Redoing A 5.5g Shrimp Tank

Okay so this tank has been deemed the “rectangle prism of death” by the GF. It was setup at her place last year and I got plants to grow for a month or so then all of the sudden death to all plants. She got frustrated and it became mine and I’m going to start a thread to help keep me up to date on cleaning/maintenance of the tank.

Today I went and looked for some plants at Petsmart but no luck so those will wait. It got filled and everything is in place just need the plants. Also need to grab a black background to put on.

Current tank photo:



Will be doing cherry shrimp here

Tank items
Aquaclear 20 filter
Ecoxotic led light
25W heater
Driftwood

 

It will look great with live plants, I would glue some java moss to the drift wood

 

It will look great with live plants, I would glue some java moss to the drift wood

Here’s a little list of plants I want
Crypts
Anubia nana
Dwarf sag
S. repens
Some type of moss

I think it will look pretty good if I can get the plant to live.

 

Here’s a little list of plants I want
Crypts
Anubia nana
Dwarf sag
S. repens
Some type of moss

I think it will look pretty good if I can get the plant to live.

Your list is a good one. Those are beginner type plants. I love crypts myself. You shouldn’t have any issues with any of those plants. Crypts you will have to worry about crypt melt sometimes but they will grow back

 

OH my gosh you should make a java moss tree!!!!!!!


this guy has a really good video

It is the video that pops up first,

 

That’s a nice piece of driftwood, plants will give the finishing touches for sure.

 

I don’t like the concept behind the moss trees and it’s just not me.

Today I got some “red” crypts and a moss ball (gf request lol) and added them into the tank.

 

Started getting my cycle in check over the weekend. I am doing a fishless cycle to give plants some time to grow and get accustom to the tank.

Today it tested
5+ ppm ammonia
.5 ppm nitrite
10 ppm Nitrate
7 pH

Didn’t think I would get nitrites that quick as with my 55 gallon when stocking it took a week or longer.

 

Added some s repens this morning. I would have trimmed them more but they were pretty beat up so I’ll let them grow before trimming.

 

Very nice. Looks a bit like my shrimp tank project!