[mr2]

Hi Guys this is my Fluval spec that sits on my desk at work. I really like the tank so far, build quality is good and for 50 bucks I am happy with it, although there are some downsides. for one, it is a bit challenging to scape such a small space. Also the pump is a bit strong for my betta who has taken to wedging himself against the filter intake so he does not have to swim against the vortex inside the tiny tank. I am thinking of switching to cloud minnows, do you guys think the tank is too small for 2 or 3 of them with a few shrimp? I have a hydor mini heater hidden in the pump compartment which keeps the water at a pretty steady 72-78. This is the setup I have going right now. Just some driftwood with java fern from my main tank and petco gravel. Soon to be upgraded with the fluval 13w light and fluval co2 injection with flourite as the substrate. I cant wait to get it pimped out and add some nicer plants! I'll post updates as I go.

 

[davidwes]

You can change the flow. On pump is an adjuster. If even on the lowest setting the flow is still to strong you can experiment with positioning the head. You can angle it easily. Seems like the head in your tank is directly next to the driftwood. Perhaps you can have the flow hit the driftwood and that would help?

 

[Betta Maniac]

I cut several holes in the tube from pump to outflow. Worked like a charm to reduce flow, and also allowed the heater I put in the pump chamber to do its job (Hydor 25W fits perfectly).

 

[mr2]

You can change the flow. On pump is an adjuster. If even on the lowest setting the flow is still to strong you can experiment with positioning the head. You can angle it easily. Seems like the head in your tank is directly next to the driftwood. Perhaps you can have the flow hit the driftwood and that would help?

I know it is adjustable, but the pump is nearly impossible to remove once you put it in there. Be careful renoving the pump, I broke the silicone seal on my divider wall pulling the pump up... The wire on the pump is not centered and pulls at an angle, wedging it in the pump well. It still seems to function fine though.

 

[mr2]

betta maniac, that is an interesting Idea, how big are the holes you made? I
may just try davids idea about wedging the driftwood against the output nozzle though that would be the easiest. I just got the PC 13w light and I am in the process of dissasembling my 29gal to move everything into my new 90gal fluval frontier:biggrin: I will be moving the fluval 88g co2 kit from my 29 gal on this spec and I have a dwarf anubias to move into the spec too. I am trying to work out a nice scape for this but the tank is so small I dont think the traditional fore ground mid ground background approach will work at all...

This is the 29 gal tank I am tearing down so anything in here is available for the spec, any ideas?

 

[tbarabash]

Is that some anubais nana I see in there? I'd shove that in the back right corner of it

 

[mr2]

Is that some anubais nana I see in there? I'd shove that in the back right corner of it

yeah that is a nana all the way on the right of the tank, but it is in really rough shape see the yellow on it? I rescued it from another tank and it was near death... I don't know if I would want to move it into the spec as it is pretty big for a 2 g tank and i suspect another move will kill it for good but maybe i'll give it a shot. I do have that dwarf anubias hiding under the wysteria which is in really nice shape and is the perfect size for a corner of the spec...

 

[mr2]

can anyone id the plant in the front of my 29g right next to that river rock?

 

[mr2]

added the 13w pc fluval light, what a difference, everything looks so much better now. Also added an anubias plant and got rid of the fake plant in the front. Added 2 red cherry shrimp too. My betta seems to delight in bullying them so I don't know if they will last... Next I will add the co2 system and get rid of that big rock that is holding down the driftwood. When it is time for the next water change I will change the substrate to flourite.