Aquaeon Evolve 4g Planted Tank

[rnaodm]

Hello new member here, Ive had fish tanks off and on for 10 years. Nano Reefs/125g Oscar Tank/Budget Planted Aquariums

Im thinking of picking up an Aqueon Evolve 4g Nano, AIO, False wall for a filter/additives/Heater, And an LED Lamp which will hopefully be sufficient.

Im thinking shrimp, Small fish, plants. I should have the tank in a day or two and will go from there.

[jeremyTR]

Maybe some fish (very small) but definitely tons of shrimp.

[rnaodm]

Think if I'm going with a smaller tank I should just keep it simple?

5.5g aga, Maybe rimless?

I could use an Aquaclear 300 for the filtration/heater.

[acitydweller]

If i were going to do a nano again, i'd likely go with a finnex and custom make a glass cover since rimless typically dont have covers.

Something to think about, if you have the deskspace, a rimless would take up room for filters, cords and hose piping out the back. the Aqueon evolve actually keeps things tidy for a desk. i have two running next to each other and have it nearly flush to the wall. only three cords run down the back (light, heater, water pump). figured i'd offer up some of my experience using these tanks for you to make an informed decision.

you are welcome to check out the tanks in my journal for reference.

[rnaodm]

Originally Posted by acitydweller

If i were going to do a nano again, i'd likely go with a finnex and custom make a glass cover since rimless typically dont have covers.

Something to think about, if you have the deskspace, a rimless would take up room for filters, cords and hose piping out the back. the Aqueon evolve actually keeps things tidy for a desk. i have two running next to each other and have it nearly flush to the wall. only three cords run down the back (light, heater, water pump). figured i'd offer up some of my experience using these tanks for you to make an informed decision.

you are welcome to check out the tanks in my journal for reference.

Thanks alot Ill check out your threads for sure.

Edit:

Did you end up fixing your problem with the shrimp getting into the back? That seems like a huge problem. Id like to get a breeding pair or trio of some small fish/shrimp and wouldn't want em getting killed

Hows the stock led lighting, Your plants look good so I assume its bright enough?

[J.mccollum]

I have the evolve 8. I really like it. I was told by aquaion the light is more that suffecent to grow low and med range plants - seems to be working fine. I have HC and dwarf hairgrass in mine. Also will be using co2 and ferts customized to my tank I bought from here. Im not using the filter it came with, but I got some ceramic bio and foam filters and will install a filter in front of the outlet when I get shrimp. It does come with covers. Mine is still on dry start mode but I plan on flooding is in a week it two. Just waiting to get all my co2 equipment.

[acitydweller]

Originally Posted by rnaodm

Thanks alot Ill check out your threads for sure.

Edit:

Did you end up fixing your problem with the shrimp getting into the back? That seems like a huge problem. Id like to get a breeding pair or trio of some small fish/shrimp and wouldn't want em getting killed

Hows the stock led lighting, Your plants look good so I assume its bright enough?

funny that you mentioned that. i just helped someone else out with the fix.
used a combination of window mesh and some fluval coarse foam behind the overflow.

I have crs, sakuras and likely a cherry or two who have had fairly significant clutches born in the four g. This tank used to be my primary and has since been my birthing and grow out tanks. Mosses and rotala grow steady and require little maintenance. I recently swapped out the two LED lamps (over the two 4g evolve tanks) for one single finnex 27w 6500k lamp over both tanks.

The cabomba, mosses, guppy grass and rotalla all grow really well and rather quickly. not sure if its the established tank, the eco complete substrate, the shrimp picking all it all day, my dosing of calcium clay or bi weekly water changes that keep this thing going so strong. now i find the plants needing to be trimmed every other week which is a bit of a nuisance and more work now.