r/nanotank

My first nano tank is currently cycling with a couple plants in an inch of substrate, and a mystery snail (his name is Bernard). I originally planned for this to only have yellow bee shrimp in it, but I've recently discovered micro fish species.

I've only ever done larger tanks and the general rule of thumb is that 3gal is way too small. So if I stick to micro species, can I stock fish? If so, how many shrimp and fish can I safely stock? What species play nice with shrimp? I'd just like a little action in all areas of the tank.

I am NOT trying to stock this to the gills. I want an easy to manage tank where the cleanup crew and plants are doing the heavy lifting for water quality. Ideally I'd like to just add water as it evaporates/avoid water changes, if possible. .

Hi all! I just set up these tanks a week ago and I need some advice about water parameters.

The big one is 6.3l and the small one is 4l

They have Tropica substrate capped with 3-4 cm of gravel.

The plans inside are:

Limnophila sesilliflora

Bacopa caroliniana

Lobelia cardinalis

1 Marimo ball each

The big one also has Microsorum pt. 'Narrow'

I have not used any bacterial starter. I did use Aquarian "Tap Water Safe" dechlorinating solution to treat the water before starting.

I don't have any animals inside. Plan is eventually to have a few snails and some shrimp.

I live in a very hard water area. My current water parameters are:

Useing WOLMDS 8 in 1 testing strips:

pH 8.4( Maxes out my test strips)

Total Alkalinity 360 mg/l (maxed out)

Carbonate 300 mg/l (maxed out)

Hardness 450 mg/l(maxed out)

Free chloride 0 mg/l

Nitrate 25 mg/l

Nitrite 1 mg/l

Ammonia 0-0.5 mg/l

A control of just filtered tap water shows the same, but Nitrite and Ammonia are 0 mg/l.

My questions are:

1. Are my plant choices good? Do I need to add more ?

I was thinking about some Duckweed floaters and dipping in some Pothos plant cuttings and letting them send roots in the water.

2. Should I get some bacteria starter or just be patient and wait for the tanks to cycle naturally.

3. Do I need to do anything about the hardness and the pH of the water?

4. Is there a point to using the dechlorinating solution if my filtered tap water already doesn't have chloride in it as per the test strips.

Thank you for your advice!

I've started my tank around 10 days ago, but the wood wasn't soaked enough and just bursted up, messing whole hardscape. I've put it in the bucket with water for 10 days, scrapped everything and started over. I thought that wood sinks enough now, but when i filled the tank full of water it started floating in the middle this time, lol.  But it didn't go up as violently as the last time so i've put inbetween branches two rocks and left it as is.

Stocking options i consider (not all of them together of course) Shrimps + small group of fish for the middle/upper area + small group of catfish).

1. red cherry shrimp + 2 or 3 amano

2. dwarf pencilfish or ember tetra

3. otocinclus or habrosus cory

I also considered "Rosy loach" (Physoschistura mango) but from what i see it's very hard to get it where i live

I'll probably drop an update in 15-20 days on how the plants are doing.

Tank: 30cm by 30cm by 35cm. (30 l or around 8 gal)
Light: Aquael 6W led light
Filter: Aquael pat mini (ideally i want to switch to something like sunsun HBL-801)
Substrate: (1cm layer of soil from my backyard covering 2/3 of the tank (1/3 in the fron has only gravel) + black gravel (0.8 to 1.2 mm). 3 cm in the front, 6 in the back.

Plant list:

-limnophila sessiliflora

-hygrophila polysperma

-hygrophila corymbosa dwarf

-microsorium sp. india

-anubias nana yellow heart

-anubias nana bonsai

-sagittaria subulata

-salvinia natans

Hi! I bought my 7.5g tank from someone on Facebook marketplace. It came with its current setup (plants/hardscape etc) Since I’ve had it I’ve noticed these little floating sesame seed looking things? I clean them out by hand and I can’t figure out where they’re coming from lol. The current inhabitants are 1 ember tetra (he came alone with the tank, he will have friends soon), and some bladder snails im working to get rid of.