2.5g Nano 12/2/06! - Aquarium Advice

Mosaic · 12-02-2006, 11:00 PM

I've been posting a lot of pics and info about my 2.5g tank lately, so I thought it should have its own thread instead of hijacking other people's. I've become very proud of this tank, and I give all credit (and blame) to AA.

This little tank started out as an experiment to test out Walstad's method of keeping a planted tank. The details of the experiment are in another thread, but the slow growth in the tank made aquascaping impossible so the tank was always just a scraggly mess. Here's a pic of the initial setup:

And the last really, really awful shot of the tank at the end of the experiment phase (10/16/06):

The tank had to be moved away from its window spot so I got a 13 w lamp for it. It may not surprise you, but light had been a limiting factor thus far. The plants really took off and finally started to look really healthy.
A month and eight days later (11/24), it looked like this:

Now that my semester is almost over, I spent my extra time trimming, rearranging, and collecting. I got some Java fern "wendelov" and hydrocotyle from An t-iasg. Today, to celebrate the end of classes I bought myself that spectacular purple plant front right (Limnophila aromatica? I knew when I saw it that it would be difficult, but I couldn't pass it up) and a bamboo shrimp that went in another tank. I will probably go back and pick up some more celebratory plants when finals are over. I'll take any excuse

My big goal is 1) a well-composed aquascape that is 2) scaled to make it look like a much bigger tank, not counting the betta and the massive ramshorn. Critiques are welcome.

Tank stats:
2.5 g
13w CF
Gravel and potting soil subtrate
No filter, ferts, or CO2 (hahaha!

)

Flora:
Ceratopteris thalictroides
Cryptocoryne wendtii bronze
Elatine triandra
Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig'
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Microsorum pteropus "wendelov"
Rotala rotundifolia
Limnophila aromatica

Fauna:
Betta - Cameo
MTS and a very large ramshorn

Edit: Props to An t-iasg, frenchpea2002, and fish_4_all who sent me plants.

rich311k · 12-02-2006, 11:02 PM

I like it. Looking very good.

Glenc · 12-02-2006, 11:09 PM

If not for the Betta in there it would be difficult to tell what size tank it was. Nice work, great little tank

plecoperson · 12-02-2006, 11:09 PM

The scale is perfect-makes us wonder where you got a 12-inch betta and a 4-inch snail!

Swap 'em out for some Heterandria formosa and you've got a wee wonderland.

New slogan: "Celebrate with H formosa". Wheeeee!

Mosaic · 12-02-2006, 11:32 PM

You may be right, Lisa. They are terribly cute. I will be on the lookout.

newfound77951 · 12-03-2006, 03:01 PM

Looks great, I agree, no way i'd guess that was a 2.5 except for the betta!

I don't think that's L aromatica, my guess is Ludwigia glandulosa (might be grandulosa, I can't remember). A touchy plant but beautiful. I have L aromatica, I love it, it's gorgeous, but I think it would quickly get too big for a 2.5 (mine reaches the surface in a 55 in a couple of weeks).

Mosaic · 12-03-2006, 05:30 PM

You can't tell in the above pic, but the plant has serrated leaves.

maxwell1295 · 12-03-2006, 07:11 PM

Looks great and the Betta is gorgeous!

Lonewolfblue · 12-03-2006, 07:36 PM

Looking great......

blazeyreef · 12-03-2006, 07:40 PM

Wow looks awesome! I like the purple plant!

