5.5 Gallon Bizarre Build

So do you guys remember how I made a thread about how I'm really stressed out and I don't want any more fish tanks, and I ranted?

Hahahaha.

Well... I lied.

MTS IS A REAL THING!

Major credits to Jenoli42. Your fantasy build inspired this I hope you don't mind.

Supplies:
Top Fin Starter kit - 5.5 gallon tank, HOB filter, lights and hood
Glofish gravel
Lots of weird decor.

The idea for this tank is for one side to look like a gentle, tranquil, but quite odd forest. It will have fake grass mats on the bottom of this side and have this purple tree in the center (), with river rocks surrounding the grass.


So for the other side, I'm aiming for 'The Realm of Monsters' look from Moana. A little creepy, but really cool. I have this coral arch that I can use. I also got 6 fake anenomes as well as these jellyfish to go in there:

This might sound weird but I think it will look really cool when it is done


I plan on doing RCS and establish a colony.

 

I always find my shrimp did better with live plants. That tree looks like they took the garbage Walmart plants and glued them on. Those are fin rippers I tell you at least your putting it with shrimp. yep MTS is dangerous. I once had 13 tanks plus my reptile tanks. That was super stressful. Now I'm down to two reptile tanks and 7 fish tanks.

 

I always find my shrimp did better with live plants. That tree looks like they took the garbage Walmart plants and glued them on. Those are fin rippers I tell you at least your putting it with shrimp. yep MTS is dangerous. I once had 13 tanks plus my reptile tanks. That was super stressful. Now I'm down to two reptile tanks and 7 fish tanks.

I plan to add java moss, I just can’t get it right now.
That’s one of the reasons I decided against fish; I didn’t what it to rip their fins.

 

I'm going to parrot CanadianFishFan and say you really don't want to do a shrimp setup without live plants unless you are extremely careful about not overfeeding and perform constant small water changes.

Shrimp are much more sensitive to nitrates than most fish. Live plants absorb nitrates from the water, keeping the water pristine. Not only that, but some cheap plastic decorations leech chemicals into the water which can harm your shrimp.

If you want to do an alien-like landscape, there are ways to achieve it naturally through aquarium safe stone such as fairy stone, dragon/ohko stone, quartz crystals, geodes, and others.

Some varieties of bucephalandra have a blue/purple/black hue and, attached to bonsaI driftwood, would create a fantastical alien-like tree.

 

I plan to add java moss, I just can’t get it right now.
That’s one of the reasons I decided against fish; I didn’t what it to rip their fins.

If you like the decor then go for it. You will definitely need some moss though, shrimplets won't be able to eat pellet food for a few weeks after being born they need to eat the algae and infusoria that lives in live moss or other live plants. I also suggest maybe one or two other live plants for the set up to help create a good food source and provide the shrimp with good hiding places.

 

I'm going to parrot CanadianFishFan and say you really don't want to do a shrimp setup without live plants unless you are extremely careful about not overfeeding and perform constant small water changes.

Shrimp are much more sensitive to nitrates than most fish. Live plants absorb nitrates from the water, keeping the water pristine. Not only that, but some cheap plastic decorations leech chemicals into the water which can harm your shrimp.

If you want to do an alien-like landscape, there are ways to achieve it naturally through aquarium safe stone such as fairy stone, dragon/ohko stone, quartz crystals, geodes, and others.

Some varieties of bucephalandra have a blue/purple/black hue and, attached to bonsaI driftwood, would create a fantastical alien-like tree.

Thanks for the tips do Buce require ferts or Co2?

I do want to have plants, I just can’t afford to ship it right now. I’ll pick up some anubis tommorow when I get my tank.

If you like the decor then go for it. You will definitely need some moss though, shrimplets won't be able to eat pellet food for a few weeks after being born they need to eat the algae and infusoria that lives in live moss or other live plants. I also suggest maybe one or two other live plants for the set up to help create a good food source and provide the shrimp with good hiding places.

