Well im sure if this is technically micro but compared to most tanks on here it is. I have a old bow front 2.5 gallon that use to have a betts in it. I am planning to build a nicer looking wooden box around it since I pulled the bright red rim of it. My original thought was tetras and African dwarf frogs but that would be way over stocked after I downsized from plans to covert an old 10 gallon. I plan to have either anubias or java ferns as low light plants. Would a pair of African dwarf frogs fit? Also what would be the best filter. I have an old dome light fixture and I'm planning to use a 15w floresant bulb. Does this sound ok.
Micro planted tank
- Thread starter clemsonguy1125
- Start date
personally I think there are more benefits from using fish rather than amphibians for your micro planted tank. their ammonia/nitrogen cycle would help the plants grow. frogs breathe air and would secrete ammonia only through their waste. furthermore, you can get a pair of oto cats which would help maintain the algae in the tank. a 2.5 gallon tank is very shallow, and will grow algae and get pretty warm under any light therefore, I'd suggest even a smaller bulb, 13 watt screw in compact fluorescent would be good. for this same reason I'd also stay away from anubias, they will not be able to utilize all of the given light and will grow algae on the leaves instead. Java fern will do well in such a tank.
If you go with java fern, you can mount it to rocks and driftwood and other decorations and then just take all of the decorations out when when you are changing the water. This is the benefit of such a small tank... fast,frequent maintenance is a breeze.
I have a 3 gallon planted bowl and I do just that. I only have java fern attached to a plastic fake cave and a carpet of java moss attached to a piece of slate stone. All of it grows pretty well without any extra lights over the tank, just the ambient light in the room.
If you go with java fern, you can mount it to rocks and driftwood and other decorations and then just take all of the decorations out when when you are changing the water. This is the benefit of such a small tank... fast,frequent maintenance is a breeze.
I have a 3 gallon planted bowl and I do just that. I only have java fern attached to a plastic fake cave and a carpet of java moss attached to a piece of slate stone. All of it grows pretty well without any extra lights over the tank, just the ambient light in the room.
Thanks, the tanks 11 inch tall. Where would the bet place to get java fern be. I'll think about the fish. Would dwarf frogs work if I use pre cycled tank water from my other tank?
Using tank water won't help cycle your new tank. There is very little nitrifying bacteria in the water column itself.
Your frogs won't be the best things to aid the nitrogen cycle, but then again it wont hurt them to be in new water either, for 2 frogs and that size of a tank, a 30% water change every 3-4 days for the first month should be fine for your frogs IMO.
the best place for java fern would be on a horizontal piece of driftwood where you can spread it out and let it collect more light. also its the easiest way of securing this way, either with a thin string, or my way, with tiny clear rubber hair bands purchased at the dollar store. dwarf frogs will also appreciate the shelter of the overgrowth.
the best place for java fern would be on a horizontal piece of driftwood where you can spread it out and let it collect more light. also its the easiest way of securing this way, either with a thin string, or my way, with tiny clear rubber hair bands purchased at the dollar store. dwarf frogs will also appreciate the shelter of the overgrowth.
Java moss also seem to do fine with ambient light. I have a tuft that's been growing slowly for months in a little candle holder I scrubbed clean and turned into a pico iwagumi.
Thanks, I'll have to see if I can locate any places that sell java moss, ibdont think my local petsmart does.