[SnappyJ]

Getting back in the hobby from a year's break. Picked up a UN Systems 2 Gallons Shallow Aquarium. Want to keep it simple and just grow small tiny plants such as Fissiden moss and keep very tiny fish such as Galaxy Rasbora. Haven't really decided on fish yet. I just purchased the fish tank January 9th 2021. Water will cycle for a few weeks. Just planning on my filtration and lighting. Want to keep it simple so this time around I can enjoy it rather than always maintaining it all the time. Right now I don't have a aquarium light so I'm using a Ring Light for photography lol.



What lighting would work best for this setup?

 

[minorhero]

Smart light bulb so you can control how bright and have built in timer etc.

I don't think this tank is big enough for fish, you could keep some cherry shrimp.

 

[SnappyJ]

Smart light bulb so you can control how bright and have built in timer etc.

I don't think this tank is big enough for fish, you could keep some cherry shrimp.

Alright, I took down the 2 Gallon shallow tank and went out and purchased a 60U Ultum Nature System. It's 60x36x36 CM. 20 Gallons instead. I'm going to use the 2 gallon shallow tank at my shop for a betta tank for the lady in the office. Water is cycling at the moment. Same substrate, same decor, just need materials and equips now.

 

[MissCris]

I second the suggestion that you get a light with a timer/dimmer built in. After years of manually turning on/off (resulting in, ahem, uneven photoperiods), I finally broke down and got an upgrade. Worth it for the prevention of algae.

With such a shallow tank, you can probably go for a mid-shelf light unless you're really trying to blast the dickens out of a carpet. Do you have a finalized plant list yet?

 

[SnappyJ]

Bumped it from 2gallons to 19/20 Gallons 60U. I'm not one to plant in the beginning, I just add plants whenever I feel like it. I take it, it's not a nano tank no more..

 

[SnappyJ]

Plants are the followings..
Rotala Blood Red
Rotala Macrandra Mini
Rotala H'RA
Juncus Repens
Lobelia Cardinalis Wavy
Alternanthea Reineckii Variegatus

Lighting:
Sansi 100 Watts Led Flood Light 10,000 Lumens 650 Watts 5700 Kelvin Daylight White 120 Degree Beam 18 each of 648 Chips.


Filter: (Prefer Near Silent Filters)
Fluval C2 + Purigen + Matrix + Chemi Pure Green Nano
UNS Delta 60 (Ordered)

Fish:
12 - T Bone Tetra
15 - Blue Tetra
4 - Rummy Nose Tetra
5 - Galaxy Rasbora
4 - Pygmy Cory
2 - Panda Cory Longfin
1 - Otocinclus (Want to add 4 More)

 

[SnappyJ]

One week update. Dosing Green Leaf Aquarium Micros and Macros along with Seachem Flourish Excel 2L bottle. Added a 2nd Fluval C2 Filter. Made a Custom top Lid so fish won't jump out.

 

[Junglist]

This tank looks fantastic. I got the ultum mini regulator. They seem like a company with good quality products. I line that they're based in LA too

 

[SnappyJ]

One month give or take update. Dosing Excel, Macros and Mircos ferts. 25-30% water change every Sunday.
New fish added
4 - Panda Garra
8 - Otocinclus
3 - Stiphodon Goby

 

[GrampsGrunge]

This tank is way over stocked. I would have stopped with tetras at maybe 6 members each in your first group. The Otos are real sensitive to too much ammonia despite your frequent water changes. I would really suggest stocking at about 1/4 of the fish load you have. That level of stocking would be fine for a 75 gallon tank.

 

[jellopuddinpop]

What are your thoughts on the Chemi-Pure Green? Have you used it before? On first glance it looks like really expensive activated carbon, but I'm always interested in new products.

 

[SnappyJ]

The Blue Tetra are a little aggressive been monitoring it daily since it's on my Computer Room Desk, I may have to remove them all 15 and trade it in for store credit. They been bullying the Rummy Nose Tetra, T-Bone Tetra, and the Pygmy Cories. I upgraded the Filtration System a bit.

Before:
Filter: (Prefer Near Silent Filters)
Fluval C2 + Purigen + Matrix + Chemi Pure Green Nano
UNS Delta 60 (Ordered)

After:
Fluval C2 + Purigen + Matrix + Chemi Pure Green Nano
Fluval C2 + Purigen + Matrix + Polishing Pads (Poly-Fil)
Eheim Classic 2213 with Matrix and Black, Blue, White Circle pads
UNS Delta 60 - Need to figure a way to hang it on the side with the lid. Not setup yet.

The Chemi Pure Green Nano fits perfectly in the drip tray compartment of the Fluval C series hang on filters. Unknown to me if it works or not. Haven't notice any dead fish yet. The Otocinclus cat's belly are nice and round!!

The plants are growing better than I thought at a much faster rate than I thought. I thought I would need pressurized co2 injection, but since it's growing so well I will have to hold on on pressurized co2. Micros, Macros and Excel for now. No trimming of any sort yet. Need to look into some trimming scissors.

 

[Fat Guy]

I’ll jump in here too as I have the same question as GrampsGrunge- Do you really have 58 fish in a 20 gallon tank?