[doughpat]

Hi all,

I'm trying to pull of a totally no-tech tank. No filter, no heater (heated room though), no light. Essentially a large 'jarrarium'. I've got a beautiful 2.5 gallon rounded corner rimless tank, on a southfacing windowsill where it will get lots of light throughout the day in the winter, and less light during the heat of the summer (due to deciduous trees leafing out).

I'm not picky about what I can keep. I just want to try this as a learning experience.
I plan on a decent substrate (was thinking potting soil capped with Seachem Fluorite).

I was thinking anubias, java mass, some drifwood/lava rock.

For critters I'm thinking either a really nice betta or perhaps shrimp, though I'm not sure they'll tolerate the cold. The tank sits at 62 degrees F pretty consistently, though I do expect it to be fairly variable.

Thoughts?

 

[Econde]

Sounds like it will be a good learning experience. Some suggestions. If at all possible, find some fast growing stem plants and or floating plants. It will really help with excess nutrients in a no-tech tank. Ramshorns snails are pretty nice to keep in any tank.

 

[doughpat]

Thanks! Would you happen to have any specific recommendations on plants? Seems like the low temp is the big limiter on plants.

 

[ackphft]

Anything below 68 is a little too chilly for bettas, but I've never kept shrimp so not sure there. 62 might even be too cool for a mystery snail. Maybe look into mid-coldwater species?

 

[Plinkploop]

Potentially shrimp would work, possibly a single flag fish if you're looking for centerpiece type fish. Perhaps an american crawdad. Maybe a trio of mosquito fish. Snails are by far a valid option here. Your temperature is definitely limiting. Look into subtropical flora and fauna. I would steer clear of betta in this set up.

 

[Ratvan]

I've done a heaterless Opae Ula shrimp tank before, they are a brackish species so you'll be limited to low range macroalgae such as Cheato, and some of the Gracilaria species. Marimo Moss balls also work well in these conditions

 

[minorhero]

Hi all,

I'm trying to pull of a totally no-tech tank. No filter, no heater (heated room though), no light. Essentially a large 'jarrarium'. I've got a beautiful 2.5 gallon rounded corner rimless tank, on a southfacing windowsill where it will get lots of light throughout the day in the winter, and less light during the heat of the summer (due to deciduous trees leafing out).

I'm not picky about what I can keep. I just want to try this as a learning experience.
I plan on a decent substrate (was thinking potting soil capped with Seachem Fluorite).

I was thinking anubias, java mass, some drifwood/lava rock.

For critters I'm thinking either a really nice betta or perhaps shrimp, though I'm not sure they'll tolerate the cold. The tank sits at 62 degrees F pretty consistently, though I do expect it to be fairly variable.

Thoughts?

This thread is 2 months old so not sure if the OP already built this yet or not. I will say that 1) 2.5 gallons is pretty small for anything that isn't a shrimp or snail. I would stick with those, they will do great in the low 60s. 2) If growing just epiphyte plants like anubias and moss you do not need or want dirt in the tank. 3) If this window is getting direct light for more then a single hour a day its going to be an algae farm. The sun produces around 1600 to 2000 par as compared to typical lighting for a tank like this being around 25 par and the sun stays up lighting the sky a lot longer then most people light their tanks.

Just some thoughts.