5 Gal FW Planted Shrimp Tank - Aquarium Advice

fort384 · 01-19-2009, 08:14 PM

Wow, 3 months into the hobby and already I have started a second tank. I have been looking around for awhile - I knew I wanted a nano type tank, and something that looked really sharp. I finally decided on the ADA Cube Garden Mini M.

I picked everything up this morning for it, and the wheels are already in motion. I am trying to do a little bit more of a scape this time, then with my 29 gal, which was my first attempt. With the nano, I have built a bit of a level in back with black ADA aquasoil, and added a "river" of brown sand to the front. It is divided off by some slate.

As of now, no fauna in the tank. I am going to do a fishless cycle with it. Ultimately the plan though is to fill it with Crystal Red Shrimp, RCS, blackberries, etc (and maybe 1 or 2 small fish).

I did however put some plants in from my 29G to help out - some Blyxa Japonica, Rotala, anubias nano petite, and some fissendens.

I also bought a couple of runners of some dwarf grass that I am going to try and get a carpet going with.

There is also a small piece of borneo drift wood with some java moss and a lace java fern tied to it.

Anyway, I know it looks like crap now, but I will post another pic later as the water starts to clear. As always, give me your opinions - now is a good time to move around and rearrange.

fort384 · 01-19-2009, 11:00 PM

Here are some clearer pics of the tank now that it is clearing up a bit.

Anyone have a ballpark of how many CRS or RCS I can safely put in a tank of this size?

FishCrazyBenBOMB · 01-19-2009, 11:22 PM

Depends, you can certainly have around 100 in there, but you problly don't want to do that haha.

I would say a good balanced amount would be about 10-15 each of RCS and CRS.

fort384 · 01-21-2009, 10:44 PM

Did a bit of a rescape, arched the driftwood up. Ammonia is still off the charts. Here are some clearer pics of tha tank now that the dust has settled (pun intended).

Can't wait to get some CRS in there, but I know it's going to be some time yet until this thing is cycled and safe for my expensive little friends...

elwaine · 01-24-2009, 11:09 PM

Hey, that's fab! You have a good eye for design. Turning up the DW makes a whopping difference... and it was pretty nice before you did that.

As I'm sure you know, hold off on the shrimp until both Ammonia and Nitrites are zero.

Your ADA mini can accommodate dozens of Red Cherry Shrimp.... and RCS are inexpensive - if you buy them on ebay from the guy who sells 18 of them for $25 (free shipping). His handle is colgatewhite. The female shrimp he sells - after a week or so of settling in - are deep red in color. (See the links to my images below my Avatar... I bought them from him... and they are breeding now.)

As for Crystal Red Shrimp, it may be more a matter of how many your wallet can accommodate than your shrimp tank. They are expensive and - from what I hear - considerably more difficult to raise.

fort384 · 01-24-2009, 11:22 PM

Thanks for the lead on the rcs larry. Will def give that a look when it is time. Ammonia levels in the tank are still pretty high even after a couple of Pwcs. My guess is it will be another couple weeks until I look at getting any rcs. Will let the tank stabilize after that and look for some good S or S+ crs after that. I know it is going to set me back, but they are the reason I got the tank. Now so long as the wife doesn't start doing any research...

chinoanoah · 01-25-2009, 02:38 AM

What is that thing attached to the glass in the front right?

joy13 · 01-25-2009, 10:25 AM

It is a drop checker for the CO2.

czcz · 01-25-2009, 06:09 PM

Nice tank!

fort384 · 01-31-2009, 01:15 AM

Well, I was hoping to be able to get some RCS in this thing soon, but I am afraid I am still a long ways off unfortunately. Ammonia is still very high and no sign of any nitrites yet. I am going to try and find a mini heater of some kind tomorrow... hoping my LFS carries the AZOO titanium heaters since they had my HOB filter for the tank. I think that may speed the cycle a bit. Right now the tank is hanging steady at 72-74. I have been doing water changes every 3 days or so, about 40% I would say. On a good note, the plants are growing like mad... I think the CO2 combined with the CF fixture, the fert dosing and the aquasoil = plant heaven.

My LFS is growing out some Rotalla W... I hope they are selling it when I head over there tomorrow. I think something red will look nice with the scape. I think it will grow in this tank.

I have had a piece of sponge in the HOB on my 29G for about 10 days. Should I put that in the nano tank's filter now, or continue to wait?