Thinking About a Planted Nano Tank

[~firefly~]

I've been thinking about getting a nano tank to keep as a planted tank in our kitchen. Maybe for a few shrimps or a bumblebee goby or pea puffer. Not sure yet about space requirements for these but I am going to start my research. Where better than to start by asking you all for thoughts, experiences and advice?

I've been very inspired by the nano show tanks on YouTube and would love to try creating my own. Can anyone show me pics of their own nano set-ups, what the stocking is (plant and animal) and what maintenance routine you have? I'm looking for a natural, modern look.

All info gratefully received!

[korith]

With a planted nano with just a few shrimp in it, you can use something around a gallon in size, or even a bit smaller. Believe it or not there is a section called planted nano tanks on another planted forum, http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22 should be able to find hundreds of pics of nanos there. I would avoid any fish in a small 1g size tank, if you go up to about 2g or so, you could a few small fish, like microrasboras which get to a max 2cm in size as adults. You could use a small sponge filter and a desk lamp if you wanted to.

I have a small cylinder vase from walmart, I think it was in the decor area I got for under $5, holds about 0.75g. Just have a bit substrate, a branch, and a bit of hairgrass in it. Not using any lighting on it, just have it on the desk, the natural daylight from the window seems to work. Not using any filtration on it, just have a few blue rili shrimp in it.

[MCHRKiller]

If you are wanting to actively stock the tank, I wouldnt go less than a 5G. You can get a kit setup from Walmart/Petsmart/etc for under $30 and they are pretty decent. You can swap the incandescent bulb out for a spiral CFL...actually works well for a low tech planted.

[~firefly~]

Thanks. I'd probably be looking at something around 5-8 gallons.

[smaug]

My wife had this one as a desk aquarium in her classroom. It had a 1 big anubia coffefolia as the plant tied to malay wood. When the roots filled out naturally the spread around the tank and really made it look quite cool. She had 3 or 4 ghost shrimp along with some endlers,it may have been a bit overstocked but it was healthy for 2 or 3 yrs that way till we broke it down and put everything in one of my tanks at home.
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/revi...uct=273&cat=17

[~firefly~]

Interesting. I don't think I'll keep anything as large as endlers but we'll see. I've seen some set-ups with striped red and white shrimp. They looked great against bright green moss.

[PhillipOrigami]

I vote rimless. Perhaps a rimless mr. aqua.

I have a 5g, and I'm ready to just chuck it out. It's ugly and old. Really nothing to do about it.
Planted plus neo shrimp.

[~firefly~]

What sort of filters do people use on nano tanks? Internal or external? Are the packaged filters normally enough? Are the standard LED lights normally enough for plants? I'm looking at the Eheim or Arc range of nano tanks online and there's a big variation in price. Can anyone recommend any?

[PhillipOrigami]

External canisters generally. Eheim is what I would use.
for a bit larger nanos(10gs and stuff) Sponge filters work a charm.

[~firefly~]

Which model? What about for a 5g?