Trying something new - Low-tech Nano tank

All my aquariums have relatively been the same dirted style. I was told before that I should know the basics and chemistry of an aquarium before moving onto aqua-scaping (the reason being, scaped tanks are apparently harder to maintain and keep, so knowing those beforehand would be really beneficial), so now that I'm prepared, I decided to go and jump into a completely different style.

Coincidentally, while I was thinking of a new tank, an 18" aquarium at out shop cracked at the front, and instead of changing the glass to the same size, I changed it to a shorter length.

The tank is 18x10x10, the front glass being 4" so it's more like 18x10x4. Now, it's more like a 3-gallon tank, so I was having a hard time with stocking, I decided to go with the betta. It's a beautiful red half-moon betta. I don't have a name for him yet. I'm honestly unsure if the 3gal is enough for him, but considering I "rescued," him from a jar, I think he's happy with it for now. He started off being inactive and just being depressed, like a betta in a jar. But now, he's starting to pop out his fins and colors, very active feeder too.


Now, this style is TOTALLY different from my usual style, so this was a new experience for me, I definitely had fun with it, and now is the maintenance. Usually, with a self-sustaining tank, I don't really worry about algae or water changes much, but with a tiny tank like mine and epiphytes, I feel like the maintenance wouldn't be so easy. So heres to hoping I do well with this tank

~ Also, I may move this betta to the regular 18x10x10 and replace him with guppies and shrimps. I feel that might be better. I'm planning on slowly converting my tanks into more of a scaped nature aquarium style. I'm sure it won't be easy but with practice, I hope to achieve it.

Any recommendations would be well appreciated!

Oh right! Here are some specs of the tank ~

Filter: Filterless, with how shallow the tank is, sponge filters certainly won't work, I'm unsure of what filter I should use. It's either I make a mini homemade sump or just do a lot of water changes (which shouldn't be hard) I'm thinking of just taking a cup of water out, and replacing it with new water everyday, or like every 3 days. Maybe clean the substrate biweekly.

Lighting: 18 watt Blue/white LED which I think is DEFINITELY too strong. I might replace it with a weaker 8 watt light but even then I think it might be too much. I usually go for 1 watt/gallon sooo. I added water lettuce to hopefully help with light and algae control. (Yes I know they get larger, But the babies are so cute!!! I'll probably just keep replacing them with smaller ones every once in a while, I got so much I literally just throw them out)

Plants: kept it simple - Anubias Nana Petite, Anubias 'Denmark', Marimo Moss balls, Some sort of Bolbotis specie, and the floaters, Watter Lettuce.

I am looking for recommendations regarding all the empty space at the top! I'm thinking of a paludarium. I may add pothos to fill the back a bit. Maybe stick some cushion moss on the driftwood or something. Any recommendations? Emersed plants would work too!

I decided to try adding some pothos and bamboo, I'm not sure if I like it much, I might remove some floaters. I'm not sure if I should keep it or not, but pothos would probably help a lot with algae control

Nice!

Jacob the tank keeper said:

taking a cup of water out, and replacing it with new water everyday,

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Jacob, are you doing this instead of filter? It's an interesting idea- kind of mimics a very slow flow, I reckon.

These are gorgeous and I would enjoy looking into them for hours.

If you are thinking of having moss covered driftwood above the water, you could do that. Check out Christmas moss, flame moss, and Taiwan moss. They can grow above water. Some people actually blend up the moss and “paint” it onto the damp driftwood (search out a video), and keep the top of the aquarium covered to keep in the humidity, keep misting the moss to keep it damp. It can take hold and grow above the water. Perhaps a small bromeliad (lilliputiana?) laying up against the mossy branch, or can remain potted and hidden by moss perhaps? That one in particular has small purple flowers and stays under 4 inches. Some get larger and have very pretty patterns, plus tall and interesting flowers. I’ve always thought about doing a paludarium and have something similar for bugs and things, with fish below. Plants are a part of that. You could put a “wall” above the water too, and have little shelves built out for a vine. Could be a rocky wall, could be mossy…or not. You’ve done such a beautiful job already. I can’t imagine how much more you will improve it.

MuddyWaters said:

Jacob, are you doing this instead of filter? It's an interesting idea- kind of mimics a very slow flow, I reckon.

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Hm, it's a bit difficult to get a filter going, so this is probably what I'm going for. It's not much maintenance, it being a small tank and I think it might be similar to like, a spring, where water keeps getting replaced.

Aqua67 said:

These are gorgeous and I would enjoy looking into them for hours.

If you are thinking of having moss covered driftwood above the water, you could do that. Check out Christmas moss, flame moss, and Taiwan moss. They can grow above water. Some people actually blend up the moss and “paint” it onto the damp driftwood (search out a video), and keep the top of the aquarium covered to keep in the humidity, keep misting the moss to keep it damp. It can take hold and grow above the water. Perhaps a small bromeliad (lilliputiana?) laying up against the mossy branch, or can remain potted and hidden by moss perhaps? That one in particular has small purple flowers and stays under 4 inches. Some get larger and have very pretty patterns, plus tall and interesting flowers. I’ve always thought about doing a paludarium and have something similar for bugs and things, with fish below. Plants are a part of that. You could put a “wall” above the water too, and have little shelves built out for a vine. Could be a rocky wall, could be mossy…or not. You’ve done such a beautiful job already. I can’t imagine how much more you will improve it.

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Thanks! Actually, I do know about that. I think you also mix it with yogurt. I'm a bit skeptical about how clean it is considering we're gonna use a blender though... I'm actually planning on moss like cushion or sheet, the ones they use for terrariums and bonsai, I think emersed aquatic moss may be a bit harder to do? I'm not sure. For the bromeliad, I'm actually starting to collect them. I mostly have larger species but I will send pictures, I'm really no expert on them, I just bought what I thought was pretty. I did buy mostly small ones. I also got a single air plant (tallisiadia?? something like that)
Edit: It's called Tillandsia

these are the Bromeliads and other plants I have! Pardon the dirt. Do you think any of these would work?

Nice plants too! I’m excited for your project and look forward to seeing what you end up doing with it. See if you can identify the bromeliad plants that you have and determine their full grown size and pick the one(s) you think will work best with your vision.

Aqua67 said:

Nice plants too! I’m excited for your project and look forward to seeing what you end up doing with it. See if you can identify the bromeliad plants that you have and determine their full grown size and pick the one(s) you think will work best with your vision.

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I see! They're fine without substrate right? I'll get to it.

Jacob the tank keeper said:

I see! They're fine without substrate right? I'll get to it.

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You should bind those bromelias to those branches. I love the set up, btw...

emeraldking said:

You should bind those bromelias to those branches. I love the set up, btw...

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Thanks! How do I bind them? Do I use some thread or something, like how we do it with aquatic moss?

Yes, they can grow without soil, but you will need to either mist them or add a small amount of water into their little ”cups”, that center indentation of the plant.

Aqua67 said:

Yes, they can grow without soil, but you will need to either mist them or add a small amount of water into their little ”cups”, that center indentation of the plant.

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Oh, I see. I think a fogger might look good in this tank tho, maybe I'd try that out. Maybe a mini fogger if those exists... From what I've heard some bromeliads can and some can't live well without soil...

Jacob the tank keeper said:

Thanks! How do I bind them? Do I use some thread or something, like how we do it with aquatic moss?

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Exactly...