Beginner help on 5g shrimp tank

[mpulido0316]

Hi guys,

After a series of unfortunate events, (losing all of my fish to ick), the three shrimp I owned were all that remained. We have decided to do a 5g red cherry shrimp tank that is cycled and ready for more. I have a couple of plants in there, nothing too special, some marimo balls, java moss that came with the shrimp, a pennywort that isn't doing too hot, and a plant (I think an anacharis that is doing really well). My light is a 15W incandescent bulb and I have 2 pieces of driftwood in there too. I really just need some help on trying to get everything really nice for the shrimp. We're moving 4+ hours in a week and a half so everything would have to wait until we've moved, but that's pretty much everything to the tank.

Here are the parameters:
Temperature: 80*F +- 2*F
pH: 6.8
Ammonia: 0ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: less than 5ppm

*I have a kh and gh test kit but I don't know the parameters for those, but can do them if necessary.
**I also don't have CO2 running or any intention to, but will if it proves not to be too dangerous for the shrimp and not too expensive or hard to do.


I just really need some help with the plants. I have no idea what I'm doing so any help is appreciated.

 

[cass95]

You don't need co2 for the plants that you have in the tank. But a incandescent blub won't grow plants.

 

[mpulido0316]

I was hoping to upgrade the light soon, but I'm not sure to what. I didn't want to make any purchases or definitive moves until I figured everything out.

 

[FishayFishay]

Can you provide a picture of the tank? Would love to see how you have that set up and how the plants look.

 

[Mebbid]

You don't need co2 for the plants that you have in the tank. But a incandescent blub won't grow plants.

Would you mind sharing your reasoning for saying the incandescent bulb wont work?

 

[mpulido0316]

Sure thing. Everything just got moved around for the shrimp so it's still all meh. I just ordered some java moss and star moss since I knew those would be ok.

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[mpulido0316]

Oh and the substrate is Seachem Flourite if that's important too.

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[IllusionX]

I was hoping to upgrade the light soon, but I'm not sure to what. I didn't want to make any purchases or definitive moves until I figured everything out.

You can replace it with a 6500k CFL. It isn't ideal, but should do for a little plants.

 

[mpulido0316]

After reading up on some moneywort, I decided to propagate them. They were dying and this is sort of an experiment. I'm gonna see if making them smaller is going to help. If not, it's ok. Like I said an experiment. Also, one of the shrimp molted. :3 that means he's happy right?

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[mpulido0316]

You can replace it with a 6500k CFL. It isn't ideal, but should do for a little plants.

A little plants is all I need since it would go far in a small tank like mine. 6500l CFL. Got it. Thanks so much Illusion.

 

[mpulido0316]

Would these work in conjunction with my 15w incandescent light? or should I just take the bulb out?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00M9ICXTM/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1GQWE5MHFKCFO

I could eventually go for a hoodless tank as everything is removable, add a light and a sponge filter, but maybe I'll do that on my hopefully second tank when I have more room.