Setting up a 2.5 nano!!!

welcome to the planted tank

how much light you planning to put on the tank? in my opinion, you either pick your plants first and get the right lights or get a light and find the plants it'll support. i suggest the latter since you don't know which kind of plants you like yet.

I suggest starting off with a low tech tank for a 2.5 gallon if this is your first time. Or you can use the chance to experiment with high-light/ferts/co2/or no co2 and excel instead. Smaller tanks are easy to redo if things go down so there's not much regret in ruining a tank.

If you want to succeed in your first tank I suggest a low tech tank for your 2.5 gallon. Perhaps 15 watts would do. A desk lamp with a screw in compact flourescent would suffice.

As for low tech nano plants there's moss, small crypts, anubias, and you could try narrow leaf java fern but when it gets too big you'd have to cut it off.

For livestock, you could get some RCS (because they eat algae, but not all of course) and some nano fishes. Look on the list which is stickied in this forum.

Storm_Rider said:

welcome to the planted tank

how much light you planning to put on the tank? in my opinion, you either pick your plants first and get the right lights or get a light and find the plants it'll support. i suggest the latter since you don't know which kind of plants you like yet.

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I am planning on putting a 6 to 11 watt light, nano HOB, and nano heater.

sandiegoryu said:

If you want to succeed in your first tank I suggest a low tech tank for your 2.5 gallon. Perhaps 15 watts would do. A desk lamp with a screw in compact flourescent would suffice.

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THx, I think 15w will be better! But I still have time(I havent bought anything yet) To switch to a 5gal.

I would just like to note to all of you that I am NOT a fish or plant beginner(I keep discus and also breed angelfish), I just havent ever done a nano planted.

Jesus Reply already,....

umm.. check the Nano Fish List at the top of the Nano tank Forum for fish suggestions. As for Plants, My suggestion are plants that don't get too big, or they will overrun a 2.5 gallon. Petite Anubias, Mosses, Narror leaf java fern maybe.. I'm trying some HC in my 2.5. I just started mine about a month ago and it seems to be doing well.

Also... see this thread:
http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/planted-nano-tanks/56285-list-small-leaf-plants.html