Worlds Smallest Brackish Tank

[Marine/Freshwater?]

The whole piont was to make a truly functional palm tank. Anyway the starfish are doing very well. have no clue why but they are growing really fast compared to the ones in my 75 gallon. Maybe it is because the little tank has a deeper sand bed. Also I am not bragging, I am trying to get ideas on how to improve it. I made a freshwater one today and I plan to but some plants for it. Perhaps a snail or 2. I have never seen a cherry shrimp for sale locally. They are pretty darn expensive elseware. The starfish are nice at night but during the day they hide. Could I decorate the tank and add a blue leg hermit? They are tiny. All they seem to care about is eating and climbing. They might be cool. Or could I make one into a terrarium for a Little Grass Frog (Limnaoedus ocularis)? Mabye I could get some colorful liverock. Definately got more to do with the filter.

Heres some pics of the new freshwater one:

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Well if you made a freshwater tank you could grow a culture of infusoria, a perfectly viable lifeform and plenty of swimming space for its size.

I think its a nice little thing you have made, i love the novelty idea of it. If you browse google you can find the worlds smallest planted tank, and also a planted lightbulb.

Chris

EDIT : i have found the picture of the tanks i was talking about Here

 

[Marine/Freshwater?]

That web page gave me my idea! I thought it would be cool if I could make a fully functional version. The other palm tanks are scaped very well. I like my mini filters though. Those stupid bird feeders are expensive but they have more floor space.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Glad i could be of service

 

[pica_nuttalli]

you probably ought to take out that big gravel in the FW and use about an inch of laterite instead. you'll get much better rooting from your plants in a small grade substrate.

(I am not enthralled with this idea, but am still trying to give what good advice I have to offer.)

 

[Marine/Freshwater?]

GREAT IDEA! Still dont know which plants to use though. Definately going to look for a cherrey shrimp locally.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

If you mush the laterite into a ball, cover it will dwarf riccia and attach with a very close threaded hairnet you have yourself a very tiny riccia carpet.

After that gently squash into the bottom of your pico.

Chris

 

[Dorkhedeos]

Maybe the starfish is growing faster because its smaller? I still cant believe that you are keeping the parameters within a reasonable level with that little cup.

 

[Marine/Freshwater?]

If you mush the laterite into a ball, cover it will dwarf riccia and attach with a very close threaded hairnet you have yourself a very tiny riccia carpet.

That is perfect! I will try and locate some immediately.

[ quote name= Dorkhedeos Posted Today, 06:37 PM ]
Maybe the starfish is growing faster because its smaller? I still cant believe that you are keeping the parameters within a reasonable level with that little cup.

My starfish produce so little waste that the little filter can handle it. I do a 25% water change from my larger brackish tank weekly. They eat what is in the sand. The sand came from my larger brackish tank. I suppose I sould replace a bit every once in a while, but they seem to be eating pant debree from the mangrove tree.

 

[chrisdoesntmiss]

Brilliant, hope you can find some. If you use a bun net they have smaller holes so the dwarf riccia wont float out.

Chris

 

[kribensis12]

Love the idea!

 

[Straydum]

haha this is entertaining

 

[Butch]

Red Cherry shrimp? You can't be serious to keep them in that size of tank. Sure the shrimp may be smallest shrimp but they like to roaming around and like to be with other shrimp. Your tank may can hold two shrimps but are they happy? I think you can get away with smaller species of snails like tadpole, trumpet burrowing and nerite snails (please tell me what's nerite's size). But no swimming things, please. Still I like your ideas creating mini tanks for nonswimming inverats such as exotic looking snails or starfish and maybe good practice for novice aquarists if they wanted brackish/saltwater tank.

 

[Marine/Freshwater?]

You do not have to worry about cherry shrimp. I can not find them any where. Most nerites are huge. I think blue leg hermits are the way to go. If a blue leg gets to big, I simply throw it in my big brackish tank (75 gallon). I think my next project to start will be a truly functioning desktop tank. Most desktop tanks suck. Maybye I could make one that is "safe" for fish.

 

[dizzied]

I really wouldn't call shrimp swimmers. Sure they can, but usually, they'd just crawl around.

I wouldn't call such small tanks "good practice for novices" either.