Good to know, thank you very much

 

Buce definitely does not require Co2, but like all plants benefits from ferts although would survive without any.

Shrimp need a mature tank to survive, so I would advise getting your plants and moss before getting the shrimp. The best advice I can give is let the tank run and cycle and don't add shrimp until you have visible algae (which the shrimp can then eat).

 

Buce definitely does not require Co2, but like all plants benefits from ferts although would survive without any.

Shrimp need a mature tank to survive, so I would advise getting your plants and moss before getting the shrimp. The best advice I can give is let the tank run and cycle and don't add shrimp until you have visible algae (which the shrimp can then eat).

Since I don't have fish in there to 'mature' it, is there a product I could use to do that (grow algae quicker, I guess?)? I prefer not to use chemicals but if I have to...

What is the best fert to use?

I will definitely get some Anubis and moss ASAP, but I may hold off on the buce until I do more research

I'm picking up the tank today (most likely), but I may go against the glofish gravel and just get black. I don't want it to look too childish, but I want it to be unique and interesting (but not like a toy store).

 

Regarding the algae growth, I would set up the tank, add your plants and let it run for a while (light the tank as you normally would), fertilise the plants and then when you see algae develop, cycle the tank. As you already have a tank, could you just move some media over to instantly cycle?

Regarding ferts, I don't live in the US so a lot of the fertilisers you have we don't have this side of the pond. You aren't planning to grow anything tricky seachem's flourish line would probably work ok.

Regarding the decor. Its your tank, do what makes you happy. You will need some live plants for the shrimp but if you want some funky fake decor too that's totally fine. Set up a tank that you would love.

I have my RCS tank on my desk, some times I sit and stare at it for hours, especially at the shrimplets (so cute!). Bewared shrimp are super addictive.

 

Regarding the algae growth, I would set up the tank, add your plants and let it run for a while (light the tank as you normally would), fertilise the plants and then when you see algae develop, cycle the tank. As you already have a tank, could you just move some media over to instantly cycle?

Regarding ferts, I don't live in the US so a lot of the fertilisers you have we don't have this side of the pond. You aren't planning to grow anything tricky seachem's flourish line would probably work ok.

Regarding the decor. Its your tank, do what makes you happy. You will need some live plants for the shrimp but if you want some funky fake decor too that's totally fine. Set up a tank that you would love.

I have my RCS tank on my desk, some times I sit and stare at it for hours, especially at the shrimplets (so cute!). Bewared shrimp are super addictive.

Thank you so much!
I have 2 tanks cycled, but one only has a little of the gunky brown stuff, and my other tank I used to cycle my newest tank, so I'm missing a bunch of media already. I could run the 5 gallons HOB filter on one of them, but it would have to be my newer one because my other has a weird hood.
Do you happen to know is Flourish is safe for invertibrates?

Random question, are shrimp escape artists? I have a hood but will they come out of water
I agree. I used to be creeped out by them, especially ghost shrimp, but the RCS are so cute. My mom doesn't like them either, but she will

 

Thank you so much!
I have 2 tanks cycled, but one only has a little of the gunky brown stuff, and my other tank I used to cycle my newest tank, so I'm missing a bunch of media already. I could run the 5 gallons HOB filter on one of them, but it would have to be my newer one because my other has a weird hood.
Do you happen to know is Flourish is safe for invertibrates?

Random question, are shrimp escape artists? I have a hood but will they come out of water
I agree. I used to be creeped out by them, especially ghost shrimp, but the RCS are so cute. My mom doesn't like them either, but she will

You can seed the filter for your shrimp on an existing cycled tank.

Flourish is indeed invertebrate safe.

Never had cherries escape, but I have seen my Amanos walking around on the floor a couple of times (or found dried up ones behind the tank...). However, that is a very rare occasion and none of my tanks have lids.

 

Ok. If guys know me you may know I change my stocking. A. Lot.

Now I want a betta in this tank. I've wanted a female betta for so long now and I can't afford to plant this tank right now.

