2.5G Hex Tank (56K) Journal!!!

[palufreak]

Alright guys,
So I've been asking questions on here for a while now and I decided to set-up this tank that I already had!

SPECS
Tank: 2.5G Hex Tank
Filter: Red Sea Nano Filter
Heater: Hydor Mini Heater 7W
Light: 7W Perch Light (Tom Aquatics)
Substrate: Sand (boiled and cleaned)
Ferts: ???
CO2: None

FLORA
Narrow Leaf Java Fern
Anubias Petite
Moss Ball

FAUNA
6 RCS (will have more within a few months)
2 Nerites (either horned or tracked)

Here are some pics:

This is where the tank is sitting, on my desk next to my crappy tv and skull piggy bank

This is a full tank shot

Top View

Close up front

Close up of filter and light, the piece of foam is there temporarily until I build my stand/base/hood!

Close up of intake


I am waiting on my driftwood (should arrive in 1-1.5 weeks), then I will order my plants (2-3 days to ship)... I am currently cycling the tank... Will go get three ghost shrimp tomorrow to clean up the food from the sand!

Sometime in the next week probably, I will build a surround/hood/base for the tank!!

Subscribe or come often... Lots of updates!!!
Any comments/critics are welcomed

[Quentin]

Glad to see you got this going. Also like how it's rimless. My 2.5 had an ugly hood :-/. Well be interesting to see how you scape such a small space. GL

[palufreak]

The tank originally had a hood for the crappy light bulb that came with it! I can post a pic of the hood if you guys want! It's rimless because its just molded plastic, there are no joints at all, one solid piece! There are a bit of sratches on the plastic but you don't notice it unless you look really close!

I plan on putting the driftwood I bought in the center-ish, then I'll put Anubias Petite at it's base, and Narrow Leaf Java Fern in the back (attached to rocks)! The moss ball will just sit there near the base of the driftwood!

I was just wondering, because my filter is under the substrate and it's sand, it constantily wants to float! Any ideas on how I can solve this?
Thanks

[palufreak]

Alright, so I took out the sand put a layer of gravel to hold the heater down and then placed sand over it!! Now theres a small hill towards the back!! I also put a piece of pantyhose over the intake pipe since my future RCS will probably reproduce and I don't want to little fry getting sucked in the filter!!! I will also try to build the surround/base/hood today!!

Also, the water cleared up (it was a bit "foggy") but now it will be dirty again since I took out all the sand and just put it back!!

Will go get some ghost shrimp today to help clean the bottom while cycling the tank!
Plz comment!!!

[JamesHockey]

I wantpics! Idont care how dirty the tank is!


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

[palufreak]

There's a lot of pics in first post!! I'll upload some in a couple minutes!

[palufreak]

Mini Update!!!

This is what I would like to do (aquascape)
Narrow Leaf Java Fern: Light Green
Anubias Petite: Ugly Green
Moss Ball: Dark Green
The brown is the driftwood, it is about the size/shape of the one I purchased!

Here you can see the hill


Here are the before and after of the intake pipe (first pic is before)


Let me know what you guys think!!!

[palufreak]

Still only two replies!!! Come on guys!!!
So I got my Ghost Shrimp a couple hours ago and to my suprise, two of the three are pregnant!!! I don't want baby Ghost Shrimp so I'm just not gonna feed them!!! Here are some pics:

Top View

Here are my two pregnant females!!!



All three together:

Im assuming this one is a male, can anyone confirm this?


Post comments please!!!

[Monika1013]

I love the ghost shrimp! I kind of miss having them now that I see yours! I really like your little tank, I can't wait to see it with some plants in it.

[palufreak]

Ya ghost shrimps are awesome!!! But I like RCS better, LOL! I can't wait for plants either!!! It's so long, if only I had my driftwood!!! AWWGG HURRY UP DRIFTWOOD!!!! I'll be mad if the driftwood gets here and I don't like it!!

[Monika1013]

Why are you waiting for the driftwood before you get the plants? You can always move the plants/trim them once the driftwood comes in.

[Chrisinator]

I've heard of horror stories with ghost shrimps and red cherry shrimps so make sure you read up on that as the ghost might eat your rcs. Also, put some form of prefilter on your intake to prevent shrimp from being sucked up.

Looks pretty good so far and I love that light!!


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

[Monika1013]

I had never thought about it, but once I read that I googled it and came right back to this.

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...ry-shrimp.html

[palufreak]

Originally Posted by Monika1013

Why are you waiting for the driftwood before you get the plants? You can always move the plants/trim them once the driftwood comes in.

Because my plants and Narrow Leaf Java Fern, Anubias Petite and Moss Ball! Apart from Moss Balls, they need to be attached to rocks (narrow leaf java fern) and driftwood (Anubias)

I've heard of horror stories with ghost shrimps and red cherry shrimps so make sure you read up on that as the ghost might eat your rcs. Also, put some form of prefilter on your intake to prevent shrimp from being sucked up.

Looks pretty good so far and I love that light!!

No, once the tank is cycled, I will move them to another aquarium (0.25G)... If you follow the 12 shrimp / gallon rule, they will be fine!! I put a piece of pantyhose on the intake (last pic, reply #7)!!

I love the light too, it's very bright but not too much!!!

Thanks

[palufreak]

Come on guys