My first attempt at a shrimp nano!

[T3Knical5urg3]

So I have decided to get serious about aquariums and have started to go real plants. I tried a hightech tank and have had less then average results. I don't want to make a fool of myself posting anything on that yet until its in a decent condition.

I love the look of the Spec V so I picked one up and decided to replace the hex 5 at work. Here's its placement so far!



It a huge upgrade from my previous setup.

[T3Knical5urg3]

I got a great piece of driftwood from a local FS and did some trimming to make it fit perfect for the tank. Leached out tannins for about a week and a half in hot water in a greenhouse and finally got it into the tank!

Added some local rocks also.

[Jegli09]

Looking good thus far!

[acitydweller]

nice tank. wow. that is one thick piece of wood!

Whats your plans on livestock? If you are considering shrimp, consider adding some window screen-like mesh to cover the overflow intake.

[RayT]

That sure is an interesting piece of wood, i like it! Does it sink in water? If it doesn't you'll have to weigh it down with something when the water goes in. I went through this, it was a pain.

The wood might be dense enough to sink tho, it looks really thick. Some moss would look sweet hanging off of there.

[rtuba71]

Nice tank..been thinking of getting one myself.

[T3Knical5urg3]

The wood did sink it was pretty dense to begin with and once it was water-logged it sank no problem.

My plans for the flora are pretty modest. Just some anubias, java fern, and some willow moss. I didn't know the willow moss was cool water so ill be keeping the temp at ~73. It is the ambient temperature in my lab anyway. The light on this thing is quite pitiful so I'm not even sure this low light stuff will grow. I'm not going to dose any ferts because the light is SO low!

I plan on getting transferring the the shrimp I got from xenes (probably spelled that wrong) they are a mix of blue and red rillis.

Newest shot of the tank. I'm placing the filter from the old tank over the overflow for now to help give a jumpstart to the bacteria.

[T3Knical5urg3]

So I have been busy at conferences (ESA woo!) but have finally came back to my tank. Placed the shrimp (thanks xenxes!) in it before I left for all the conferences. It is looking pretty good. The plants are slowly growing and the moss is coming along.



And a terrible phone shot of a berried shrimp


I also placed a nice little piece of moss in a pot next to my monitor

[pedropete]

nice!

i wonder how it would look with some more plants? perhaps some java fern or stems in the back right corner and some more anubias to fill in the front where you have a couple now. do you prefer to have minimal plants for simplicity sake?

those rilis are fun! it seems like each is slightly different coloration.

and i'm just curious: what do you research in your lab? i've been to ESA before and my dad goes often, too - two biologists in the family.

[bacon5]

Wow I really like it. That piece of wood is very cool

[The Big Buddha]

Looks cool, But sorry- everytime I look at the piece of wood I think of Jabba the Hut.

[Stinkmonky]

Originally Posted by The Big Buddha

Looks cool, But sorry- everytime I look at the piece of wood I think of Jabba the Hut.

Bahahaha


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[T3Knical5urg3]

Originally Posted by pedropete

nice!

i wonder how it would look with some more plants? perhaps some java fern or stems in the back right corner and some more anubias to fill in the front where you have a couple now. do you prefer to have minimal plants for simplicity sake?

those rilis are fun! it seems like each is slightly different coloration.

and i'm just curious: what do you research in your lab? i've been to ESA before and my dad goes often, too - two biologists in the family.

I'm actually an invasive species ecologist. I presented in the Invasion Modeling section for my first year there (this year). It was quite an experience being at such a large conference!

As for the plants, I'm leaving it to a minimal and letting them fill out and have plenty of space. Being that this is a tank for work the less I have to manage the tank week to week the better!

[SpecGrrl]

Originally Posted by T3Knical5urg3

I'm actually an invasive species ecologist. I presented in the Invasion Modeling section for my first year there (this year). It was quite an experience being at such a large conference!

As for the plants, I'm leaving it to a minimal and letting them fill out and have plenty of space. Being that this is a tank for work the less I have to manage the tank week to week the better!

I totally just saw the Borg Queen when I read this.

[T3Knical5urg3]

Just a small update. The picture doesn't do justice but with my new FugeRay light the tank is MUCH brighter. It went from cave like dark to vibrant. I have put 5 white clouds in the tank for now and will see how I like them, but all my shrimp are doing great!