What would you suggest for a 5 gallon? I don't want to break the bank with something rare or exotic. A frog costs $2. A LFS has some cool varieties of Endlers which are appealing to me as I like the colors. I really would just go for guppies but they will be too big for the tank. I am just looking for something colorful that can deal with the small size. The smaller, the better.

[shrimpnmoss]

Make it a shrimp tank!

[talontsiawd]

Originally Posted by shrimpnmoss

Make it a shrimp tank!

As much as I love the idea, it's my GF's tank and she doesn't like shrimp. Frog or fish.

[shrimpnmoss]

Originally Posted by talontsiawd

As much as I love the idea, it's my GF's tank and she doesn't like shrimp. Frog or fish.

Whatever you get, you can always throw 10 cheaper nice looking shrimps in for her...she might like them eventually. Fire Reds are about a buck or so on SnS. Lot of people keep fish with shrimps and eventually decide that the shrimps were much more fascinating to look at and turn to the dark side.

[talontsiawd]

Originally Posted by shrimpnmoss

Whatever you get, you can always throw 10 cheaper nice looking shrimps in for her...she might like them eventually. Fire Reds are about a buck or so on SnS. Lot of people keep fish with shrimps and eventually decide that the shrimps were much more fascinating to look at and turn to the dark side.

Right now I have GBR in the tank I have at my house that I wanted for shirmp. I have some Fire Reds in there but the GBR's keep them hiding. I may move them and them my Fire Reds will start breeding. I will say I have too many. That's probably the only way she will do it. But I now have a plan

[shrimpnmoss]

once you move your fire reds over...they'll do nice in that jungle of hers....that's a good size tank for shrimps too...plus it is a mature tank so they'll do great...GBR chow shrimps like nobody's business..at least mine did....

[talontsiawd]

Originally Posted by shrimpnmoss

once you move your fire reds over...they'll do nice in that jungle of hers....that's a good size tank for shrimps too...plus it is a mature tank so they'll do great...GBR chow shrimps like nobody's business..at least mine did....

Yeah, the GBR wasn't a good choice but I had no choice. I was sold 2 males for a different tank and they were going to kill each other. I bought 2 females and separated them. They were only going to be in this tank for a bit but they ended up hiding so much I don't know how to catch them. Someday I will get to that.