[jus43]

OK. So this forum has inspired me to take a dive into the world of nanos!

What I have:
Used 2.5 gallon aquarium (passed leak test)
Used glass lid
Onyx Sand Aquarium Substrate,
15.4 lbs by Seachem
Rocks
some Flourish Excel
Light fixture with a Coralife 50/50 mini compact fluorescent 10w

some dwarf hair grass and glossostigma

Your thoughts on my setup? Anything you think I should change? Fert ideas? Planting tips? Anything?

 

[sp33drhno]

you'll need to get a different bulb. the atinic won't do much for plants.

 

[Damian]

+1 on the bulb. You could always go with the hampton bay desk lamp that I along with some others on here use. Its 27watts and works well with the nanos. What kind of hardscape are you going for? Iwagumi?

 

[jus43]

+1 on the bulb. You could always go with the hampton bay desk lamp that I along with some others on here use. Its 27watts and works well with the nanos. What kind of hardscape are you going for? Iwagumi?

Yep! I work in an aquarium store and us employees get Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazine for free. Each time I flip right to the Takashi Amano articles and drool lol. His Iwagumi layouts are stunning.

 

[jus43]

you'll need to get a different bulb. the atinic won't do much for plants.--

What other bulbs would you suggest or should I just return the hood/light and just get a desk lamp?

 

[jus43]

+1 on the bulb. You could always go with the hampton bay desk lamp that I along with some others on here use. Its 27watts and works well with the nanos. What kind of hardscape are you going for? Iwagumi?

So where could I purchase one of these desk lamps? Now that I scan the forums, there are a lot of members who use desk lamps instead.

 

[Damian]

Home depot is where I purchased mine at. I've also bought one from walmart. They average around $30.

 

[sp33drhno]

Coralife makes a 6700k version of that bulb I believe. Those would be better for plant growth. Or you could get the Hampton Bay desk lamp that was suggested. I use them on my 5.5 gallon tanks. They come with a bulb that's perfect for growing plants, and it's easy to adjust the height. I got them at HD for $25.

 

[Pikachu]

Instead of buying a whole new fixture, just get a new bulb. Don't forget to post pictures when you get things going. Also, don't forget a filter roud: Hagen Elite Mini works perfect for a 2.5gal.

 

[DebbyS]

If the fixture has a common screw-in holder for the bulb, WalMart sells a "Mini Aquarium Bulb, 10 Watt Fluorescent Bulb" made by Lights of America. I find them in the pet section around the aquarium supplies. Over my 2.5 I have this bulb, in an Aqueon Strip Light, 12" long. Actually, the first strip lightI bought was at PetSmart, and I suspect Aqueon bought the manufacturer of those lights, but the Aqueon one I got as a spare is quite similar and I expect it to act the very same way if I start a new 2.5. In my current 2.5 I have java fern, anubias, banana plant (too big... will have to do something with it in the spring), and odds and ends of other plants, even some hair grass. I went through a brown diatom phase on the glass. I wiped some of it away, added a little more liquid fertilizer (Kent's, usually), and basically ignored it. Next time I looked, the glass was all clear. I do give some credit to the red ram snails. Hmm, better go feed them a bit of fish food as a reward since there isn't any algae that I can see... Oh, in the 2.5 I also have a small table-top fountain type pump with the opening covered by filter floss, to keep the water moving, and a small heater since outside currently (Jan 2, 2011, at 10:40, it's 18 degrees F and inside it's 66F).