10 gln planted shrimp tank

[charlie]

A few weeks ago i started a 5 Gallon waterhome tank with new Fluval shrimp stratum, it was stocked with some yellow shrimp i picked up from Montreal on Good Friday.
Last weekend i was at the DRAS event in Ajax ( great event) & Aquainspiration my favorite planted tank store was one of the vendors, they had this 10 Gallon starfire cube that just kept calling me , needless to say about 1 hour before they started packing up i give in to the call & purchased it to replace my 5 Gallon shrimp tank. Updates to follow.
Errol

[charlie]

I have the shortest downsizing period in the club 
I`m admitting it before PM reminds me 
Errol

[exv152]

I hope my 7g nano cube didn't put a bug in your ear...

[pm]

I have the shortest downsizing period in the club 
I`m admitting it before PM reminds me 
Errol

LOL I was just about to.   

[touchofsky]

I look forward to seeing it.  Downsizing is highly overrated 

[charlie]

I hope my 7g nano cube didn't put a bug in your ear...

Not at all the 5 gallon was up & the space it sat in had a bit more real estate   

[charlie]

Here is the 5 gallon this build will be replacing, poor 5 gallon will not have a long life 

[exv152]

Hope you picked up some of that really nice driftwood from the DRAS auction for $10.  That would look great with this little setup. I look forward to seeing it up and running.

[charlie]

Hope you picked up some of that really nice driftwood from the DRAS auction for $10.  That would look great with this little setup. I look forward to seeing it up and running.

No Drift wood in this tank 
The following will be the set up
Tank - 10 Gallon Starfire cube -40cm X 30cm X 30cm (16"x12"x12")
Back ground- Black Vinyl
Substrate - Netlea shrimp substrate - went dutch on a bag with Rah -Thanks Rah
Hardscape - Dragon stone/Ohko Stone
Heater - Hydor in line
Filter - Eheim canister
Lighting - 1x24 watt T5 HO
CO2 via Pressurized injection
Plants- Glosso & Bylxa Japonica
Livestock - Yellow shrimp & possibly some Black Crystal shrimp,Amano shrimp, pygmy cories,Juvie Bushnose, Otto cat.
That`s the plan for now .
Errol

[exv152]

Are you going iwagumi style?

[charlie]

Are you going iwagumi style?

I guess you can say so 
Since it`s a small tank i do not want to over power it with too much.
Errol

[charlie]

The tank is all set up & running
added some anubias to the Blyxa & Glosso, i`m still not copletly sold on the Blyxa but will do for now
stocked with 15 yellow shrimp & 8 pygmy cories
will add 2 otto cats ,2 Juvie BN pleco & some Amano shrimp & possibly some Crystal black shrimp later
here are some pics.
Errol

[exv152]

Wow that was fast, I can't believe the tank's up and running, nice job. I like the choice of low growing plants.

[Peekay]

You don't waste any time!  Looking good, but I'm a little spoiled by the high standard of your tanks, and I think you're going to tweak this again before it's perfect.  Right?    

I'd love to see a picture of the yellow shrimp... I haven't seen those before.  

[charlie]

@Eric & Brenda, thanks.
Yes i`m not one for having a tank sitting around , i guess that qualifies me as a junkie   got to have my fix
The tank is my night cap as it`s in my room so i get a night fix until i rise to see the others .
I already have some ideas of plants i want to switch if i can find some, they are Echinodorus tenellus "micro"
& Anubias Nana"Petite[/b]", so anyone has some or know where i can get some please do spill the beans, so yes tweaking is in the immediate future.
Brenda, the little yellow beauties are swimming around frantic ,enjoying the new home, as soon as i get the opportunity i`ll try & get a picture, looks like i have some berried ones.
Errol

[exv152]

@Eric & Brenda, thanks.
Yes i`m not one for having a tank sitting around , i guess that qualifies me as a junkie   got to have my fix
The tank is my night cap as it`s in my room so i get a night fix until i rise to see the others .
I already have some ideas of plants i want to switch if i can find some, they are Echinodorus tenellus "micro"
& Anubias Nana"Petite[/b]", so anyone has some or know where i can get some please do spill the beans, so yes tweaking is in the immediate future.
Brenda, the little yellow beauties are swimming around frantic ,enjoying the new home, as soon as i get the opportunity i`ll try & get a picture, looks like i have some berried ones.
Errol

La Niche just got a shipment of anubias nana on Friday...see sponsor section. I agree with the echinodorus tenellus, love the look. How's the HC you just got recently?  And thanks again for the glosso it's been growing well, I'll post a pic soon.

