My 5.5G Desktop Planted Tank

[Samw]

OK, I decided that a freshwater desktop tank was much easier to maintain than a saltwater one at the office.

http://www.hyperdream.com/samw/officetank/P1020559.jpg
http://www.hyperdream.com/samw/officetank/P1020565.jpg
SPECS:
5.5G Perfecto Tank
Up-Aqua 27W PC Light Fixture (8000K)
Elite Hush 5 power filter
Red Sea Flora Base
12 plant species (Crypto Wendtii, Red Lotus, Red Cabomba, Green Cabomba, Asian Ambulia, Java Moss, Rotala Ramosior, Rotala Indica, Alternanthera Reineckii, Bacopa Caroliniana)
5 cardinal tetras
4 red leopard blue guppies
cherry shrimps
crystal red shrimps

[robert]

Hi Sam – that's gorgeous little tank. You might have just started "nano-reef to fresh water" conversion chain reaction :biggrin:
Cheers!

[fishytime]

Hmmmm. I have a spare 15g kickin around. Thats a very nice little set-up you got there.

[Samw]

Thanks. haha. You guys are ready to convert you nanos?

[Delphinus]

Very nice!

[justinl]

ha, i for one am not converting my little mantis reef nano. nonetheless, that is a sweet lil set up you got there sam.

[Samw]

A couple of new pics taken 3 days apart. Almost everything is doing well. The Cabomba and new Banana plant are growing the fastest. Banana plant has shot a stem to the surface within about 2 days and its leaves have grown a lot over a few days. Cabomba has to be trimmed weekly and was trimmed before the 2nd picture. Tiger Lotus has grown nice new leaves as the original leaves were in bad shape to begin with.

The red plant on the left (no ID) isn't doing well though. I'm not even sure if its a true aquatic plant. I've only been turning on my lights 5 out of 7 days so maybe that contributed to its condition.


June 22

http://www.hyperdream.com/samw/officetank/P1020818.jpg

June 25

http://www.hyperdream.com/samw/officetank/P1020891.jpg

[Delphinus]

Which one is the banana plant?

[Samw]

Hi Tony. Its the one with the big round leaves in the bottom left corner. Here's a webpage about the banana plant:

http://www.aqualandpetsplus.com/Plant,%20Banana.htm

In less than a week, it has shot up a stem to the surface of the tank (not shown in these outdated pics). It is like a mini-water lily. Eventually, some stems will have white flowers at the water surface from pictures I've seen.

[bv_reefer]

-looks great I have a cichlid tank and wow guppys must be soo much more peaceful! If you ever plan on going cichlid...just remember that casualties are about as common as air! anyways nice tank and u have the ideal habitat for breeding guppys...fully planted, tons of hiding places, and peaceful habitat....most important!

[Samw]

Update

http://www.aquarianet.com/officetank/p1040449_std.jpg

http://www.aquarianet.com/officetank/p1040514_std.jpg

[Der_Iron_Chef]

It looks great--I really like it!

Question--do you add CO2? And did you use any special sort of substrate for planted tanks?

[Samw]

Thanks. No, I'm not dosing CO2. Substrate is Florabase.

Updated SPECS:
5.5G Perfecto Tank
Up-Aqua 27W PC Light Fixture (8000K)
Millenium 1000 power filter
Red Sea Flora Base

[tang daddy]

sam how do you find the tiger slow grower and has it sprung any shoots? How long have you had this plant.

[Samw]

I've had the tiger lotus for about 6 weeks. No shoots yet. I bought it small so I can't say if its a fast or slow grower. It seems to be getting lots of new leaves.

[Redrover]

Boy great looking little tank...hope my 75 looks that good