I still like shrimp, but this 5 gallon may not provide the best environment for them. I can't plant it yet, I can't get an more filter media. I think I'm going to put some amano shrimp in my other tank though.

I'm going to change the title to this thread. I hope no one is disappointed with this change

 

I really love the wording of the original post!
Although, I will have to agree with Fahn, and CFF.

 

A betta would be really happy in the 5 gallon tank.

 

I'm glad, I was worried that I may upset people with my indecisiveness. Good to know

 

You are completely out of control, lol. Sounds like a fun tank!

 

Just picked up the tank. I'll set it up tomorrow when the rest of the decor comes.

I fell in love with the cutest female betta. She was a white and gray and had really pretty fins. I hope she's there when my tank is cycled.

 

Well . There's a couple scratches on it. Not too deep, but is there a safe way to seal it?

 

Looking closer, the scratch at the top is just silicone. There are 2 small scratches on the bottom though. I think they are silicone but I'm not sure. I can't feel any bumps or 'ridges' that a scratch would have on the bottom though. The thing on the bottom won't come off though. Any way to check?

 

Just fill it up (maybe in the tub) and see if it leaks

 

Never mind. It's silicone.

I'll post pictures of the aquascape later, and I'll fill the tank tommorow.

 

Just fill it up (maybe in the tub) and see if it leaks

 

Oops. I filled it with gravel. Before I fill it’s normally, I’ll do it in the tub

Here are the pictures with the lights on. I’m waiting for the tree, anemones, and jellyfish to come as well. Any criticism? I’m not the biggest fan of the coral piece but I already had it, so I may replace it. I’m loving that rock wall though.

CanadianFishFan I am worried about the tree ripping their fins. If I get a female, do you think I’ll be alright? Is there a way to make it safer?

 

There shrimp! Lol I would not worry about "fins" being ripped in there.

 

There shrimp! Lol I would not worry about "fins" being ripped in there.

Aha, I think she ment the betta’s fins

 

There shrimp! Lol I would not worry about "fins" being ripped in there.

I meant a short finned betta with the tree and all.

 

I meant a short finned betta with the tree and all.

Oops sorry! Ive never had my female betta rip their fins on anything so iD assume its fine.

 

Update. I finished the scape and I’m pretty happy with it, I just have to get a backround on it. It hasn’t leaked yet, thankfully.
I’m going to my PS tommorow, and there is a chance I may fall in love. When I tested today, I had 0.75 ammonia, no nitrites, and somewhere between 0 and 5 nitrates. If I pick one up tommorow, will the ammonia harm the betta if I double dose prime?

 

Update. I finished the scape and I’m pretty happy with it, I just have to get a backround on it. It hasn’t leaked yet, thankfully.
I’m going to my PS tommorow, and there is a chance I may fall in love. When I tested today, I had 0.75 ammonia, no nitrites, and somewhere between 0 and 5 nitrates. If I pick one up tommorow, will the ammonia harm the betta if I double dose prime?

I like the colors

Is there any ammonia in your tap water? Prime should neutralize that much ammonia but I'd test your tap to be safe.

 

I like the colors

Is there any ammonia in your tap water? Prime should neutralize that much ammonia but I'd test your tap to be safe.

Thank you!
Nope, I checked. I dosed ammonia stupidly before I realized I may do a fish in cycle

 

I LOVE this thread!!

great looking tank. I am eager to follow along.

 

I just picked up the one I had my eye on last week. She’s acclimating now. I double dosed Prime, don’t worry. Name ideas?
Also, does she look okay? I suspect ammonia burns but that is normal from that cup. She has a brownish pink ‘stripe’ on top of her body, does this sound like a scrape?

 

She’s settling in very nicely and is as much of a pig as Lemon, my male betta. I think I’m going to name her Julia (idk why) but I’m still open to suggestions.

 

For whatever reason, the first name that came to mind was 'Opal.' I don't know why..