Hey :)

[joshua_g]

Just a quick introduction... I've been keeping fish for around 10 years now... Give up keeping Freshwater about a year ago to focus on marines. Currently have a 4x2 reef system set up. I've kept most things freshwater over the years. Used to have a garage with my collection of channa tanks. Last freshwater tank I had was a 7x2.5x2 which had big preds. Arowana, gars and big SA/CA cichlids. I've also kept rays, eels... Most thing really.
 
So recently picked up a 15l tmc microhabitat which I was planing on using for another mini reef tank. But have decided now I want to set it up as a pico planted freshwater tank. I'm a little rusty when it comes to FW now. So In need of some advice like whats best for filtration in the rear chamber. Best substrate for planted... You know the usual.
 
Anyway Hey

 

[Ninjouzata]

Hiya, and 

to TFF!

 

[Ch4rlie]

 
I nearly bought one of these Microhabitats a little while ago but actually forgot to bid on it on eBay :x
 
Anyway, whats the plan with this neat little tank?

 

[joshua_g]

Well hoping just to have a tidy little planted setup... A nice piece of redmoor root wood, not sure on rocks or substrate yet and a nice selection of easy to care for plants... Stocking just a couple of shrimp as I'm pretty sure 15l is to small for any fish. Not to sure what would be best to put in the back filtration chambers either

 

[HarpyFishLover]

 

 

 , and of course... 

 to TFF! 

 

 

 O[SIZE=11.6667px]h this is how you make text smaller [/SIZE]and even smaller! And even SMALLER!  now how to get it bigger, that is the question; This isn't working very well, is it. I can hardly see it now.  HELP ME I'M A BUG!

 oh cool!

 

[Ch4rlie]

Sounds good. Keeping it simple is a good policy that works for me.
 
Easy to grow plants tends to be along the line of the usual suspects, Anubias, Java Ferns, Elodea, Java moss, Cryptocorynes.
 
I would recommend you to do research though as some of the aforementioned do grow fairly large and tall so its worth checking out some of the plants at your LFS and asking / researching on how big these plants grow, as well on how to plant them, some need to be on wood or rocks / decor as being planted can be detrimental to the roots of the plants.
 
One thing to note, some LFS, particularly the chain store types do stock semi or non aquatic plants which won't survive for very longfully immersed in water, dont ask why they stock them, they just do! :x
 
A 15 litre / 4 US gals tank is on the small side, You COULD keep a betta in a tank of this size though I prefer your plan to keep a shrimp set up, these can be stunning
 
Red cherry shrimps, there are colour varioations of these ,red, blues, blacks, chocolates, orange, greens and yellows are all variations I've seen and they tend to be amongst the cheaper varieties of shrimps to buy. But a word of warning, these shrimps have been selectively bred for their colours so that can make them weaker and more prone to illneses or dying when put in the wrong water parameters.
 
Having said that, Red Cherrys are a good choice for the beginner to keeping shrimps as they are pretty hardy, though not THAT hardy, so care and setting up has to be taken carefully as they are fairly fickle to water parameter changes (not as fickle as the more expensive types though). 
 
As for what to put in the filter compartment, am not too sure how big the cahambers are, but am presuming there is room for a nano heater, to be set at around 22C / 72F, shrimps do better in cooler water than at full tropicals at 24C / 75F plus.
 
There should be room for some filter media such as coarse filter sponge and perhaps a small amount of ceramic / noodle type media and a small powerhead perhaps for making flow around the tank, shrimps do not need a lot of flow in the tank.
 
Or you could just simply do a simple sponge filter powered by a air pump, these are perfectly fine for shrimps as they do not give out a lot of bioload.

 

[joshua_g]

Ahh yes I do remember from when I first started out buying plants from a certain petstore chain and finding out they seemed to do a lot better in a pot on the window ledge lol.
 
Didn't realise 15l was big enough for a Betta i'd love that as have always liked them but only ever kept monster fish that would have gobbled one up. A nice betta in a planted tank would definitely brighten up my kitchen As for the back chamber I was thinking sponge/floss in first chamber then just a nitrate reducing media in the second. third chamber is the return and heater and might be able to squeeze some more sponge/floss in.
 
What is best substrate for a planted tank? Will be going to LFS to have a look at the rock/wood on sunday see if they have anything nice and small enough.
 
How do I add pics from my computer?

 

[Ch4rlie]

Well a 15l is barely 4 US gal and this can be a bit of a hot topic amongst betta keepers but imho you CAN keep a betta in this.
 
You have to remember that the plants, substrate and decor in the tank will reduce the total volume of water. The bare, bare miniumum for a betta is 2.5 US gal, about 10 litres is the absolute lowest but I have always felt better recommending at LEAST 5 gals to 10 gals but as long as the water is good and the betta is healthy and has a good quality of life then thats all that really matters.
 
The filter media plan you have actually sounds ok to me, though not sure what a nitrate reducing media is so cant really comment on that but suspect its something you dont really need as your weekly water changes will deal with nitrate and live plants will help as well.
 
Substrate can be just about anything you want really since its either shrimsp or bettas you are planning to keep. Gravel or sand will be fine. I would not recommend getting these planted soils LFS sells unless you are planning a high tech setup with high lights, C02 and ferts etc.
 
BTW shrimps and bettas do not really mix, betta can be aggressive to shrimps and possibly even eat them. There are few exceptiosn to this but generally speaking that what happens when you have bettas and shrimps in the same tank. Nott to mention the fact betta temps (27-28C or 80F) are usually higher than what shrimps do ideally at (18 to 24C / 64 to 75F), the higher the temp the lifespan of shrimps reduces
 
NOTE - These temps are what I find to work best for shrimps, there will be varying temperature ranges on other sites.

 

[Ninjouzata]

If you do decide on a betta instead of shrimp this would be a good read http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/423364-betta-splendens-caresheet
 
I personally prefer keeping mine in a 10g but I just dislike decorating/cleaning smaller tanks. Whichever you end up doing, please do post pics

 

[FishKid122]

Hey I'm new too, welcome!