5.5G planted nano

[ElGuappo]

rotunda is what i have seen called locally. its the plant in the back left.

Anyways bignose i like the substrate you chose.

[BlueAbyss]

Yup the feathery stuff is Cabomba... It takes a long time to root and will need something to feed on, also it requires very high light... but once it starts growing it looks GOOD! And fills space well. The key is to give it enough light to actually get growing. There is a red variety of this plant also, which is even more demanding in regards to light, though both are easily kept otherwise.

You should consider some Cryptocoryne, they come in a huge variety and like low light. I used to collect them Though I would plant them somewhere that will be quite shaded, or where taller plants will keep any bright light off them.

[hershey]

Originally Posted by bignose

Finally got it filled with water.
Here are a couple pictures


I'm returning this light for obvious reasons. They have a 27w(I think) fixture that is taller.


I already don't like the green plant behind the green plant? I don't have a clue what these plants names are. There's little bits of the plant are flying around the tank. I forgot about these plants, I had these in my 55G and I hated them.

that plant in the back looks like water sprite a very fast growing plant
that stuff will even grow with the lights off

[Rbacchiega]

Cambomba. I used to buy a few sprigs and feed it to my goldfish LOL.

For being such a small tank I would avoid dosing anything just yet, at least until you get your stocking list and photoperiod down.

[bignose]

I also really like the substrate I chose, its Geosystem extra fine river gravel. Actually my son chose it for his hermit crab tank and I used some of it for this tank. I like the different colors and size of the gravel.

I'd like to get some different plants but the pet stores here all sell the same thing. Does anyone have some java moss they would like to sale? or some plants that grow close to the gravel for ground coverage? Do I take the rubber bands of the plants before I put them in the gravel?

I was thinking 10 hrs a day just like my reef, but that's just a thought. I don't know anything about photoperiod so I'm going to research today. I'm also going to look at Shrimp. Woo!

Also what kind of flow am I supposed to have in there? I put a pump labelled PH101. I googled it and I can't find anything on it's specs. They must of stopped making it or something.

Also thanks for all the help everyone

[Rbacchiega]

the flow should be fine. Keep in mind, as with reefs, too much light will cause plants to loose colour...so will too much LOL. Plants that grow along the bottom usually require more light, but you can get some java moss to spread (although it usually goes on driftwood...) There's something (think it was called dwarf sword or something) that looks like grass. I've had good success with that

[ElGuappo]

i can hook you up with a small free amount of java moss if you know anyone coming or going to town. grows like crazy you wont need much. its a great source of food aswell.

[bignose]

I returned the desk lamp and picked up a coralife 2x9w 6700k pc fixture. It's still too small but it works better than the desk lamp. I have to figure out how to get the light a little higher up off the tank.

I also picked up my shrimp. I got two orange bee shrimp and a cherry red shrimp. I'll get a pic up when they are in their new home.

[bignose]

orange bee shrimp

[BlueAbyss]

Neat shrimp