[cmdR_CHRIS]

Hello everyone. This is my first Tank Journal! I am aiming for an iwagumi layout using glosso carpet and a dash of anubias on the rocks with a background of crypts. I will try to keep this journal updated every two weeks with pictures of progress.


Tank: 2.5g Bowl
Light: Deep Blue Solarflare Micro LED 6700k Light
Filter: Sunsun HW-603B
Substrate: Flourite Dark, 7 kg / 15.4 lbs
Hardscape: Granite rocks from my local beach
CO2: None
Fertilizer: None
Flora: Cryptocoryne undulata, Cryptocoryne wendtii, Anubias barteri var. nana, Glossostigma elatinoides
Fauna: Four Pygmy Corydoras, Ramshorn Snails, Red Cherry Shrimp, and three Horned Nerite Snails

7/6/2014 The Dry Start

This is my second attempt at the dry start method. I have tried this before with my 0.5g vases & bowl, but could not hold out for the four weeks and flooded them two weeks into it. This time I will patiently wait the four weeks, keeping the substrate saturated with water and mist the plants at least once a day.

 

[cmdR_CHRIS]

Update: 7/20/2014

It's very tempting to flood this.

Glossostigma elatinoides is carpeting nicely and the Anubias barteri var. nana have grown several new leaves.

In the background I have added Cryptocoryne wendtii. It was looking too sparse with the Cryptocoryne undulata alone.

In a months time I hope to see shrimp and snails grazing this lush greenery.

 

[Aplomado]

Cool!

 

[talontsiawd]

Oh, I like this idea. Can't wait to see where it goes.

 

[dbw27]

beautiful..

Did you use all 15 pounds of the flourite?

dbw

 

[cmdR_CHRIS]

beautiful..

Did you use all 15 pounds of the flourite?

dbw

Yes I tapered the flourite from 4"-5" in the back to 3" in the front. I tried to get as much planting surface area out of the bowl as I could.

 

[cmdR_CHRIS]

Update: 8/3/2014 The Great Flood

I flooded the bowl this week. With the California heat wave the Glossostigma elatinoides was starting to wither away. Also some Anubias barteri var. nana started to yellow. I must have needed to mist them more often because of the heat.

Some Glossostigma elatinoides has died off, but most of it was okay. Added the first fauna, Ramshorn Snails and Cherry Red Shrimp. I'm using a DIY shrimp trap to move my Cherries from my 20g to the 2.5g

I also got the bowl a Sunsun HW-603B. I am loving this filter. It is completely silent, I have it next to my bed. The flow is perfect for this bowl. It comes with mechanical filtration sponges, thinking of adding biological media if I eventually get some micro fish. I made one alteration to the filter, switching the pump to the top of the canister so that water is drawn through the bottom to the top of the canister. I reversed the sponges accordingly.

Bump:

 

[cmdR_CHRIS]

Update: 8/24/2014

Much of the glosso and anubias has melted, at least the Crypts are growing well. The shrimp are doing great too. Just feeding them algae wafers every three days so that they are kept well fed.

When cleaning out the canister filter I found some baby shrimp alive and well munching on the detritus. I wrapped inlet guard of the filter with some mesh wrapping fabric to keep future shrimplets out.

 

[cmdR_CHRIS]

Update: 9/7/2014



The Crypts are exploding with growth. The Glosso and Anubias are slowly coming back too.

I added three Horned Nerite Snail to the bowl. There is plenty of green for them to much on. The shrimp population is growing. There are many baby shrimp scampering around.

 

[Shidohari]

Very well done Can't believe you did this only with a Two and a half gallon bowl. Love it.

 

[cmdR_CHRIS]

Very well done Can't believe you did this only with a Two and a half gallon bowl. Love it.

Thank you!
I'm overjoyed with my success with the tank. I can't wait until the Glossostigma fills in and the Anubias leafs out more. I also hope the RCS's become a thriving colony.

 

[cmdR_CHRIS]

Long Overdue Update: 11/10/2014

The bowl is doing great. I'm keeping up with the maintenance, doing 25% water changes every two weeks. I don't dose fertilizer or liquid CO2 anymore. I started having some weird looking algae coming out of the filter out take.

The bowl is doing great! Lots of growth from the Crypts.

The Glosso is vibrant and slow growing with lots of runners.

The Horned Nerite Snails are enjoying their new home.

Anubias are spreading their leaves.

Added four Pygmy Corydoras, or Pygmy Catfish, Corydoras Pygmaeus

They are very hard to capture with the camera.

Quick little buggers.

It's very entertaining to watch them shoal around the bowl. I would love to have more, but I don't want to overload this bowl's bio-load.

 

[Jvidi]

Do you have any more recent pics of this bowl? It is inspiring me...uh oh...