Joined: Jun 11, 2012 Posts: 10 Location: Navi Mumbai
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Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 3:16 pm Post subject: Suggetions needed for Nano tank
Hi Friends,
I am based in Pune and new to this great site. I needed your suggestions for a nano tank that I am planning. I want it to be a simple low tech tank, semi-planted one with some nice driftwood. Tank size is small – 12 (L) 12 (H) 9 (W) and I have a sunboard hood with a Hitachi 10 W aquarium tube for lighting.
Below are my queries:
1.What kind of fishes and how many would do well in the nano? (I don’t want to keep betta). I was planning for either 6 serpae tetra or neon tetra
2.Which filter can I use for this nano (keeping in mind semi-planted tank)?
3.Plants – I would prefer a non CO2 set-up. I am planning for tape grass, anubias nana and some moss on rocks/driftwood (seeking suggestions on which ones). Would be great to have suggestions for low tech plants which can do well without CO2.
4.What substrate would be good for such a tank? (I was planning to have a layer of white sand/fine light coloured gravel on top).
Joined: Aug 19, 2005 Posts: 4716 Location: Mathura, UP
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Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 11:48 am Post subject: Re: Suggetions needed for Nano tank
Looking at the size of the tank, small tetra's will be ideal, livebearers like moliies, guppy, are also good options, they help to keep algae in check.
A small power filter can do the job.
Plant selection is good.
A simple sand bed with occasional fertilization should do the job.
Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:09 pm Post subject: Re: Suggetions needed for Nano tank
1.What kind of fishes and how many would do well in the nano? (I don’t want to keep betta). I was planning for either 6 serpae tetra or neon tetra
Ans: It is better to keeps some shrimps in this tank. If you want to keep fishes, keep guppies or 3-4 neon tetras. Although it is a small tank for neon like school fast moving fishes.
2.Which filter can I use for this nano (keeping in mind semi-planted tank)?
Ans: Hang on Back or Hang on Top will be good choice for this tank
3.Plants – I would prefer a non CO2 set-up. I am planning for tape grass, anubias nana and some moss on rocks/driftwood (seeking suggestions on which ones). Would be great to have suggestions for low tech plants which can do well without CO2.
Ans: Foreground plants: Marselia hirsuta, micro tennelus, Pelia, Subwassertang etc.
Midground: Anubias nana. some mosses over rocks. It is always best to use slow growing plants in the middle.
Background: Vals, HM
4.What substrate would be good for such a tank? (I was planning to have a layer of white sand/fine light coloured gravel on top).
Ans: Depends on your budget and choice. White sand will not provide a natural look to tank. It will be best to use some latarite as the inner layer and golden sand and brown fine gravel as outer layer.
10 watts of light will be not enough so increase some light.
Joined: Jun 11, 2012 Posts: 10 Location: Navi Mumbai
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Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 10:58 am Post subject: Re: Suggetions needed for Nano tank
Thanks Sandeep and @Scorpio for your replies.
Sandeep – I was planning to keep a small pleco in as well for the algae. Also, what kind of fertilizers would be good for ferns and anubias - liquid ones? Can you please suggest some names/brands of easily available ones?
Scorpio – I don’t want a dense planted set-up so am planning for only anubia nana and may be some moss. Would 10 W be less for this as well?
Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:16 am Post subject: Re: Suggetions needed for Nano tank
Hi Yugesh,
I am based out of punbe too and its good to hear someone is giving a go at planted nano.
As for your questions,
I suggest, keep 6 neon tetras and ottocinculus if you need algae eaters.
As for light, dont go for the red ones, they will spoil the look. Take the white ones.
I thin 10W should be good enough for the plants you are keeping.
I would say, go for only few type of plants, like dwarf hair grass, moss and anubias.
You dont have much space, so many varities of plants will look odd.
ADA is the best substrate that is available.
But you will have to order it online, other than that some shops in pune sell their substrate, but I havent tried them yet.
Sandeep – I was planning to keep a small pleco in as well for the algae. Also, what kind of fertilizers would be good for ferns and anubias - liquid ones? Can you please suggest some names/brands of easily available ones?
Regards,
Pleco are not very well suited for planted tanks.
They have a rasping action which tends to damage plant leaves, and they get too big, due to which plants get uprooted often.
Shrimps, mollies etc are good at controlling algae.
Both ferns & anubias are slow growers, keep light at about 1w/g and weekly water changes should be enough for them.
Seachem has a good range of fertilizers.
However for a low light tank, water changes bring in enough nutrients, you might not need extra nutrients.
Joined: Jun 11, 2012 Posts: 10 Location: Navi Mumbai
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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2012 5:59 pm Post subject: Re: Suggetions needed for Nano tank
Thanks for all the suggestions friends.
I guess keeping even 6 neons would be slightly crowding the tank. So I am swapping my super nano (12x9x9) with another nano (15x12x12). Plants will be anubias (nana) and some ferns placed on driftwood. Gravel would be white sand. On the stock – either a school of 8 neon tetra’s or serpae tetra’s. Do serpae’s also swim in schools like neon’s? Are they more hardy as compared to Neon’s?
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