Low-Light Planted 3 Gallon Shrimp/Snail Tank.. Help!

[Mr.Albiman]

I have an empty cycled 3 gallon tank and want to stock it with Red Cherry Shrimp, Nerite Snails and low light plants, as I don't actually have a light for the tank (except of course from the lightbulb in the room!).
However I have no experience with shrimp, snails or live plants. Any advice or recommendations would be greatly appreciated!

Tank stats:
- Elite Stingray 10 Filter
- No heater, but water is always between 20-22°C
- White gravel
- Ammonia, nitrites: 0
- Nitrates: 20

Thanks, Dan : )

 

[fort384]

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/forums/f15/3-gallon-betta-and-adf-142374.html#post1235614 <-shrimp advice

The lightbulb in the room will not be good enough for aquatic plants of any kind.

 

[Mr.Albiman]

Ok thanks!

 

[daileene]

If you want low light aquatic plants, you need to have at least a light hood with a "Daylight" CFL (compact flourescent light) with the color temperature of at least 6500-10000K for the plants to thrive.

 

[mfdrookie516]

If looks are not a big concern, one of those shiny metal clip on lights will work great, with a CFL bulb in it (between 6500k and 10,000k).

 

[daileene]

If you are really leaning to low light plants, here is a link of excellent low light plants that marconis shared with us yesterday:

Excellent List of Low Light Plants

Hope that helps...

 

[fort384]

He is on track with the lighting... we discussed in that other thread I linked. He settled on a CFL desk lamp.

 

[daileene]

oh okay...

 

[Mr.Albiman]

yes the lighting is sorted thanks to fort: )
Thanks anyway though guys!

 

[daileene]

you are welcome Sir.

 

[Mr.Albiman]

Update.

I just thought I'd let those of you who are interested know what was going on with my tank

Its been up and running for about 1 month now.
All details are below:

Volume: 3 gallons (12"l x 8"w x 8"d)
Temperature: 20°C
Parameters: Ammonia - 0, Nitrite - 0, Nitrate - 15 (API Freshwater Master Test Kit used)
Filter: Hagen Elite Stingray 10
Light: Arcadia 9Watt 'Arc Pod'
Substrate: PetsAtHome fine black gravel
Decorations: 1 x Medium sized rock, 1 x Small sized rock, 1 x Small sized shell, 3 x Small sized terra-cotta plant pots
Live Plants: 2 x Bunches of Ludwigia Repens, 6 x Corkscrew Vallisneria (2 have sprouted runners)
Fish: 3 x Mosquito Rasbora (boraras brigittae)
Invertebrates: ~25 x Red Cherry Shrimp (neocaradina heteropoda), 2 x Nerite Snails - 1 Zebra, 1 Red Spotted(?) (neritina natalensis), 2 x Pond Snails (probably more that I havent found yet)

And that I think, is it. Any comments welcome

Dan

 

[fort384]

If there aren't pictures, it didn't happen...

 

[Mr.Albiman]

Ahaha! There are a few crappy ones on my profile

 

[Mr.Albiman]

In fact, scrap that. They're from before I had anythin in there! I'll try andget some tomorrow, but no promises!

Dan

 

[Aspencer]

Looking forward to see them myself.

 

[Mr.Albiman]

really sorry, i cant get pictures today! :'(
i suppose it doesnt help that my camera is rubbish and my phone is even worse! haha

Dan