[daworldisblack]

Lol.. damn! Couldn't wait to start eh?! I'm just waiting to move next week then i'll get things up and running! I read that the substrate leeches out ammonia (http://www.shrimptank.ca/2011/05/netlea-shrimps-soil-produce-ammonia-at-the-begging/) for the first little while so keep an eye out for that eh Errol. I can't believe you already got that eheim and Everything set up! Haha.. Thats what makes you YOU. Nice job (as expected)! As Brenda said, def looking foward to the progress of this tank! I wish i had gotten more Ohko stones!

[charlie]

Lol.. damn! Couldn't wait to start eh?! I'm just waiting to move next week then i'll get things up and running! I read that the substrate leeches out ammonia (http://www.shrimptank.ca/2011/05/netlea-shrimps-soil-produce-ammonia-at-the-begging/) for the first little while so keep an eye out for that eh Errol. I can't believe you already got that eheim and Everything set up! Haha.. Thats what makes you YOU. Nice job (as expected)! As Brenda said, def looking foward to the progress of this tank! I wish i had gotten more Ohko stones!

La Niche just got a shipment of anubias nana on Friday...see sponsor section. I agree with the echinodorus tenellus, love the look. How's the HC you just got recently?  And thanks again for the glosso it's been growing well, I'll post a pic soon.

Thanks Rah, yea i know of the ammonia leaching, i have an ammonia monitor on the tank , + the bacteria filled media i robbed from my other canisters & plants should soak it all up.
Yes Eric i saw the nana but it`s not the Petite .
The HC is slowly settling in to it`s submersed farm.
Thanks Errol

[bizfromqc]

As usual, a fine looking tank my friend.
Let me know if you do get your hands on some E. tennelus "micro". I'd like to get some as well.

Eric

[charlie]

Thanks Eric, will do if i find any.
Here a few pics of the Neocaridina heteropoda (var. Yellow)/yellow shrimp
Errol

[charlie]

Did some tweaking, as i was not totally happy with the Blyxa & rock work, i took some Lilaeopsis brasiliensis  from the emersed farm & swapped it with the blyxa, would appreciate some feed back.
Errol

[Fishnut]

Very cute!  As a suggestion, it needs something in there that looks soft.  Everything in there has a very defined edge.  What if you were to tuck one of those fluffy looking stem plants behind the rock with the anubias as a contrast?

Lol...can you tell I'm not up on my plants?!

[bizfromqc]

Looks great Errol (as usual).

I don't know if I like this scape better or the first version you had, it'll be easier to see when it grows in.

Did you try using some one of the stones vertically, a la "stonehenge", could be interesting. Or maybe one bigger rock instead of two similarly sized "principal" rocks?

But really, what do I know 

That starfire glass looks sweet, I want one 

[pm]

The hardscape seems a little low.  The plants in front may block the rocks too much when they grow in.  As Eric said, perhaps making them more vertical may help.

I had some nice low rocks in my 10 gal shrimp tank (that reminds me I should post a pic of that soon), but just about every plant I put in front of them (except HC) blocked the hardscape too much.  To compensate for this I now have rocks that are probably too big in the tank, but at least they are not obstructed from view.

Just my 2 cents.

