The Next Project

[techman81]

5 gallon planted fishbowl spot has been chosen.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Love it! What light will you use?

 

[Aquajack]

Nice one. I'll look forward to the progress. I have an old 15G tank which is full of shrimp sitting in the back corner of the shed that literally looks after itself but is terrible top look at. I'd like to have a nice smaller aquarium, or a large bowl.

 

[CincyScaper]

Tell me it is going to be a no filter one with no co2

 

[Aquajack]

Also what substrate are you looking at, aqua soil or something inert?

 

[techman81]

Love it! What light will you use?

I've been looking but haven't decided yet. Recommendations welcome.

Tell me it is going to be a no filter one with no co2

Planning on it being no-tech but I'd also like a little color so recommendations on plants that will color up in a no-tech would also be welcome. The only plant I'm sure on at this point is Coral moss for the "tree".

Also what substrate are you looking at, aqua soil or something inert?

I'm leaning toward aquasoil.

 

[CincyScaper]

recommendations on plants that will color up in a no-tech would also be welcome

Ludwigea super red colored up for me well low tech, but not sure if you are going for stems or not.
Look forward to seeing this. Would love to make a no tech bowl with just a nice light for my office at work.

 

[techman81]

Ludwigea super red colored up for me well low tech, but not sure if you are going for stems or not.
Look forward to seeing this. Would love to make a no tech bowl with just a nice light for my office at work.

Well, I have plenty of the Ludwigia to pick from 3 of my tanks.

 

[techman81]

Ok, I decided to go with @Kwyet's Chihiros magnetic light recommendation and the stand as well. When I ordered it, I didn't realize Chihiros was closed for Chinese New year so nothing has shipped yet. They're opening back up this coming week and resuming shipping but there may be a backlog so it may be awhile before the light arrives.

Next step is deciding on substrate and I'm torn. Aquasoil, inert, or a combination of both? Another big question, cycling a no-tech tank. Do I just set it up, plant it, and let it do it's thing? Do I need to do daily water changes for awhile? There seems to be little info on the start up steps for a nano no-tech tank. MD Fish Tanks did a recent video of such a start up and it seemed like he put snails and shrimp into the bowl immediately and that really surprised me. I'm guessing the soil he used doesn't cause any ammonia bump.

 

[techman81]

Well, I found a 3 year old MJ Aquascaping video that answered most of my questions.

 

[Kwyet]

For what it’s worth, I always cycle no-tech with a small internal filter and ammonia. If using aquasoil, that would do it too. After it cycles, and small fish have been added, I take the filter out but leave the filter sponge in the back of the tank/bowl. The movement from the fish will keep some water moving through the sponge. Then a couple of months later I remove the sponge as well, and for a small bowl like that probably trade the fish for shrimp. I didn’t watch the video, so it’s no comment on that, just my 2 cents. It works well for me.

Edit: I don’t think MD’s method of adding shrimp right away is advisable. They need time for biofilm to build up, aside from the cycling problems with that.

 

[ample]

Ok, I decided to go with @Kwyet's Chihiros magnetic light recommendation and the stand as well. When I ordered it, I didn't realize Chihiros was closed for Chinese New year so nothing has shipped yet. They're opening back up this coming week and resuming shipping but there may be a backlog so it may be awhile before the light arrives.

Next step is deciding on substrate and I'm torn. Aquasoil, inert, or a combination of both? Another big question, cycling a no-tech tank. Do I just set it up, plant it, and let it do it's thing? Do I need to do daily water changes for awhile? There seems to be little info on the start up steps for a nano no-tech tank. MD Fish Tanks did a recent video of such a start up and it seemed like he put snails and shrimp into the bowl immediately and that really surprised me. I'm guessing the soil he used doesn't cause any ammonia bump.

Also ordered a Chihiros light for my new setup during the holiday. Placed my order the last week of February and it hasn’t shipped yet. It’s forcing me to be patient and to just let the dark start run its course.