MABJ
Aquarium Advice Addict
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2011
- Messages
- 1,892
Hey guys!
I've been working on a micro tank for some tiny organisms.
It is five gallons, and it is about 16 inches long and nine inches wide. I have a cycled 15 gallon filter running and a preset heater set for about 78 degrees.
My goal is to have enough plants and natural filtration to remove the need for the cycle. I'm sure it has been done before, so it is no big news -- but it should be fun to build!
The most important thing will obviously be the plants.
Courtesy of Maxwellag I will have two Mariamo moss balls and the beginnings of a Java moss carpet.
I'd like to add some more (Low light) plants that will add to the filtration and help my livestock choices!
I'd like to have a base stock of RCS Maybe 10-12.
-4 Thai Micro Crabs
-A few ghost shrimp to further control fish waste?
-6 Ember tetras
OR
-6 Mosquito rasboras
I feel like this stock list is very light on the bio load, and works in a symbiotic way with each other. If the fish must come out, it is no big deal. I just think a micro school would be cool, especially since I'm paying for shipping online -- I might as well get something my LFS doesn't have.
PLEASE Comment and poke holes in the idea and give suggestions. Also realize I'm not actively working to destroy a cycle, and I'm not going to stop doing maintenance, but I hope the amount of plants help take ammonia and nitrates/trites out of the equation. Perhaps giving tank newbies a low equipement way of having a beautiful but low disaster risk for a tank.
The plants should take the current bacteria out of the water to help them grow. Then I'll add the critters, which will feed off the organic particles/food which will create more waste for plants to feed off of. As the plants grow, I'll be able to continue to cut clippings off and further remove the wastes. Seems efficient?
I've been working on a micro tank for some tiny organisms.
It is five gallons, and it is about 16 inches long and nine inches wide. I have a cycled 15 gallon filter running and a preset heater set for about 78 degrees.
My goal is to have enough plants and natural filtration to remove the need for the cycle. I'm sure it has been done before, so it is no big news -- but it should be fun to build!
The most important thing will obviously be the plants.
Courtesy of Maxwellag I will have two Mariamo moss balls and the beginnings of a Java moss carpet.
I'd like to add some more (Low light) plants that will add to the filtration and help my livestock choices!
I'd like to have a base stock of RCS Maybe 10-12.
-4 Thai Micro Crabs
-A few ghost shrimp to further control fish waste?
-6 Ember tetras
OR
-6 Mosquito rasboras
I feel like this stock list is very light on the bio load, and works in a symbiotic way with each other. If the fish must come out, it is no big deal. I just think a micro school would be cool, especially since I'm paying for shipping online -- I might as well get something my LFS doesn't have.
PLEASE Comment and poke holes in the idea and give suggestions. Also realize I'm not actively working to destroy a cycle, and I'm not going to stop doing maintenance, but I hope the amount of plants help take ammonia and nitrates/trites out of the equation. Perhaps giving tank newbies a low equipement way of having a beautiful but low disaster risk for a tank.
The plants should take the current bacteria out of the water to help them grow. Then I'll add the critters, which will feed off the organic particles/food which will create more waste for plants to feed off of. As the plants grow, I'll be able to continue to cut clippings off and further remove the wastes. Seems efficient?