Filter recommendations for nano tank

[Monkeypoint]

A friend scooped up a 3 gallon rimless cube someone left behind after moving out of her building. I'm going to put RCS and maybe a couple of Amanos and a mystery snail in there. Any recommendations for a small, shrimp-friendly filter?

Thanks!

 

[ProudPapa]

I'll probably get hate mail for this, but fill it up with healthy plants and all you'll need is a light. The plants will absorb ammonia and nitrates, and also house beneficial bacteria.

Before anyone starts saying it won't work, I have a 5.5 gallon tank on my desk, and the only thing on it that uses electricity is the light. No filter, and no air stone. A few weeks ago I took 70 shrimp out of it to sell to a neighbor, and there are probably 50 left. It also has a healthy population of bladder, rams horn, and Malaysian trumpet snails, and at various times has had guppies and endlers.

It's been running since May of 2021.

 

[Monkeypoint]

I'll probably get hate mail for this, but fill it up with healthy plants and all you'll need is a light. The plants will absorb ammonia and nitrates, and also house beneficial bacteria.

Before anyone starts saying it won't work, I have a 5.5 gallon tank on my desk, and the only thing on it that uses electricity is the light. No filter, and no air stone. A few weeks ago I took 70 shrimp out of it to sell to a neighbor, and there are probably 50 left. It also has a healthy population of bladder, rams horn, and Malaysian trumpet snails, and at various times has had guppies and endlers.

It's been running since May of 2021.

I think this is my favorite response ever. What you’re saying makes perfect sense to me.

Considering it’ll be a new setup, how many shrimp should I start off with? I’m going to do a fishless cycle with ammonia and bacteria before adding any creatures.

A friend scooped up a 3 gallon rimless cube someone left behind after moving out of her building. I'm going to put RCS and maybe a couple of Amanos and a mystery snail in there. Any recommendations for a small, shrimp-friendly filter?

Thanks!

 

[cjcummings]

I don't think you can really go wrong with just your typical nano sponge filter. Also a nice place for critters to pick at the sponge to find tiny morsels of food.

 

[ProudPapa]

I think this is my favorite response ever. What you’re saying makes perfect sense to me.

Considering it’ll be a new setup, how many shrimp should I start off with? I’m going to do a fishless cycle with ammonia and bacteria before adding any creatures.

Ten would be a good number. In a tank that small I'd probably skip the amano shrimp, but it's up to you. Have you kept shrimp before?

 

[Zer0]

Turn it into a Walstad Tank. Don't need a filter.

 

[SamMe]

I had a planted 3g with neocardina that I kept just fine without a filter or light until I upgraded to a 7g.