[charlie]

Thanks guys, comments noted, this hobby is fun!
Sylvie don`tworryl about being on top with plants i still don`t know the names of many, i think the one you are referring to is the one you saw in the other tank?
Errol

[daworldisblack]

I like the rocks and their various sizes, but the layout looks a little sparse - like you're trying to spread the rocks out to cover ground? Perhaps more rocks would be great or other elements of hardscape like a taller driftwood with branches that cover more of the upper regions of the tank? Or as the others suggested, one taller principal rock. Since its got a smaller foot print, might even get away with moving the hardscape to one of the back corners only and have the substrate slope down from that corner and then placing the rocks cascading style. So you have a slope going from left to right or vice versa.

I have the same issues with my hardscape options. I need a trip to MTL or AI again soon to procure some more goods!

[exv152]

I would suggest removing the stone on the left and work with the configuration of the three on the right, maybe repositioning them.

[fischkopp]

Looks like you can't keep your hands out of the water.

Here is my take on it: the new hard-scape is missing a focal point. Either assemble the rock in the center or move them towards a corner. Right now it just looks spreed out.

Get rid of the glosso! Go for HC. Because it's a tiny tank, that's asking for tiny plants. Like the Lilaeopsis brasiliensis.

Maybe try to find some Ranalisma rostrata? Not sure if anyone still has it. Didn't we have that discussion about E. tellenus, which is now described as Helanthium tenellum btw, a while back and came to the conclusion that it's all the same plant, but looking very different depending on the conditions it gets?

[charlie]

Keep it coming guys, the jury is still out 
I have some other ideas in the oven that gels with some of the suggestions.
Thanks for your input, mucappreciateded.
Errol

[exv152]

Seeing the sharper edges of the ohko is nice too, like in this example:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/9/freshwater_album/iwagumi_large.jpg

[charlie]

Seeing the sharper edges of the ohko is nice too, like in this example:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/9/freshwater_album/iwagumi_large.jpg

Link does not open for me Eric.

Looks like you can't keep your hands out of the water. :

You are 100% correct

Here is my take on it: the new hard-scape is missing a focal point. Either assemble the rock in the center or move them towards a corner. Right now it just looks spreed out.

That will be addressed

Get rid of the glosso! Go for HC. Because it's a tiny tank, that's asking for tiny plants. Like the Lilaeopsis brasiliensis.

Maybe try to find some Ranalisma rostrata? Not sure if anyone still has it. Didn't we have that discussion about E. tellenus, which is now described as Helanthium tenellum btw, a while back and came to the conclusion that it's all the same plant, but looking very different depending on the conditions it gets

Rostrata,tellenus,tenellum  ;)is in the mail 
Glosso stays for now as it`s what i have, i will be replacing it when & if i can find the micro Glosso.
Errol

[freshfishies]

what's the little ipod/dial looking gadget on the right?

[charlie]

what's the little ipod/dial looking gadget on the right?

Those are Seachem`s PH & Amonnia monitors.
Errol

[freshfishies]

Those are Seachem`s PH & Amonnia monitors.
Errol

Cool! I need some of those! BA?

[charlie]

Cool! I need some of those! BA?

Yep BA

[sylros]

Did some tweaking, as i was not totally happy with the Blyxa & rock work, i took some Lilaeopsis brasiliensis  from the emersed farm & swapped it with the blyxa, would appreciate some feed back.
Errol

Are you sure you're not going too fast? What is it that you didn't like as it looked fine to me.  Is there not a need to get things settled first? Each tank is unique...I personally liked the other version as it looked more finished but then I'm not entirely sure what the end goal is...perhaps you have a picture for reference? This version looks flatter but the plants need to grow. I also see a CO2 diffuser, is CO2 really needed for this tank? Just asking as I still don't use it.

[charlie]

Are you sure you're not going too fast? What is it that you didn't like as it looked fine to me.  Is there not a need to get things settled first? Each tank is unique...I personally liked the other version as it looked more finished but then I'm not entirely sure what the end goal is...perhaps you have a picture for reference? This version looks flatter but the plants need to grow. I also see a CO2 diffuser, is CO2 really needed for this tank? Just asking as I still don't use it.

