Reattempting Planted Nano

[nurglespuss]

Dear all,

Pets at home have just released a lovely range of small nano tanks for around £30 each (with light etc.)

I would love to recreate one of those lush, green mini red shrimp aquariums (with glosso or min hair grass etc).

I've ordered a micro heater, and will possible use another HOB filter, and put the heater in the resevoir for that to keep it out of the way.

I want to use ADA substrate system, but am a little confused over what exactly I would need to buy?

Any advice appreciated, and pics will appear after june 04th when I move into new premises.

Cheers!

 

[ian]

what ADA do you want to use? I would go down the soil route if your having shrimp and a glosso carpet. You may also have to think about some C02, whether it be DIY or pressurised. There is a range of soils now thats cheaper than the ADA stuff.

http/www.aquaessentials.co.uk/colombo-flora-base-black-5-litres-p-3914.html

Brilliant stuff IMO/IME, it does leach ammonia though.

 

[nurglespuss]

Thanks

Yes I would ideally like a very dark substrate that can stay in place for at least a year.

I am leaning towards glosso, but I can't use CO2 in the premises I'm in (and find yeast kits unreliable) - I'm going to try out the liquid dosing stuff (seachem) and sea how that goes...

Basically it has to be fairly 'low maintainance' once set up (except for water changes), for times when I'm travelling.

Cheers.

 

[ian]

you may struggle with Glosso then. It's quite a demanding carpeting plant. Have you thought about Riccia or even some different moss carpets?

apparently these tank are Optiwhite glass as well. I'm not sure how true that is, but they would make lovely looking shrimp tanks.

 

[lljdma06]

Besides for such a small tank, glosso's leaves are too big to serve as a carpet plant. You're much better off going with Ian's suggestion of dwarf riccia and/or mosses, which have a much finer structure.

I'm using ADA Amazonia in my planted tank setup, and after an awkward period (about a month) of leeching, I'm now very happy with it.

How big are these tanks? I'm not UK, show me pictures...

Liz

 

[mattbleasby]

Are these tanks visible online? Im after setting up a little Nano and was looking round for some bargains on tanks this would be my answer

 

[ian]

nice little set up.

 

[mattbleasby]

Whats the lighting and filter like on these tanks? I was looking at the AllPonsolutions Nano's as i like how the filtration is compact and hidden and the LED's are decent. But again have no reviews on these tanks of feedback as i have never had one.

 

[nurglespuss]

Thats the one, there's two models, one very small, and a larger 20 odd litre one.

Thanks for the advice! I've not had much luck with moss (am trying another load now in my temporate tank) if that takes off, I'll transfer it to the nano, would rather have something that roots though (like dwarf hairgrass?) although moss on net might be fun

 

[ian]

trimmed drawf hairgrass would be an option.

 

[nurglespuss]

Cool thanks! Lawn mowing that won't triger my hay fever ;P

 

[mattbleasby]

Cool thanks! Lawn mowing that won't triger my hay fever ;P

May have to take a look at these over the weekend or next week some time Could be a nice setup. I have a little daft 12ltr tank somewhere bunged away, But its not very appealing. Want more of a stunning little shrimp setup.

 

[lljdma06]

nice little set up.

NOT FAIR!!! That's too cool!

 

[mattbleasby]

nice little set up.

NOT FAIR!!! That's too cool!

I think it would be cooler if it had a built in filter. Thats the only thing thats stopping me from putting my heart on this one lol

 

[Caprichoso]

Thanks

Yes I would ideally like a very dark substrate that can stay in place for at least a year.

I am leaning towards glosso, but I can't use CO2 in the premises I'm in (and find yeast kits unreliable) - I'm going to try out the liquid dosing stuff (seachem) and sea how that goes...

Basically it has to be fairly 'low maintainance' once set up (except for water changes), for times when I'm travelling.

Cheers.

I have glosso in my 5g shrimp tanks. I don't inject CO2 but the glosso is spreading out and is bright green and doing well.It's not growing really fast but I'm happy with the result so far. I just have the standard canopy and light that came with the tank, nothing fancy. I don't fertilize at all.