What to do with my 2.5 gallon tank?
- Thread starter Liz Sagara
- Start date
Not really. They need what they need no matter how big of small they are. They're active and need space.
Native invert biotope- scuds, daphnia, hydra, ostracods, fingernail clams and whatever else is in the mud. FW reef For The Win. Aquascape with mud, sticks and algae. No heater, no filter, little maintenance. I have five or six of these right now and they are all more interesting than my fish.
knifegill;4911326; said:
KG beat me too it.. Good idea bro. I was going to suggest live food cultures. Interesting and provide function. His idea was cooler though....
Honestly, no amount of planning will perfect the balance of life in a setup like this and any efforts to the effect are wasted. The best way to get one of these going is to visit a nearby pond with mud and plants and scoop some of the mud up and take it home. Use well water or treated tap water. Add the mud to about an inch deep. It will take a day or two to settle out most likely. Also grab some sort of floating plant like hornwort if you see it there, these host hydra and planaria in heavy densities and will act as a filter to a degree for you. I also like to trawl the water with a shrimp net to catch a starter of daphnia, scuds, other zooplankton etc. to get it going. Bladder/pond snails are best to avoid or kill off from the start, they absorb too many resources and populate too quickly. Small ramshorn species (which you'll probably bring home anyway) are a better choice by far.
Since most of these creatures eat either bacteria or each other, small amounts of yeast twice a week and the occasional vegetable leaf are more than enough to feed this thing. Water changes? I do them about once per month at a rate of around 75%, poured through the shrimp net to rescue the critters. The two most enduring species are scuds and hydra, while daphnia is a rapid reproducer that dies right off once food disappears. But between yeast pinches, vegetables and perhaps the occasional bit of fish food (massivore dust is perfect!) everybody eats something or someone.
Expect worms as well. Tubifex or blackworm? Let's find out!
You're also bound to be mystified by some things you see. Must share!
Since most of these creatures eat either bacteria or each other, small amounts of yeast twice a week and the occasional vegetable leaf are more than enough to feed this thing. Water changes? I do them about once per month at a rate of around 75%, poured through the shrimp net to rescue the critters. The two most enduring species are scuds and hydra, while daphnia is a rapid reproducer that dies right off once food disappears. But between yeast pinches, vegetables and perhaps the occasional bit of fish food (massivore dust is perfect!) everybody eats something or someone.
Expect worms as well. Tubifex or blackworm? Let's find out!
You're also bound to be mystified by some things you see. Must share!