I probably am, but that is nothing new with me  :)i have no picture my intention when i saw the tank was a minimalistic layout, since i`m not one for visualizing end lay out , i tend to set up & tweak from there, in this build i`m trying to work with what i have, so the only cost is the tank. The final lay out is going to be more like take 1 with a few more rocks
Does the tanks need CO2, all plants will benefit from carbon injection even Anubias in low light, does it need it? no
This tank is light by a 24 watt T5 HO with a gieseman reflector  to get the carpet effect, with that light intensity on such a low tank CO2 injection becomes a need as opposed to an option.
Errol

[charlie]

Well i had a small set back with this tank, the CO 2 regulator i bought from the classifieds here & was new malfunction & surged an abundance of gas to the tank as a result i lost all my yellow shrimp.
The good news is myself & some other members are in the  process of putting together some other rigs, so if you know of  or have any yellow shrimp , let me know 

I have followed some of the suggestions with the plants & rock scape, will update pics as the tank progresses
Errol

[pm]

Well i had a small set back with this tank, the CO 2 regulator i bought from the classifieds here & was new malfunction & surged an abundance of gas to the tank as a result i lost all my yellow shrimp.

Well that sucks, but at least you aren't alone.  I remember hearing that Amano himself gassed a whole tank, so you are in good company.

[fischkopp]

Sorry to hear. I hate losing fish or any critters that way. Well, lets see if we can find some replacements soon.

[Peekay]

That's bad luck.    Sorry to hear Errol.

[daworldisblack]

Argh! No! Sorry to hear Errol! That really does suck - they were so awesome! At least there is the micromatic build to look forward too eh

[charlie]

Thanks guys, in all my years in this hobby this is my first large die off to CO2, i had one massive die off with some newly acquired Cardinals that was not CO2 related, but the will to get the yellow shrimp still lives  .
As Rah mentioned new regulators are in the works.
Errol

[charlie]

Update - the tank is now re worked & shrimpless for now but a hitchhiker female guppy , 3 pygmy cories & a juvie bushynose reside in the tank.
The following was done, thanks to the suggestions offered -
Background changed
Re scaped the hardscape
Swapped the glosso with the HC intended for the 79 gallon
Added the tennelus mid ground
Brought back the Blyxa for background cover
In the interim of building a new micromatic regulator rig, i`m using a Milwaukee that had a blown gauge that was given to me a while back.
Changed the CO2 Diffuser.
Now to get the plants to hurry up & grow 
Pic will follow when the lights come on.
Errol

[bizfromqc]

Can't wait to see the new pics.

Speaking of tennelus, I put mine in my Amazon tank and let me tell you, the Corys and BN Plecos loooooove them. Sometimes a little too much love as they uprooted a couple err... its better now that they're developing a root system but you'd think it was like catnip to them LOL

[exv152]

Errol, have you ever grown micro swords (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis)? I saw some of this stuff for sale locally and it seems to be an interesting foreground plant, a bit smaller but similar to tenellus.

[charlie]

Errol, have you ever grown micro swords (Lilaeopsis brasiliensis)? I saw some of this stuff for sale locally and it seems to be an interesting foreground plant, a bit smaller but similar to tenellus.

Hi Eric , yes i have some growing emersed, did try it on on the 25 & then this tank, but opted for the tenellus & Blyxa due to the golden hue these plants can produce in the right conditions.
Errol

[charlie]

Update - the tank is now re worked & shrimpless for now but a hitchhiker female guppy , 3 pygmy cories & a juvie bushynose reside in the tank.
The following was done, thanks to the suggestions offered -
Background changed
Re scaped the hardscape
Swapped the glosso with the HC intended for the 79 gallon
Added the tennelus mid ground
Brought back the Blyxa for background cover
In the interim of building a new micromatic regulator rig, i`m using a Milwaukee that had a blown gauge that was given to me a while back.
Changed the CO2 Diffuser.
Now to get the plants to hurry up & grow 
Pic will follow when the lights come on.
Errol

Feed back welcomed

[pm]

Wow, that sure is a clean tank.  It looks like a rectangle of water with no glass 

Question, do you always run your CO2 to be near yellow, or is it just the pics (assuming a 4dkh drop checker solution)?

