20L/5G Journal, Reorganizing My Bar

[dredgy]

So I've had a few tanks lying around on my apartment verandah for a while now so I've finally started to set up my second tank - a 20L nano tank.
 
Shrimp are going to be my main stock here - I wanted to put them in the big tank but then I got pakistani loaches. However I'd also like a small, colorful gourami or three or some other feature fish. Though I might also just relocate my mussel and let him be a bit of a feature.

As my second tank, I'd like to think I've learnt a bit more about setup, but to me appearance is paramount. If the fish tank doesn't look good in the room I'm not going to put it there. A fluval edge would probably have been infinitely easier (and in all actuality, cheaper) to set up than this old, second hand, horrible box.
 
Finding a place where it would fit in proved to be a bit of a challenge, but I've decided to pull focus to two of my main hobbies - fishkeeping and drinking - and placed the tank on my primary liquor cabinet (I have 4).
 
I bought an AquaClear filter, an LED light system and a little heater and I think this looks alright at the moment.
 

 
Comments, questions and suggestions for stocking are all appreciated
 
 

 

[TallTree01]

Love it!

I wouldn't put any gourami in a 5 gallon. Even the Pygmy/ purring Needs 10 IMO.
It definitely needs substrate. Sand would be good.

 

[Mamashack]

Love the tank decoration! Hope it's empty otherwise such a waste! lol

 

[dredgy]

I wouldn't put any gourami in a 5 gallon. Even the Pygmy/ purring Needs 10 IMO.

 

 
I'm going off the thread in the nano section:
 
 

 
> 20L or 5 gal
Trichopsis Pumila (Sparkling Gourami). 1m 3f
Licorice Gouramis. 1m 3f
Corydoras Pygmaeus (Pygmy Cory). TBA

 
Pygmy cory's are another option, it is hard to find a good looking fish for a tank this size, especially if gourami's are going to need more room (and with the vodka bottle that does lower swimming room).
 
 
 

It definitely needs substrate. Sand would be good.

 
I was thinking of using the black substrate you usually see in shrimp tanks and then half filling the bottle with white play sand for contrast. Not sure how that will work in practice though.
 

 
Love the tank decoration! Hope it's empty otherwise such a waste! lol

 
Haha yea it's been empty for a while and long since replaced

 

[Mamashack]

 
I was thinking of using the black substrate you usually see in shrimp tanks and then half filling the bottle with white play sand for contrast. Not sure how that will work in practice though.

Sounds like that should look very good! Keep posting pictures as your tank progresses

 

[Robbo89]

Just an idea I'm running off here, so feel free to pass on it if you like!
 
But, following on from your idea with the half filled bottle of contrasting sands, imagine 1 singular long thin vibrant green plant growing inside that bottle...
Difficult, yes.
Effective, very.
With long tweezers or even chopsticks it could be done, maybe a type of val or small crypt, even ludwigia maybe?
 
Other than that, you could always go with 1 bright red male betta as the centre-piece fish, that way you could drop the heater and keep the tank even simpler. 
Just a thought, and as someone else said, photos!

 

[DyArianna]

Hmm... couple of ideas.  Not sure where to go with them.  lol  Not sure what bottle of liquor you have in there but maybe you could put a vodka bottle in and find a bunch of crystal icy looking gravel for a vodka on the rocks theme.  There's also a drink called the Fishbowl.  Maybe somehow you could incorporate what looks like a fishbowl inside your tank.  And not sure where you are but there is also a company called BlueFish Liquor and Cigars here in the US.  Maybe you could work up something with their logo and have a beauty of a blue Betta in there.  Very unique idea by the way! 

 

[ech0o]

You could DIY your own filter with a generic pump, make a few cuts to that bottle and you could EASILY have yourself a homemade filter where the water is drawn from holes in the bottom of the bottle then comes up through the bottle and trickles out the mouth.   haha WHAAAAAAA my mind is blown!

 

[Mamashack]

Just an idea I'm running off here, so feel free to pass on it if you like!

 
But, following on from your idea with the half filled bottle of contrasting sands, imagine 1 singular long thin vibrant green plant growing inside that bottle...
Difficult, yes.
Effective, very.
With long tweezers or even chopsticks it could be done, maybe a type of val or small crypt, even ludwigia maybe?
 
Other than that, you could always go with 1 bright red male betta as the centre-piece fish, that way you could drop the heater and keep the tank even simpler. 
Just a thought, and as someone else said, photos!

Why would you want to drop the heater for a betta? They need filtration and heat same as any other tropical fish AND space to swim in - a good 3-5 gallons despite popular myth that they can live in tiny jars without either of the above.
EDIT: Please don't fall into the trap of thinking that these fish can live with such neglect.

 

[TallTree01]

^ + 1

 

[dredgy]

It's a moot point, I dislike bettas, guppies, goldfish and anything that has been bred by humans, I find them ugly. Plus there will be shrimp in the tank so it will be filtered and heated
 

But, following on from your idea with the half filled bottle of contrasting sands, imagine 1 singular long thin vibrant green plant growing inside that bottle...

 
That's a good one, it'd be terribly difficult to maintain as well so I might look for a very good fake.
 

Not sure what bottle of liquor you have in there but maybe you could put a vodka bottle in and find a bunch of crystal icy looking gravel for a vodka on the rocks theme.  

 
It's vodka, and great idea.
 

You could DIY your own filter with a generic pump, make a few cuts to that bottle and you could EASILY have yourself a homemade filter where the water is drawn from holes in the bottom of the bottle then comes up through the bottle and trickles out the mouth.

 
Haha probably a bit beyond my skill, but yea that would be a good use of space.

 

[dredgy]

Okay went and bought sand today. Forgot how terrible sand was to wash. I washed it thoroughly for several hours before filling the tank, at which point the tank was full of disgusting dust. Sand was siphoned out and washed again - through a sieve and by hand until all water went clear. Tank was refilled and it's still filthy. Third time, same thing. So at the moment it's just bulk dust which is annoying setback since I was hoping to have it stocked tomorrow.

 

[SamB]

I had success using black blasting sand. Minimal washing and 0 clouding.

 

[dredgy]

Lucky you Mine's clean now, and looking reasonable, I'll post pics later today.

 

[dredgy]

Some shots with the sand in.

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