This tank has been in storage for awhile after I took down my first concerted effort at a dynamic scape. I salvaged the structure I built for it and used it in my 10 gallon tank about 2 years ago. It had been slated for use as a quarantine tank, but I haven't had much to quarantine in the last 2 years.
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I know my husband loves me despite my multiple tank syndrome, because he picked up a free 20 gallon high tank he found on facebook marketplace. Naturally that meant instead of holding the 20 long as a quarantine tank, I could once again make use of it as a planted tank.
With angelfish needing a taller tank in case of quarantine and the passing of 2 of my aged betta denizens, the path to this tank was cleared. The 20 high is now a quarantine in waiting tank and the 20 long was free to be used. I had left the two nano tanks up after their bettas passed, in case another betta needed to be rehomed. (I have a fish rescue complex).
So this past weekend I took down the nanos, one Spec V connected to a Spec III and a 4.5 gallon, then dumped their plants and substrate into the 20 long. Hence the Frankentank.
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I have a seachem tidal 75 with adjustable flow, some cholla wood a bunch of crypts (parva, wendtii and xxx), helanthium tenellum, valisnera spiralus, anubias nana petite, subwassertang "tunnel" and java moss.
For lighting I have a current USA Satellite LED+ and an eheim 150 watt heater.
Right now the old mulm is still settling and a lot of it will be vacuumed off of the plants over the next couple of days while everything roots, but I'm pretty pleased with how I was able to fill out the tank without needing to dip into the coffers.
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The tidal 75 is probably overkill, but with the adjustable flow it's not too strong. The intake was too long and touched the bottom of the tank without the substrate, so I grabbed a feeding cone and suctioned it to the glass against the intake. It works very well and you don't even notice it.
At this stage in my fishkeeping, I'm moving on from nano tanks. My smallest is currently 10 gallons and I think that is as small as I would like to go. Managing multiple smaller tanks is a lot more work than a couple large ones (with a good water change system in place) and the fauna you can house is much more varied.
![Image]()
I know my husband loves me despite my multiple tank syndrome, because he picked up a free 20 gallon high tank he found on facebook marketplace. Naturally that meant instead of holding the 20 long as a quarantine tank, I could once again make use of it as a planted tank.
With angelfish needing a taller tank in case of quarantine and the passing of 2 of my aged betta denizens, the path to this tank was cleared. The 20 high is now a quarantine in waiting tank and the 20 long was free to be used. I had left the two nano tanks up after their bettas passed, in case another betta needed to be rehomed. (I have a fish rescue complex).
So this past weekend I took down the nanos, one Spec V connected to a Spec III and a 4.5 gallon, then dumped their plants and substrate into the 20 long. Hence the Frankentank.
I have a seachem tidal 75 with adjustable flow, some cholla wood a bunch of crypts (parva, wendtii and xxx), helanthium tenellum, valisnera spiralus, anubias nana petite, subwassertang "tunnel" and java moss.
For lighting I have a current USA Satellite LED+ and an eheim 150 watt heater.
Right now the old mulm is still settling and a lot of it will be vacuumed off of the plants over the next couple of days while everything roots, but I'm pretty pleased with how I was able to fill out the tank without needing to dip into the coffers.
The tidal 75 is probably overkill, but with the adjustable flow it's not too strong. The intake was too long and touched the bottom of the tank without the substrate, so I grabbed a feeding cone and suctioned it to the glass against the intake. It works very well and you don't even notice it.
At this stage in my fishkeeping, I'm moving on from nano tanks. My smallest is currently 10 gallons and I think that is as small as I would like to go. Managing multiple smaller tanks is a lot more work than a couple large ones (with a good water change system in place) and the fauna you can house is much more varied.
