5g planted nano tank?

lauraf

Superstar Fish
Jan 1, 2010
2,181
0
0
Vancouver, British Columbia
#61
I kinda feel like I could add critters sooner rather than later, as I can add a chunk o' gunk to the tank at any time, in a little mesh baggie. But I'm waiting on the ADFs, so might as well let things progress slowly. I'm also thinking that a few more plants or hidey-holes will be a good idea for the ADFs . . . .
 

jamiejay09

Large Fish
Dec 14, 2009
421
0
0
England
#62
Laura ive been watching this thread everyday, and i just want to say youve done such a great job with the tank! I cant wait to see some pictures when you finally get the tank cycled and stocked!
 

Jun 18, 2010
135
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16
Lima OH. USA
#63
I would have to say I agree you can most likely add critters pretty soon as long as you watch your water you will be fine and adding the "chunk o' gunk" will also help a great deal, especially in that small of an aquarium.
 

lauraf

Superstar Fish
Jan 1, 2010
2,181
0
0
Vancouver, British Columbia
#64
So after reading in another thread that ADFs can hurt themselves on the filter intake grid (thanks LittleTank!) I decided to sew a sponge around it. Then, brainstorm! I just cut a bit of mesh from one of the those filter bags and secured with a wee elastic. Smaller, easy to take off to clean.
Then I added some kind of rotala plant to hide the filter. Almost ready for critters! *rubs hands with glee*
 

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lauraf

Superstar Fish
Jan 1, 2010
2,181
0
0
Vancouver, British Columbia
#67
I'm a bit sad - I just realized that I will be out of town for work in Portland (anybody from Portland???) next Sunday to Thursday. I think I'm best to wait until I return to add any critters, rather than risk new denizens to the care of my niece - who is very lovely, but wouldn't know if there were issues. Oh well, that will mean the sponge and BioMax I put into my 39g filter will both be a nice 'hunk o' gunk' (I'm trademarking this, BTW;) ) when I come back, and my lfs should have ADFs in stock so I can add them first while hunting for the 'perfect' betta. The pennywort and rotala should have grown a bit taller by then too.
Hmmm, what do I want in a betta???
 

lauraf

Superstar Fish
Jan 1, 2010
2,181
0
0
Vancouver, British Columbia
#70
Post some pics, guys!
I saw this amazing pure white short finned betta in my lfs . . . . he's so stunning, but I think I want a coloured betta - either crimson or indigo . . . not sure what fin-type I want. Please keep pics and suggestions coming!!
 

ValRasbora

Superstar Fish
May 2, 2009
1,202
0
0
Atlantic Canada
#72
laura, it looks amazing! Get the best, most amazing betta you can find in the whole world, k? And you've seen pics of my betta. Buut I'll post pics of my 1/2 betta. I take care of him and I bought him, yet he's my brother's betta. This is a really bad picture of him, he's a red doubletail.
 

lauraf

Superstar Fish
Jan 1, 2010
2,181
0
0
Vancouver, British Columbia
#73
Thanks Val! I've been adding water from my 39g and a wee dose of excel every day, and can see the groundcover starting to spread a bit already!
Yes, I'm really going to take my time to find the 'right' betta - and I think I want to get the ADFs in there first . . . . plus I have to go to Portland for work for a few days, so all in all it will likely be three weeks before I'm ready for the betta.
I love the fins on your doubletail! Gorgeous.
Do any betta keepers find any difference in temperament between the different bettas (i.e. crowntail, halfmoon, etc)?
Keep the suggestions coming!
 

Sep 9, 2010
1
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0
#74
And one more thing if you would like pictures I can send you a few of my tank set up
Oohhh, please show pics! I'm not terribly handy - particularly when it comes to electrical things - so don't think I'm up to making one myself. I might have to take you up on your offer . . . . Really sweet of you . . . .
 

Jun 18, 2010
135
0
16
Lima OH. USA
#75
Oohhh, please show pics! I'm not terribly handy - particularly when it comes to electrical things - so don't think I'm up to making one myself. I might have to take you up on your offer . . . . Really sweet of you . . . .
There are pictures on page 2 of this thread, the quality on that hood isn't as good as what I would send out, I will take more time on another's hood, but you get thee basic idea, I can sketch some ideas of what can be done
 

lauraf

Superstar Fish
Jan 1, 2010
2,181
0
0
Vancouver, British Columbia
#76
Oh crap, guys - just noticed that my tank has at least five miniscule snails! Must have come with the plants I've never had a problem in my 39g with snails coming along on the plants from my lfs before - maybe because the fish ate them? Once I get a fish in the tank, will it eat the snails?
Also looks like I have to be out of town for longer than expected, so the introduction of ADFs, snails and betta is being delayed - will I come back to a tank overrun with snails???
 

#77
Oh not snails :(

If there is excess food they will reproduce like crazy, I noticed that I got a few in my 10gal betta tank, with the sand substrate but they can't slide across sand very well and ended up dying, plus it isn't heavily planted for them.

Snails thrive well on excess food and will breed like crazy if there is. I tried all sorts of methods to get rid of mine, I had ramshorn, mts, and just some generic pond snails...ended up with over 100 of them and it wasn't until I bought assassin snails that they were finally gone :/

And I know assassin snails and some loaches will eat snails. Other than that I'm not sure who else will get rid of them.

Also, I know some people say they aren't pests and some people say they are, I thought they were great but they ended up chowing down and making holes in my healthy plants, so I would personally suggest finding a way to get rid of them...
 

Aug 16, 2009
1,318
0
0
SW Pennsylvania
#78
I have a female crowntail. I picked the lightest coloured betta at the store since sometimes the palest bettas can have a beautiful colouring once they are swimming in an established tank.
You guys are making me want to add an ADF or two to my 5 gallon. I want to have a ton of froggies in the empty 20 gallon but that might not happen for a while because of school and lack of supplies. I want to see how my girlie does with a frog first.
 

lauraf

Superstar Fish
Jan 1, 2010
2,181
0
0
Vancouver, British Columbia
#79
Thread *bump*
Hey guys, I'm finally back! Yay!
But my 5g was a mess when I returned. Despite being regularly cleaned, it was still overrun with long green algae and mini snails. After a good clean up, and a pea puffer 'borrowed' to munch the snails, it's looking better. However, my HC definitely didn't take, and I was told at my lfs that HC won't thrive in sand (?).
I'm still stuck on ADFs, shrimp and a betta, but at a loss about whether to redo the substrate and plants. I can start from scratch and try to establish a carpet in gravel, waiting a few (more) weeks before adding any critters, or just ignore my obsession over perfect wee plants. I've lost all sense of direction and reason while I've been gone. Can someone please tell me what to do so I don't have to think too hard?
Cheers,
Laura