[Streetwise]

I just started a new tank, 12" on each side, almost 7.5 gallons max.

Substrate: 2.5" soil, 1.5" sand, and a little bit of gravel.

Filters: 2 x Top Fin MF-10

Light: Fluval Planted Nano 3.0, 2 siestas

Plants: Crypts and grasses, plus some moss and floaters from my other tanks.


I'm thinking about a few different options:

1. Move my loach to this tank and get a pea puffer

2. Try guppies or other live-bearers

3. More shrimp and friends

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

Jason

https://vimeo.com/357279292

 

[Streetwise]

Day 3

I'm still not sure what I will do for livestock. I need to figure out where my loach should live, because he or she is not really shrimp-friendly, and would probably snack on any fry. I'm thinking of moving my loach to the new tank and adding a pea puffer, and let it be the home for my carnivores, since my bigger tank should be a shrimp and fry paradise.

Cheers

 

[Streetwise]

Photo Update:

 

[rakali]

Nice setup! If you haven't done pea puffers before just know they are a bit demanding when it comes to feeding in my experience. Mine didn't care for fish food. It was all live foods. I used black worms, scuds, and snails. Watching them eat snails is amazing/horrifying. If you are willing to feed them a steady supply of snails you'll have happy puffers.

 

[Streetwise]

I had a saltwater puffer for a few years. Very cool, like a working dog. I could pet him, hand-feed him brine shrimp, and even have him water-blast shrimp from my fingers above the water. It sounds like the pea puffers are major carnivores of anything that fits.

 

[somewhatshocked]

They're cute... and are absolutely murderous little goblins compared to marine varieties. They leave a trail of death like nobody's business.

But they're great to keep in a species-only tank. Especially if you have the time to dedicate to them and think of them as critters you need to pay more attention to than, say, shrimp or Endlers.

 

[Streetwise]

I removed a bunch of soil to drop it to 1.5 inches, with a small sand cap, and a shake of gravel. It was a total pain, but worth it. Total depth is probably 2.5" to 2.8" now.

 

[Streetwise]

I moved about six shrimp from my pico tanks to the cube. Once I get all the shrimp out of the picos, I will remove half the pico substrate, and replant.

 

[somewhatshocked]

What particular brand of sand are you using? I really like it.

 

[Streetwise]

Believe it or not, it is just the simple Top Fin black sand.

Cheers

 

[Econde]

Believe it or not, it is just the simple Top Fin black sand.

Cheers

I'm currently using that in my 3 gallon. Its nice and coarse!

 

[Streetwise]

I like it. I still tend to add at least a dusting of gravel, just so the sand doesn't move from any water flow. It is amazing how little gravel does the trick.

 

[Streetwise]

I added a video to another thread if you want to see how the sand and gravel settle in flow.

https://www.plantedtank.net/forums/...l-deep-blue-5b-pico-tanks-2.html#post11262921

 

[Streetwise]

 

[Matt69]

Cool tank I have a 12” cube also I just started a tank journal for it. What did you decide on tank stocking?

I do have a p puffer in mine she eats snails , brine shrimp, blood worms, vibra bites, big bites, mysis shrimp, and sometimes flakes but act disappointed every time she bites into one.
I have had her for three years no aggression and very easy to take care of, but I do hear some P puffers are difficult.

 

[Streetwise]

This is home to all my random Neocaridina shrimp, and seven Ember Tetra.

I am also currently playing with my Apex programming on this tank.

I am using two Apex outlets for this tank. The Fluval Plant 3.0 Nano is independent.

The Pico-Cube-L power strip includes the left Top Fin MF10, the left Top Fin CF50 heater, and the right Eheim Skim 350.
The Pico-Cube-R power strip includes the right Top Fin MF10, the right Top Fin CF50 heater, and the left Eheim Skim 350.

The programming alternates flow directions with each main filter feeding the opposite skimmer. I can post my Apex code if anyone wants.

 

[Streetwise]

I removed the Skim 350 units, as the foam just clogs too quickly, and refined my programs so that the filters alternate, and both turn off for each daytime siesta, plus a new nighttime pause and change (just to equal the filter timing).

(Just showing timing code, default is OFF.)

Nano-Cube-L:

If Time 00:00 to 05:59 Then OFF
If Time 07:00 to 10:59 Then ON
If Time 12:00 to 13:59 Then OFF
If Time 17:00 to 22:59 Then ON

Nano-Cube-R:

If Time 00:00 to 05:59 Then ON
If Time 07:00 to 10:59 Then OFF
If Time 12:00 to 13:59 Then ON
If Time 17:00 to 22:59 Then OFF

 

[Streetwise]

I did a little glass cleaning and stirred up some mulm. I'm seeing more baby shrimp. This tank has adults of many colors, and babies of many colors, plus seven ember tetras and lots of snails.

Edit: It is very hard to see any creatures in this photo.

 

[somewhatshocked]

As a result of your thread, I snagged a bag of Top Fin sand for cheap and really like it.

Glad to see things are going strong with this tank.