12-02-2006, 11:00 PM	#1
Mosaic Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 646 Images: 3	2.5g Nano 12/2/06! I've been posting a lot of pics and info about my 2.5g tank lately, so I thought it should have its own thread instead of hijacking other people's. I've become very proud of this tank, and I give all credit (and blame) to AA. This little tank started out as an experiment to test out Walstad's method of keeping a planted tank. The details of the experiment are in another thread, but the slow growth in the tank made aquascaping impossible so the tank was always just a scraggly mess. Here's a pic of the initial setup: And the last really, really awful shot of the tank at the end of the experiment phase (10/16/06): The tank had to be moved away from its window spot so I got a 13 w lamp for it. It may not surprise you, but light had been a limiting factor thus far. The plants really took off and finally started to look really healthy. A month and eight days later (11/24), it looked like this: Now that my semester is almost over, I spent my extra time trimming, rearranging, and collecting. I got some Java fern "wendelov" and hydrocotyle from An t-iasg. Today, to celebrate the end of classes I bought myself that spectacular purple plant front right (Limnophila aromatica? I knew when I saw it that it would be difficult, but I couldn't pass it up) and a bamboo shrimp that went in another tank. I will probably go back and pick up some more celebratory plants when finals are over. I'll take any excuse My big goal is 1) a well-composed aquascape that is 2) scaled to make it look like a much bigger tank, not counting the betta and the massive ramshorn. Critiques are welcome. Tank stats: 2.5 g 13w CF Gravel and potting soil subtrate No filter, ferts, or CO2 (hahaha! ) Flora: Ceratopteris thalictroides Cryptocoryne wendtii bronze Elatine triandra Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig' Hydrocotyle verticillata Microsorum pteropus "wendelov" Rotala rotundifolia Limnophila aromatica Fauna: Betta - Cameo MTS and a very large ramshorn Edit: Props to An t-iasg, frenchpea2002, and fish_4_all who sent me plants. __________________ I just want my planted tanks to be perfect. Is that so much to ask? 55g: (Mostly) African riverine species: Alestes Chaperi, breeding pair of Kribs, and rhino pleco 30g: Newly established reef tank 10g: Planted but fishless 5g: Unplanted with various snail species 2.5g: Heavily planted with betta.

12-02-2006, 11:09 PM	#3
Glenc Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,071	If not for the Betta in there it would be difficult to tell what size tank it was. Nice work, great little tank __________________ 125 gallon, Crypt green gecko, Crypt undulata "broad leaf" Lobelia cardinalis small and large form. H.corymbosa "compact" Crypt parva, Downoi, Bacopa. 2x 150 Wt 10000k HQI Metal Halide, 2x 65 Wt 6700k-Colourmax

12-02-2006, 11:09 PM	#4
plecoperson Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Evanston, Illinois Posts: 1,161 Images: 3	The scale is perfect-makes us wonder where you got a 12-inch betta and a 4-inch snail! Swap 'em out for some Heterandria formosa and you've got a wee wonderland. New slogan: "Celebrate with H formosa". Wheeeee! __________________ -Lisa Remember that Darwin was mostly right!

12-02-2006, 11:32 PM	#5
Mosaic Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 646 Images: 3	You may be right, Lisa. They are terribly cute. I will be on the lookout. __________________ I just want my planted tanks to be perfect. Is that so much to ask? 55g: (Mostly) African riverine species: Alestes Chaperi, breeding pair of Kribs, and rhino pleco 30g: Newly established reef tank 10g: Planted but fishless 5g: Unplanted with various snail species 2.5g: Heavily planted with betta.

12-03-2006, 05:30 PM	#7
Mosaic Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 646 Images: 3	You can't tell in the above pic, but the plant has serrated leaves. __________________ I just want my planted tanks to be perfect. Is that so much to ask? 55g: (Mostly) African riverine species: Alestes Chaperi, breeding pair of Kribs, and rhino pleco 30g: Newly established reef tank 10g: Planted but fishless 5g: Unplanted with various snail species 2.5g: Heavily planted with betta.

12-02-2006, 11:02 PM	#2
rich311k Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,972 Images: 35	I like it. Looking very good.

12-03-2006, 07:11 PM	#8
maxwell1295 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Queens, NY Posts: 887 Images: 7	Looks great and the Betta is gorgeous! __________________ 125G Mostly Malawi Tank 75G Malawi Mbuna 7G Office MiniBow 125 Gallon Mixed African Thread, 75 Gallon Mixed Malawi Thread

12-03-2006, 07:36 PM	#9
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,870 Images: 7	Looking great...... __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

12-03-2006, 07:40 PM	#10
blazeyreef Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 1,585 Images: 1	Wow looks awesome! I like the purple plant! __________________ Houston "Face Trials with Smiles"-Porter Ellett *My aquariums-3gall betta, 5.5gall nanoreef, 10gall planted,* *29gall planted* *"We are nothing until we make ourselves somthing"* *CTR*

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