I've kept a tank before for about a year or two, but it's been so long that everything has changed and I don't know what's out there. Plus I've pretty much forgotten everything.
I'm setting this up for an elderly relative, so keeping it as low maintenance as possible. On a budget.
I'm thinking maybe a 5 gallon? In terms of weight and size I don't think they can fit a ten. The local chain store has 5 gallon aqueon tanks, either the glass frame, or the "betta bow", or the mini bow tanks. Not sure about the lighting on them. Or if there's a setup or kit I should go for that isn't too much money.
Looking at the water report, the water here is soft. PH is about 7.4.
I don't plant to heat the tank (no fish).
* Not sure what lights to get because I'm unfamiliar with LEDs.
* Not sure where is good to buy plants online these days.
* ideas for plants, I'm thinking low light, easy to maintain. If I can find these maybe?
* narrow leaf java fern (can grow on driftwood)
* christmas moss (could possibly go the plastic mesh on the back wall route).
* crypt wendii (need gravel)
* I hate anubias so no anubias!
* I'm not sure what other plants may be good
* I'm not sure how well ghost shrimp will do in soft water, but I'd like to put a few in there to clean things a bit. I don't know if the local store would have cherry or amano shrimp. They might like the more visible shrimp.
* Filtration, I'm not sure what filter I can use on a 5 gallon. I've noticed that the sides of the bottle I use to water my plants gets covered in brown slime (I think that's diatoms?), and so the filter might help with that. The plants would need to be happy with filtration.
* I'm not sure if I would need any fertilizer?
Basically I think I will need: a tank, a light (and a timer), a filter (hob?), plants, substrate (will have to find something I can order, there's no place I know of that has pea gravel or anything aquarium safe).
If I go without a hood and do a clip on light or lamp, would it affect the humidity of the room much? Or I guess when it gets dry here in winter, is evaporation a concern?
I'm setting this up for an elderly relative, so keeping it as low maintenance as possible. On a budget.
I'm thinking maybe a 5 gallon? In terms of weight and size I don't think they can fit a ten. The local chain store has 5 gallon aqueon tanks, either the glass frame, or the "betta bow", or the mini bow tanks. Not sure about the lighting on them. Or if there's a setup or kit I should go for that isn't too much money.
Looking at the water report, the water here is soft. PH is about 7.4.
I don't plant to heat the tank (no fish).
* Not sure what lights to get because I'm unfamiliar with LEDs.
* Not sure where is good to buy plants online these days.
* ideas for plants, I'm thinking low light, easy to maintain. If I can find these maybe?
* narrow leaf java fern (can grow on driftwood)
* christmas moss (could possibly go the plastic mesh on the back wall route).
* crypt wendii (need gravel)
* I hate anubias so no anubias!
* I'm not sure what other plants may be good
* I'm not sure how well ghost shrimp will do in soft water, but I'd like to put a few in there to clean things a bit. I don't know if the local store would have cherry or amano shrimp. They might like the more visible shrimp.
* Filtration, I'm not sure what filter I can use on a 5 gallon. I've noticed that the sides of the bottle I use to water my plants gets covered in brown slime (I think that's diatoms?), and so the filter might help with that. The plants would need to be happy with filtration.
* I'm not sure if I would need any fertilizer?
Basically I think I will need: a tank, a light (and a timer), a filter (hob?), plants, substrate (will have to find something I can order, there's no place I know of that has pea gravel or anything aquarium safe).
If I go without a hood and do a clip on light or lamp, would it affect the humidity of the room much? Or I guess when it gets dry here in winter, is evaporation a concern?
