[dubels]

About a month ago, I moved my 10 gallon shrimp tank and my 5 gallon dwarf puffer tank up from back home after being away from them for two years. I decided to do a total rehaul of the tanks with live plants. In the middle of the process I came across the Aqueon Evolve 4 at petsmart. Once I saw it, I just had to have it. So I embarked on creating a 4 gallon shrimp tank. Here is the process:

With just the stock LEDs.

Stock LED lights and 13w CFL over it.

The built in overflow and filter area is very spacious. The area where the OEM filter goes is decently sized but under that in the pump area there is a ton of area for bio-filter.

Don't mind the dying anubias. I was distracted and left it on top of my 10g for a little long. I am avoiding DIY CO2 because of the shrimp.

In the tank right now:
Dario Dario male and female pair
20 Red Rili Shrimp from NeoShrimp
Trimmings from my other tanks

Pros of the tank:
-Everything is hidden behind the false wall
-Small and light I can move it even when its full
-LED light is decent
-Big area for filtration behind the false wall

Cons
-Flow of the pump is too powerful even on the lowest setting (It would be great for a nano reef)
-Top is scratched easily

Sorry for the focus in the pictures. I was using a cable and didn't mess with manual focus. I'll post pictures of my other tanks later.

 

[rnaodm]

Nice, I'm torn between the aqueon 4g and the petco 6.6g.

Hopefully Ill be buying one or the other on the 1st

 

[dubels]

I really like my Evolve. But that 6.6g is really well priced. I got the evolve because I was trying to justify the size. I am running out of room for tanks in my small place. If all goes well with my shrimp tanks I think I am going to get one last small glass 5 gallon and start a breeder tank for CRS with a HMF filter. What do you plan on doing with the 6.6g?

I have a small cheap pump from a water fountain I might try to replace the stock pump with. The flow is really too strong for such a small tank. I want to remove the sponge from in front of the output.

 

[rnaodm]

Im going to use dirt for the base, topped with some small natural brown gravel. Already picked up the miracle gro organic/gravel

Im not too versed on the types of plants available.

Maybe black lava rock, no driftwood

 

[FisheriesOmen]

Definitely go for the 6.6g, that thing seizes to impress me and has a wwaayy better footprint than the Evolve for shrimp.

Really like how the tank looks atm. and you can always just say overflow, I don't really think there is such thing as a "False Wall" cause then it wouldn't be a wall lol

Good Luck with the tank!

 

[Dave6265]

Make sure you put some screening in front of the inflow for the filter. I have neo yellows, and the juveniles would go right through the slits and disappear in the back.

 

[dubels]

I have some really dense foam in front of the intake right now to the overflow. I was planning on getting some filter floss. When I did my first water change I found 3 shrimp in the back of the overflow so I went out and got a denser sponge. If it gets really bad I think I might do a pantyhose around the sponge. If the pantyhose method slows the flow too much I might try and get a stainless steal mesh or find something else.

Right now I have the problem of the shy dario darios getting kicked out of the little caves I made under the driftwood. The shrimp love it under there and I just see the dario darios freak out from time to time being chased out by the shrimp. I might need to move them because even when I feed them bloodworms they get chased around.

I was using the term false wall because I was going to get a 5 gallon glass tank and create an all in one tank with a "false wall" made of acrylic, but I found this evolve on sale at petsmart. I went with the evolve because it fit perfectly on top of the metal filing cabinet without taking up space on my desk.

Thanks for the comments.

 

[TeteRouge]

I siliconed a piece of screen in front of the overflow/filter inflow on my Nuvo. Its hardly noticable and quite effective. Must remember to check it for debris tho, clogging would be a mess.

 

[FisheriesOmen]

Never knew shrimp could be so savage......

 

[dubels]

Shrimp are not that savage. The darios that I have are just extremely shy. Today when I feed it bloodworms I had to use the turkey baster to feed it directly because it kept on getting freaked out by the shrimp trying to eat the bloodworm. The darios are known for being picky eaters too. Maybe it will justify just one more nano tank...

 

[dubels]

New pictures. Looking forward for the shrimp to grow a bit.

 

[shinycard255]

I recently just picked up one of these today and have been wondering how you blocked off the overflow from shrimp getting in there?

I did notice that the flow is insane in such a small tank. Did you just wrap a little bit of foam around the output and hold it down with a rubber band?

Edit: Can you also show a pic of how you stuffed your filter so I get an idea of how to do mine??

 

[acitydweller]

What a very nice setup. Nice work!

 

[dubels]

I recently just picked up one of these today and have been wondering how you blocked off the overflow from shrimp getting in there?

I did notice that the flow is insane in such a small tank. Did you just wrap a little bit of foam around the output and hold it down with a rubber band?

Edit: Can you also show a pic of how you stuffed your filter so I get an idea of how to do mine??

I'll try and get a picture of that today. I just shoved some foam and filter floss in to that area. Made sure the sponge was thick enough to force the filter floss flush agaisnt the overflow and small hole below it. TBH the small hole is the worst. Didn't realize that was the problem until a few weeks in. My rili loved climbing in there and then back into the pump area.

Yeah I did just wrap some foam around the outlet. It directs some flow directly above it cause some agitation to the surface.

 

[simplechamp]

I removed the nozzle from my Evolve 2 and it helped mellow out the current quite a bit. Still would like it a little lower, was thinking of looking for a small valve to splice into the tubing coming out of the pump.

 

[dubels]

I think I might try removing my nozzle tonight. I also heard cutting the uptake between the pump and the outlet helps. I prefer not to cut that tube. I wonder if I can make something to emulate a lilly pipe outlet for the Evolve. After I slowed down my flow I noticed a lot or surface scum so I have it aimed at the surface right now.

 

[Noahma]

New pictures. Looking forward for the shrimp to grow a bit.

your poor scarlet badis looks like he might be a bit hungry. Seems that your LFS might not have realized they will not eat flake food. Frozen foods that look "alive" will perk their interest though

 

[shinycard255]

I think I might try removing my nozzle tonight. I also heard cutting the uptake between the pump and the outlet helps. I prefer not to cut that tube. I wonder if I can make something to emulate a lilly pipe outlet for the Evolve. After I slowed down my flow I noticed a lot or surface scum so I have it aimed at the surface right now.

Let me know if you remove the nozzle and how well is works after. I'm curious if it will slow down the flow a bit

 

[Qwedfg]

Really like your tank!

I have an aqueon 2 and 4... they are pretty nice tanks imo. I am just about to get some shrimp in my 2 gal and some of them will be juvenile so I am interested how you blocked the small hole?

My thought atm is to put some reef putty in there and then either hoping my hairgrass will cover it or buying some black silicone and covering it.

 

[dubels]

your poor scarlet badis looks like he might be a bit hungry. Seems that your LFS might not have realized they will not eat flake food. Frozen foods that look "alive" will perk their interest though

The Scarlet Badis eats worms. I only feed one tank flake and that is the tank with chili rasboras and CPDs. I found out that with snails in the tank I don't need to feed the scarlet badis because it will hunt for snail eggs. I have sat and watched it eat a whole sack of eggs and ignore the blood worms by its head.

shinycard255: I will remove the nozzle when I get home from work today.

Qwedfg: I used a sponge and dense filter pad. I cut a sponge so I can use the OEM filter cartridge to hold the filter pad there. The sponge is sandwiched between the filter pad and the cartridge. Its cut so it blocks both the small hole and the overflow. I haven't had to clean or replace the filter pad yet. I have been thinking about getting a stainless steel screen for that area but I need to source one that will be small enough to keep baby shrimp out.

I'll post an update once I get done with my trim.