(Part 2) Best products from r/nanotank

The Fluval Spec 5gal and Fluval Flex 9gal are great looking all-in-one's and have nice large filter areas where you can add extra media and hide the heater. Build quality is good, lights are good enough to grow plants well and they are virtually silent. I own both of these tanks and I keep shrimp in the Spec 5. You will need to slightly modify the filter intake to prevent shrimp from getting into the filter area, I just cover the intake by gluing a square of black foam over it, it's barely noticeable and it works.

Dr. Tim's is fine, but if you can find pure ammonia locally it will be much less and you may need more than what's in that bottle if your cycle didn't go as planned. I have found, in addition to the Ace hardware ammonia that is generally recommend, that my local Dollar Tree has ammonia without anything else added.

Other than that, if you're going to use an air pump, I've been using this HPumps pump in my 5 gallon and it's fine. It also came with a length of nice, flexible silicone airline tubing rather than the stiff stuff you have in your cart.

this is my light.

I fought stem rotting issues in this tank for months, after i switched to a more higher output light, everything starting blooming like the you see here.

This is non-CO2 injected, I dose 2.5 ML potassium(K) (API Leaf zone) biweekly. and I do monthly 15% water changes.

TDS is maintained between 230-260, I change water when it hits 300 to bring it down to ideally 240~ish, it takes about a month for TDS to build back up to 300, hence the monthly water change.

To be fully honest, I reached the point where everything is pretty much self sufficient. Any plant you see in the Gif, I trim off will bounce back with better more spectacular growth than before, it's at the point where its even better than my CO2 injected tank, and I am just baffled.

I told you everything I did for this tank since the beginning but I still have no idea what specifically I did that made it this way. But i really do think high filtration and high lighting played a big part in the stability of it, I can't prove it tho.

Ah yikes looks like I have a lot to learn! What’s the smallest size tank for red cherry shrimp?
This right here is my main inspiration, and it’s kind of the look I’m going for, I might put more hardscape/plants:
https://youtu.be/NbOrGRhfdL0

I’ll have to find a bowl somewhere. These are my options:
https://www.amazon.com/Decorative-Centerpiece-Wedding-Royal-Imports/dp/B078YYH5ZZ/ref=pd_lpo_vtph_201_bs_lp_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=3JSFVKWCPHD8530NHDNJ&th=1&psc=1 (1.74g) not sure if I’d even put shrimp in here, it’s pretty small
https://www.amazon.com/CYS-GBB107-Handblown-Glass-Bubble/dp/B01DNHBC8K (7g)
http://canada.michaels.com/on/demandware.store/Sites-MichaelsCanada-Site/en_CA/Product-Show?pid=10180138&cgid= (3.5g)

There’s a few more and I have to check in stores near me, too.

This is a great filter and small enough that it would probably hook easily over the lip even though the tank is round, unless you're planning to use something really tall and narrow.

If you're looking for an external filter, I've heard great things about [this nano canister filter] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DIRPU) thought I haven't actually used it myself. Might be too much power, but I think it's the smallest canister on the market.

You might also consider going air pump powered, there are some nice small air powered filters like [this one] (https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000634IYU). You could also consider [this mini undergravel filter] (https://www.bigalspets.com/lee-s-round-under-gravel-bowl-filter-large.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&adpos=1o2&scid=scplp53073&sc_intid=53073&gclid=CjwKEAjwvr3KBRD_i_Lz6cihrDASJADUkGCaTTOFNe6J9_Z6EqRUbX8hjIOqi6ntn6gkZNujK11ziRoCKP_w_wcB) (and just ditch the fake plant) but I know most folks tend to stay away from UGFs in planted tanks.

here is the combo:
Mr. Aqua Mini Bookshelf Aquarium Tank Set https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D0S3TRU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_S.OpxbRSBZKWF

I'd check for the tank alone because this combo is kinda $$$. I changed out the light to a clip light by the same brand because the one in this kit was too op. The HOB is good but it's an Asian brand and I can't find the replacement filters locally. Otherwise it's a great little tank.

I’m not really sure what mesh grade is but this is the one I bought https://www.amazon.com/TIMESETL-Stainless-12x8-inch-30x21cm-Ventilation/dp/B077M93J18/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1565853291&refinements=p_n_feature_seven_browse-bin%3A5485702011&s=industrial&sr=1-1 😅. And yes, I’m planning on red cherry shrimp!

I use an aqueon quietflow 20 air pump for a ten gallon:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0157AM406/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_jkKuDbPXGQV0T

I’ve been pretty impressed so far.

Short tanks are tough for co2 for that reason, totally understandable. What I recomend is a finer diffuser such as This one

Place it low, under the bulkheads for flow.

It shouldn't be very much co2 at all for the 5 gallon, and most micro bubbles SHOULD dissipate before the surface tension breaks.

Check your variable PH With This to make sure enough co2 is being dissolved and replace the solution about once a week.

Edit:

In addition, make sure to only run co2 30 to 60 minutes before lights come on until about an hour before the lights go off. Plants don't grow at night.

Oh! Also, let's see a picture of this tank so we can save it later for a program pic!

I use this on my fluval spec and I love it. I clip it to my table and bend it up and over the top. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01L4BL0E8/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_awdo_t1_q3QCAbYRXD3S3

O wow don’t even think about this style of pump.

How many watt is that motor is strong enough?

I saw what I think is the same one in amazon and some ppl mentioned is weak about 5watts.

I also found this one way more $$

Penn Plax Cascade 500 GPH Canister Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002DJIQW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_zDy8Cb8B215N4

Not sure how many watts it the cascade.

Or you say that SunSun is all I need?

Most local fish stores will have pre-cut intake sponges that will fit any standard HOB filter. Like an aquaclear 20 or whatever. I actually bought filter sponge from my local store, cut it into a strip about 4 inches long, folded it in half and sewed the edges (leaving the opposite end of the fold un-sewn). Simply slide onto the intake.

or buy something like this

I have three 2.5 gallons with sponge filters and small nano HOBs as well. Some have one some have both. I can tell you that the shrimp really like the sponge filters. They are a source of grazing material for the shrimp and ensure no shrimplets get sucked up...even with a prefilter sponge, if the sponge isn't fine enough it might still suck them to it.

I use the Aquatop Caf 10 sponge filters as they are sooo tiny and take up such little space. [Aquatop] (https://www.amazon.com/Aquatop-Aquatic-Supplies-Aquarium-CAF-10/dp/B00HYEO8H6/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1520394277&sr=1-1&keywords=AquaTop+CAF-10) and with the Tetra Whisper pump, it is sooo quiet.

This [HOB] is great too (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HV2ZKEU/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

I'm not OP but the back looks exactly like mine so I'm guessing it's a Marineland 3g ContourMarineland 3g Contour.