[charlie]

Wow, that sure is a clean tank.  It looks like a rectangle of water with no glass 

Question, do you always run your CO2 to be near yellow, or is it just the pics (assuming a 4dkh drop checker solution)?

It is a 4 dkh solution, i slowly ramp up to yellow/green & use that as my reference point, thereafter i adjust by observation.
Errol

[fischkopp]

Feed back welcomed

I don't like the hard-scape. Those three small rocks on the left, move them to the right half of the tank and group them closer together. You can have some taller plants behind it for impact. Keep the left front half open for the HC.

You managed to pack a lot of equipment into such a little tank as well.

[charlie]

I don't like the hard-scape. Those three small rocks on the left, move them to the right half of the tank and group them closer together. You can have some taller plants behind it for impact. Keep the left front half open for the HC.

You managed to pack a lot of equipment into such a little tank as well.

I don`t see taller plants for this tank giving it`s small foot print & height that woul require constant trimming as most stem plants in the conditions that this tank have, i also don`t wat to over power the rocks.
The hardscape is stolen from a German guy  , but i`ll wait until the plants fill in & go from there.
Thanks for the feed back.
Errol

[fischkopp]

I don`t see taller plants for this tank giving it`s small foot print & height that woul require constant trimming as most stem plants in the conditions that this tank have, i also don`t wat to over power the rocks.

How about Ammania sp. bonsai? It grows really slow, yet tall. And it's a bit red as well! 

[exv152]

I think it looks better than the previous layout. In keeping with iwagumi principles, I would remove one stone so that you have an odd number, and make sure the stones are all different sizes and they are showing their best sides forward (like the three in the back). I like the focal point you've created.

[daworldisblack]

Yeap much better! Although the hardscape could do a lil revision as the others mentioned. Too many of them with similar sizes. Also how is the substrate doing in terms of leaching ? Manageable w/o an intense water change regime?

[charlie]

Thanks Guys
Actually they are 7 stones & although they appear similar in size they are not  but must say thevariancee in size is not dramatic so maybe that is why.
I have not observed any ammonia spike perhaps it`s due to the plants & the chockofulll bacteria media that i borrowed from my other canisters, i have not monitored anything else & only 1 water change due to the re arranging.
Thanks for your input , always appreciated.
Errol

[exv152]

Question for you Errol. Where did you get the hanging kit for your pendant tek light?

[charlie]

Question for you Errol. Where did you get the hanging kit for your pendant tek light?

I got it from a  friend in Toronto.
Errol

[charlie]

Long time since i updated this build.
This tank is the most difficult tank i`ve had in years, everytime i get it going something goes wrong this, adds another + to the saying the smaller the tank the harder it is.
My most recent expereince was algae issues, just can`t find the balance, but still working on it, will update with pictures.
Regards

[charlie]

Here is a picture of the tank as it  looks now. The rocks still have some BBA on them but it`s far less than before, the HC has been started over with a few stems of Ludwigia Palutis as an accent plant.
The Fluval  CO 2 diffuser will soon be relaced by an in line atomizer, i `m hoping i have it licked now.
I have also gone away from a dedicated shrimp & added some Chili Rasboras & CPD.
It`s not always smooth riding , but i`m up to the challenge & determined to win  
Regards

[exv152]

Looks good Errol. I'm a fan of the chili rasboras!

[daworldisblack]

Nice update! I like the chilli rasbora additions as well! I have a feeling I have a similar set up coming soon :p Hahaha.. Keep the update coming!

[touchofsky]

Looks good, Errol.  I like the chili rasboras along with the CPD's.  They are both fish that I have never kept, but I do love the colour they add to your tank!

[fischkopp]

You better get that HC growing, I will need some of it soon!

[charlie]

Thanks Guys,
Robert I`ll add the HC to the list
Regards