5.5 Gallon Low-Light Planted/Cherry Shrimp

[Maestro]

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac249/maestro26/6%20Gallon/DSCF2462.jpg

http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac249/maestro26/6%20Gallon/DSCF2464.jpg

This tank was settup in late September. I decided to keep it simple because this is the first tank I had had in a year, and for the easy maintenance. Here are some of the details:

Aquarium: 5.5 Gallon/21 Liter AGA
Substrate: Black gravel - Nothing special for plant growth
Background: Lamenated black construction paper
Hardscape: 2 Manzanita branches
Lighting: 8 watts, 1.5 WPG
Filltration: Duetto 50 - I highly recommend this for Nano aquariums
Fauna:
- 8+ Cherry shrimp - 2 are currently carrying
- 2 Amano shrimp
- 1 Apple snail
- Many Physa sp.
Flora:
- Java moss
- Java fern
- Wisteria

[Lab_Rat]

Very nice! The manzanita looks great.

[Kazenouta]

I really love the color of the plants in there. The bright reddish color against the black looks really greatthumbs2:

[aspects]

Awesome scape!

[Maestro]

Thanks for the nice comments everyone!

As this tank is fairly new, i am not yet finished with it yet. I am definitely going to be picking up at least 2 more Java ferns for starters. The wisteria looks nice in my tank, but it hasn't been doing well, probably because it is in such a low light setup and I am not adding any CO2 or ferts. So I am working on my options on a small DIY CO2 system.

Since the Cherry shrimp already had babies and there are much more on the way, I have been thinking about population control. I will either be giving them away to friends or eventually add a Betta once the tank is fully planted.

It would be nice to get some imput from those who have/had Cherry shrimp, and of course compliments are welcome as well. thumbs2:

[Maestro]

This tanks stock is now complete with the addition of 4 Harlequin Rasboras as of today. I had been planning to get some fish for a while now, and was unsure of what to get. I had kept many species over they year, large and small, so the Harlequins were my top choice because I have never had them before and they are not demanding, small, and delightful to watch.

However, the store mislabled them so I thought I was purchasing Espe's Rasboras, which would have been better suited for this nano. If the size and the activity of the Harlequins become a problem, it gives me an excuse to set up another tank or upgrade.

Here they are in the tank:
http://i904.photobucket.com/albums/ac249/maestro26/6%20Gallon/DSCF2488.jpg

The next step with this tank for me is to work on a regime for widening my planting options and promoting growth. I will be reading up on CO2 systems, lighting, ferts etc. and will likely post something within a week.

*Note to moderators* - This seems to have been transformed into a journal on my part. Can one of you please move it to the journal section? Thank you for your time.

[Kazenouta]

Great looking tank! Congratulations on your new Rasboras! I've heard they're a great little fish to keep; easy and pretty hardy at that. Pretty little fish as well. I've said this already but, I love the colors of the tank. Great job.thumbs2:

[Maestro]

Thank you Kazenouta!

The Rasboras all ate last night, and they colored up really well. This morning they were all shoaling together at the top. So far I couldn't be happier with them.