Aquascape, Few Questions Before I Start

[mwood2]

Ok so I plan to make myself a small aqua scape on my desk. i plan to buy all the items within the next 24 hours so I would like to know if I have all the right stuff. The tank will contain:

1 African Dward Frog
1-3 Ghost Shrimp (or maybe another type, i dont know)
1-3 nerites

Or maybe just 2 dwarf frogs and a Snail.

Plan to use a 3 Gallon Tank (with a filter). i will try to find one that dosen't disrupt the water very much. I plan to use sand this time around (unless gravel and a gravel filter would be good)

I plan to use some smaller plants, maybe a glass like one or something.


Lastly, with the following setup do I need to cycle my tank? I know they still produce ammonia but would they produce enough from the start for me to really worry? I do plan to test and water change as necessary but would it be as bad as fish to start like this?


Also would anyone suggest a differnt way to start it? Like no frogs and just shrimp or maybe a Frog and add a fish later or something.


EDIT: Almost forgot, would the media in my 5 gallon tank help out as well? Its almost cycled (reading of less then .25 for past 2 days and counting)

 

[OldMan47]

Taking your questions out of order. Yes, you need to cycle the tank. The media in a partially cycled tank is not likely to contain much of benefit but is probably better than nothing. The problem would be the delay it would cause in your almost cycled tank. I would go ahead with whatever plants you intend to put in the tank and save the livestock until the tank is cycled. In 3 gallons, your eventual stocking levels will be very low. I don't know if a tank that size is big enough for even one frog but it will certainly hold some shrimp. A single nerite might be OK in there too.

 

[mwood2]

well I was reading topics on ADF and most of them claimed it was 1 frog per gallon (estimated size). Also its said that they can be done without filters as long as you did constant water changes. Im debating on maybe another 5 gallon tank even. I may attempt to do a fish in (or rather frog) in cycle if the filter on the tank is able to keep up with the load. Otherwise I may transport into my other 5 gallon for the time being. Seeing that that tank is almost done I may be able to get away with it for a little while. I know that adding something to a newly cycled tank may cause a mini cycle or a cause the tank to un cycle itself completely but I plan to keep a constant eye on it.


Also whats a good hardy fish I can use to do a fish in cycle if I decided to do another? I may or may not, it all depends on how things go at the store today. I know the hardships of fish in cycling seeing as i have been doing it everyday (every other as of late) but I find that it at least keeps me busy.