I need some advise!!!

1225 Views 8 Replies 4 Participants Last post by livingword26, Jul 14, 2012

GeneralInYoFace

Discussion Starter · Jul 12, 2012

Okay, so I'm thinking about making a teeny tiny nano tank but i need some help! well here's a link to the aquarium i think i want:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Tetra-LED-Cube-3-Gallon-Aquarium-Fish-Aquatic-Pets/20693135

and i want it to have sand in the bottom so here's the sand i think I'll get (I'm thinking moonlight or white colored):

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3956163&lmdn=Type

and i already have some parrot's feather and anubias i want to put in it. i'm not sure what to put in it as far as live animals go. does anyone have any suggestions on what to put in it? remember, it's only 1.5 gallons. i was thinking about 5 red cherry shrimp, but they're so expensive and my whole budget is $50 (and i really don't want to use all of it if possible).

i want to have everything planned out before i even go to the store to buy anything. first, i'll need the tank and sand so i can set it up and cycle it, then,probably 2 or 3 weeks later, i'll need to order my shrimp or find a place that sells them in Norman, Oklahoma. i believe that will be the trickiest part, being I'm only 13 so I'll have to give my dad the money so he can use a credit card, or I'll have to wait until someone else is going to Norman and maybe they'll let me come along. this is going to be very tricky with the timing. and i won't be able to get the tank until next month probably but i can get the sand this month i think.

by the way, I'm going for a very natural look. that's why i want the white/moonlight sand and I'm not going to put an ornament in it. it would have like maybe 1-2 very small anubias plants and probably about 3-4 parrot's feather plants. it's a very small tank so i think that will be enough. the parrot's feather will grow fast so I'll need to trim in often and the anubias won't grow as fast, so it won't need to be trimmed as often.

if you have any suggestions, comments, or anything to add, PLEASE TELL ME!! any constructive criticism is greatly appreciated!

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livingword26

· #2 · Jul 12, 2012

The Aquarium you linked to is a 3 gallon, not a 1.5 Gallon. I don't know anything about the lighting, whether it would grow plants or not. But it does not have a filter. I know you are on a limited budget, but a lot of people are using this:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=4456545&lmdn=Fish+Aquariums+&amp;+Bowls

All you would need is substrate to get started.

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livingword26

· #3 · Jul 12, 2012

Also, from what I have found on "Parrots Feather", it is generally considered a pond plant that gets very large, and needs higher light, unless there is a different kind.

http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=767+773+782&pcatid=782

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steven p

· #4 · Jul 12, 2012

Room mate and I have the 1.5, i ripped everything but the trim off and have a 13 watt cfl about 18 inches above mine... Its overgrow and has green algae all over the sides. My buddy's tank has that stock LED and it doesnt keep aponogetons alive, which flowered for me in just ambient room light a long while ago. I gave him some flame moss, that is surviving and growing for him. I noticed the Tetra LEDs lost quite a bit of candle power within minutes of firing up. I think they are 4000-5000k which isnt great for growing either..

Im gunno guess that the tank will come with the 3i filter as well... Most of those air pumps are weak but they come with nice tubing if i recall... Hah, i'd just pitch the thing... Its going to gas off co2 and cant really diy filter media into it all that well.. either it gets clogged and no flow or it bypasses media.

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GeneralInYoFace

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 12, 2012

oh sorry i thought i added the link to the 1.5 gallon one! haha my bad!

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FriendsNotFood

· #6 · Jul 13, 2012

That's a super cute tank... but like other people said, you'll need a filter. The only way you could get away without a filter would be if you filled it with fast growing plants, but nothing that grows fast would survive in super low light.

If you get a filter for the Tetra tank, then you can just get a bunch of little anubias, tie them to some driftwood or tuck them into rocks, maybe add some moss, and you should be good to go. You won't need a heater for cherry shrimp.

You could also try the JBJ Picotope, that's a 3 gallon tank that comes with a light and a filter. You'd have to replace the bulb because what it comes with isn't good for plants, but otherwise it's a cute little tank and in 3 gallons you could keep more than just shrimp.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquariums_tanks_jbj_picotope-ap.html

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GeneralInYoFace

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 14, 2012

the tank actually does have a 1-3 gallon whisper filter i believe. and it has i think 3 or 5 LED lights in the head (i looked at it in the store).

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GeneralInYoFace

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jul 14, 2012

FriendsNotFood said:
That's a super cute tank... but like other people said, you'll need a filter. The only way you could get away without a filter would be if you filled it with fast growing plants, but nothing that grows fast would survive in super low light.

If you get a filter for the Tetra tank, then you can just get a bunch of little anubias, tie them to some driftwood or tuck them into rocks, maybe add some moss, and you should be good to go. You won't need a heater for cherry shrimp.

You could also try the JBJ Picotope, that's a 3 gallon tank that comes with a light and a filter. You'd have to replace the bulb because what it comes with isn't good for plants, but otherwise it's a cute little tank and in 3 gallons you could keep more than just shrimp.

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquariums_tanks_jbj_picotope-ap.html

well that is a nice tank in the link, but i don't think i can afford it right now.

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livingword26

· #9 · Jul 14, 2012

GeneralInYoFace said:
the tank actually does have a 1-3 gallon whisper filter i believe. (i looked at it in the store).

Your right, I missed that the first time.

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