2.5 gal nano

[Chadly]

Started a new small tank for fun. I wanted to practice some aquascaping and utilize some of my smaller plants...

my inspiration comes from a high river bank in a wooded area deep in a remote forest in anyplace you could imagine.

I'll probably only keep shrimp in here. Not sure what yet. either snowball, or the blue neocardinia.

Specs:

Tank: 2.5 gal glass aquarium, not planted yet still have to put a light together

Substrate: ADA Aquasoil Amazonia II (bacter100, tourmaline bc, clear super)

CO2: will be no co2 injection (light excel dosing)

Ferts: light micro/macro fert dosing.

Fauna: neocardina shrimp (probably snowball)

Hardscape:wood, slate chips....

plants: (proposed)

hydrocotyle verticillata
windelov fern
crypt parva
dwarf hairgrass
anubias nana petite
willow moss

[Fikus]

Good start. See that you used black plastic bag (same thing I use on my 3 gal tank).

Really like your hardscape and hope to see it planted soon.

What are you planning about filtration? Only W/C on a daily bases or ...

Regards,


Filip Todorovic - Fikus

[Chadly]

Thanks for the comments.

I currently have no filtration planned. Most likely no power filtration at all. I will hide an airstone behind the wood to start, I may put a sponge around it. I have a zoo med 501 I can put on it, that is the only filtration I will use if any. I'm gonna take my time with this tank. We'll see how things work out.



Here's a proposed layoout of what it will look like when it grows out.

[Pat7676]

Chad love the new layout. I see what you mean about making layers. I love how this looks. I really like that left section with the wood and the rocks under it. I know one thing this thing doesn't even have water or plants and it seems a ton bigger than 2.5 gallons.

[Guillermo]

Nice start Chadly. Don't know why the first pic reminds me the LOTR movie. What kind of wood is it ?

Cheers

[Chadly]

Originally Posted by Pat7676

Chad love the new layout. I see what you mean about making layers. I love how this looks. I really like that left section with the wood and the rocks under it. I know one thing this thing doesn't even have water or plants and it seems a ton bigger than 2.5 gallons.

Thanks, my thoughts exactly. I think nanos should reflect a larger atmosphere/setting in nature. I'm still debating the right side, whether I should leave it or build it up more. I like it right now but not sure I want to fill the whole area w/ hairgrass.

Originally Posted by Guillermo

Nice start Chadly. Don't know why the first pic reminds me the LOTR movie. What kinf of wood is it ?

Cheers

thank you, We're on the same page, I definitely had "the Shire" in mind as I was putting this together. I couldn't come up w/ a title for the tank so that may have to be it.

[Pat7676]

I think that area would look good with just hairgrass.

[Guillermo]

You're welcome Chadly.

"Great minds think alike" just kidding, LOL. Hope "The Shire" turns out very pleasant for the eye

Regards

[Chadly]

So... I've decided on snowball shrimp. Have them coming next week.

I'm leaving most of the foreground relatively unplanted. I'm thinking Elatine triandra on the left at the base of the hardscape and putting the crypt parva over to the right at the base of those rocks.

what do you think of star grass wrapped around the right side where I proposed the dwarf hairgrass?

I have some in my 3 gal that has filled in nicely and stayed low. I have a lot of ideas...

[Pat7676]

I personally like the hairgrass idea on the right.

[hooha]

The slate chips are a great idea, I'm going to have to borrow that idea for my nanos

[GreenFanatic]

Yeah I like the slate chip effect very much... can I borrow your idea too

[Chadly]

thanks guys...

I've been using slate chips for a few years now, have only seen one other person use them in a non planted tank. After picking these up at the landscape supply place, I cleaned them w/ a brush in a collander. I spent hours separating them by size, from nickel to egg, to palm size peices. That's 2, five gallon buckets. Have fun with that! You guys can use whatever you want in your tanks. If you borrow the idea, that means you are gonna give it back right? lol

-chad

[Chadly]

now to fill it.....

[Pat7676]

Looking good get that baby filled up!!

[Chadly]

I filled it up last night. The little sticks floated, like I thought they would. I just took them out. I also took out the Elatine triandra because it had some algea on it from another tank. I replaced it with some downoi babies.

The tank looks dark, but I have a better light for it. The light was on here just for these pics.

I will hook up my zoo med 501 to this tank soon when I get my 5lb co2 tank for my 28 so I can fit my eheim in the stand w/ the co2 tank. The 20 lb'er is just too big and takes up the entire cabinet.

Here's the fill:

used a standard size airline to siphon the water into the tank... As you can see it's not cloudy

[Pat7676]

Looking good Chad!!!

[thief]

Hi there Chad,

Just wanted to say your tank looks awesome. Also I will have to burrow your idea of using the air line tube to fill my tank. Great idea and makes it asier to see what your doing.

[Chadly]

no prob thief, do it, it takes a little while, but doesn't disturb the substrate.

I added an air bubbler for aeration and a light from another old cheap fixture.

The tank is doing well for it's first week. No signs of death/growth yet.

Another bump for the addition of 10 or so snowball shrimp.
sorry no pics yet!

[foofooree]

looks awesome, reminds me of lord of the rings