Plants in tiny tanks

[cameracorpus]

Like many folks, by-products of my garage sale adventures include several small tanks that were in the big tanks that I bought on purpose. I have 2 2.5 gallon glass tanks and a 1.5 gallon goofy little triange tank. I would like to somehow do plants in these small tanks as a desk-top type setup. Maybe a small fish or two to keep the cycle going, but nothing high-tech, if you can even do high-tech in a tank that small. I have extra HOB filters, but these seem pretty big for the little tanks, even thought they are the smallest size I have found locally. In other words, they'd work, but aren't asthetically pleasing.
The tanks could have a two-fold purpose. Something nice to look at, and also a sort of nursery tank for my bigger tanks.
I figure after spending hours reading the posts and journals on this forum that you all definitely have the knowledge to say yay or nay to this idea. The smallest tanks I've seen discussed, however, were 10 gallons.
Either way, I can go with it. After all, if my idea has no merit, they'd make cool houseplant planters also. Or ant farms, or brine shrimp hatcheries........
Thanks!

Michael

[Mzungu]

Or ant farms,

) That's funny. Never heard that idea before!

But, of course it's doable! I have a planted 2.5g. And there are many others who have done smaller. There is even kind of a fad going on of doing extra-tiny planted tanks. Like these:

http://www.aquahobby.com/tanks/e_tank0603.php

Just make sure you have some good lighting, and some good substrate (like AquaSoil, Flourite, etc.) and you're good to go!

Do any of them come with lights? If not, this is where many people have used desktop lamps with screw-in compact fluorescents or even small linear compact fluorescents that are geared toward growing plants.

There are many different types of small plants you can use. Since the nano-, micro-, pico-tanks are so popular, the smaller-type plants are also getting a lot of attention.

Good luck, and keep us posted on what you decide to do!

[kwc1974]

+1

[lilmissruffcountry]

http://www.aquahobby.com/tanks/e_tank0603.php

TOO COOL.....wow....my eyes would be killing me!

[cameracorpus]

Yes, very cool. I can't believe how small it is! The site has a great index by plant size also. Thanks for the advice. Now I need to go on-line and find the plants, since none of the LFS here have much at all. I picked up some Red Ludwigia that I knew would quickly outgrow the tanks just to get something started. I may hijack my wife's garden window in the kitchen in leu of a desk lamp.

[kwc1974]

What are you wanting? I have some plants that do great in small tanks and have the right scale.

[cameracorpus]

Well, right now I have nothing, so I'm wide open for suggestions. Please PM me when you get a chance and we'll discuss it. I'm also looking for plants for my cichlid tanks. I know, I know, but I'm gonna give it a shot. One tank is pretty sedate. BTW, they'd have to be mailed. I'm in Corpus Christi.

[TaTeR ToT]

dude thats incredible!

[dblondfemme]

Foster and Smith has a little filter..I used it on a 5 gallon grow out for a while. It worked pretty well. I love the idea of mini planted tanks. I guess in reality a little bubbler would work without much other filtration necessary in a planted tank with small fish. One would in turn help the other as far as oxygen and carbon dioxide. hmmm I think a mini tank with plants and a betta would be awesome..and if it's planted right some shrimp.....just my little brainstorm

[TheOldMan]

The little pico tank hob filters go great with small tanks. Azoo, Redsea and others work quite well. About $9 each at Foster and Smith. I am using four of them now. As long as the lip is not to wide you can use them. I'm using mine on a 3, 2 1/2, and a really small 1/2 gallon betta tank.

[cameracorpus]

Wow, the Azoo is a cool little filter! Worth getting just so you can say you have a tiny filter. The problem with the sponges is I've yet to see one that I think would be small enough for the 2.5 gal. The series 11 still looks too big. Maybe not. Thanks.

[TheOldMan]

You can order extra media from foster and smith. The RedSea and AZoo are identical which includes sponges and a floss pad. You also can cut your own media. The sponges can be washed out and used over and over. The flow is adjustable also.

[OrandaMan]

Elite Mini! Elite Mini! Elite Mini!

I swear, guys, this is the only Elite filter worth anything, but it rocks. Oddly, it's much better quality than their other filters. It's for up to 5 gallons and it's in my 2.65 gallon betta tank. It's internal, has no carbon to worry about, and does a kickass job. I think part of it is the filter (edit: this makes no sense, I meant filter media), of which there's a lot for such a small filter. It cleans really easily and does its job. Optionally, it has a tube to draw in air for some extra oxygenation.

The 5 gallon internal filter from Tom Aquarium is nice, too. It has an optional spray bar and a carbon cartridge, if you prefer it.

Both will fit in a 2.5 gallon tank.

[cameracorpus]

Well, it has been a couple of weeks. I have a 2.5 gallon very low tech set up. I put in some Red Ludwigia and some Micro Sword Grass. Used PFS substrate swiped from my well cycled 55gal. Due to a kid moving back and my fish room being disrupted, I stuck the tank in a garden window facing east and pretty much ignored it. No lights, no filter, just a glass lid. I finally got caught up with my other tanks and took a look. Everything seems fine, with the Ludwigia showing growth. I don't want to keep ignoring it, but it seems to be holding its own, so I'm wondering if I should even mess with it much. I want it a bit thicker, but beyond that, I probably won't be able to add any critters any time soon anyway. Can I continue to add plants given the above parameters? Or will there be a point where they are demanding more nutrients, more CO2, and more water filtration if I make it too thick?

[TheOldMan]

You might try some Anubia Petite. Nice for a nano tank and will not require much light or ferts.