My birthday present - need help/advice!

[lmw80]

When Daniel asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I asked him for the 5 or 6 gallon Eclipse desktop aquarium, as I wanted to start another tank on my desk at work...my previous one was only 2 gallons.

So I get home from class last night to this huge present wrapped standing by the front door....so I think to myself, ok, so he didn't get me a tank, whatever it is, I am sure I will be happy with.

Well this is what was under the wrapping paper http://www.jbjnanocubes.com/index.html?lang=en-us&target=d761.html

I am scared and excited!! I need ideas!! Freshwater and saltwater (but keep it saltwater simple since I have never done it before).

Ideas ideas ideas - I just do not know what I am going to do with this thing...lol, putting a beta in there just seems silly now.

 

[Devilishturtles]

Well, a nano-reef would be awwwwesome.

 

[Jchillin]

You need to do a planted rummy nose tetra tank.

 

[MSU Fan]

I second the above

 

[chantale101]

 

[lmw80]

thank you all!!

My concern with a planted tank is that I don't want to grow and algae-fest....it's got 18W for 6 gallons! my goodness! Is that possible without CO2?

 

[JustOneMore20]

Smaller tanks need more light than larger ones as far as planting goes, so really 3wpg is low-medium light. Definitely possibly without CO2....you could use Flourish Excel as a carbon source.

 

[Jchillin]

I'd go with the Excel suggestion as well. That is the perfect sized tank for it. Won't cost you so much $$$ either.

 

[lmw80]

What type of plants? omg I am getting excited

 

[LandGhoti]

That is awesome! Congratulations and Happy Birthday!
I can't wait to hear (and see) what you do with it........

 

[severum mama]

Another vote for a nano reef here. Otherwise, a planted tank would be great. You could get some small plants like dwarf sag, micro sword, pygmy chain sword, etc.

 

[BrianNY]

Happy B day Lori.

What a great gift!!! That Daniel is toooooo much!!!!

I'd do the planted tank with Excel as well. Perfect size for growing a nice carpet of downoi.

 

[plecoperson]

What type of plants? omg I am getting excited

Oooh! The kind you can get clippings of here!

Nano-reef, schmano-reef! Wheee!

 

[Zagz]

Happy birthday, I vote for the planted tank as well. It would look fabulous!

 

[hsherman1986]

my lfs has both set up, (rummynose planted and nano reef)...i get lost in both of them. I would have A hard time deciding. I would probably go with the planted tank, just cuz I could cycle it faster

 

[lmw80]

thanks everyone! I am going to post in the nano reef section just to see what kind of work it would take, as this is my job and I can't spend too much time fiddling with the tank!

It's most likely going to be a planted tank, just want to make sure....

First step is to clean off my desk, lmao!

 

[squawkbert]

If you want planted FW, try to replace the 50/50 bulb w/ a 6500-6700K one. 18W for 6g may be a little low, but it's more light than I have in my minibow and I've grown better Cabomba there than in my 46g.
I'd put Anubias agustifolia or a Crypt., maybe some HC or dwarf hairgrass, shrimp (CRS, Amano or cherry), 2 Otos and either some rasboras or small tetras in there (Pristellas, probably).

If I unwrapped that exact box for my BD, I'd be shopping for 10# coral sand, 8-10# of dense LR and reef crystals and starting my fishless cycle w/ a little NH3.

Then I'd add a watchman goby, pistol shrimp along w/ a few hermits & snails and (maybe later on) a filefish.