[wriggles]

I was going to make a terrarium for my mom's living room, but after seeing this...

I'm totally new to aquariums, and was wondering if someone could get me started.
My goal:
- no bigger than 5 gallons
- as low tech and quiet as possible
- achieve the singular tree of tranquility look (any plants will do!)

I usually google information little by little for these projects, but I'd really appreciate any plant/gear advice, or links to some good info.
Thanks in advance~

 

[houbanna]

I strongly advise a lot of research on keeping a successful planted tank. I suggest using willow moss for the tree, some anubias for starters fastened to some stones. Ive seen some aquaeon evolve nano tanks with built in light and filter look decent enough for what u want to do but never had one to really reccomend one.

 

[wriggles]

I strongly advise a lot of research on keeping a successful planted tank. I suggest using willow moss for the tree, some anubias for starters fastened to some stones. Ive seen some aquaeon evolve nano tanks with built in light and filter look decent enough for what u want to do but never had one to really reccomend one.

Thanks, I'll definitely do my research. I'm just fishing for some ideas before I get carried away =)
Would you happen to know of a plant that isn't green that I could use for either the "tree" or the "Grass"? I'd like the tree and grass to be different colors if possible.

 

[houbanna]

I wish I knew of an red plant that would work well for a low light setup, red plants like a lot of light and good fertz. Iron I believe. U may have to change to a med light setup. The setup of the picture maybe med. Light because the type of rotala on tree and proximity to light source.

 

[Octantis]

I'm going to start off and recommend Fluval Spec V. It's an all in one solution that will meet the needs to requested.

It's 5 gallons.

The water pump is submerged, hidden, and silent. The filter block has lots of room for media and allows for great biological filtration.

Some might complain about the light but if it isn't up to snuff some led bars from Finnex would solve any issue.

It's very wide so that it will give you space for the tree design you want.

 

[lauraleellbp]

It would take quite a bit of pruning work to keep it looking decent and you'd have to figure out how to secure it to the "tree trunk" in a way that wouldn't damage the stems, but Rotala rotundifolia might work for the tree and it can be a lovely red with the right lighting and ferts (may actually be the plant used in the picture you posted).

 

[wriggles]

I'm going to start off and recommend Fluval Spec V. It's an all in one solution that will meet the needs to requested.

That looks perfect =O I'll definitely keep an eye on it

I wish I knew of an red plant that would work well for a low light setup, red plants like a lot of light and good fertz. Iron I believe. U may have to change to a med light setup. The setup of the picture maybe med. Light because the type of rotala on tree and proximity to light source.

From what I've read you can even tamper with conditions in the tank to make the rotala turn pink/yellow, but I'd be happy with the plant staying alive at all honestly lol

It would take quite a bit of pruning work to keep it looking decent and you'd have to figure out how to secure it to the "tree trunk" in a way that wouldn't damage the stems, but Rotala rotundifolia might work for the tree and it can be a lovely red with the right lighting and ferts (may actually be the plant used in the picture you posted).

Pruning work would just make me love it even more, I love fussing with plants =) especially in such a small tank.

Thanks a lot for the help everyone, I'll be drowning myself in youtube vids and google searches for a while before I decide anything, but it's looking even more reasonable than I imagined so far =)