Low Tech Nano Shrimp Tank (2-5 GL)

[CrookiestoPro9991]

I wonder if anyone use mangrove as a way to control ammonia/nitrites level like me? I found it very effective as I only have a cheap slim nano HOB filter and LED light for my tank. My plants grow relatively well without the CO2 as well fertilizer. What about yours? I’d love to learn more about what you have for low tech tanks like me. 

[sdlTBfanUK]

My setups are about as lowtech and simple as you can get!

I have 3 tanks, 25L with a male betta & cull shrimp (from main tank), 30L with about 10 mosquito Rasbora and cull shrimp (from main tank), and 30L main tank with Red cherry shrimps with ember tetra and neon tetra. All tanks have aquasoil with plants and wood, and just have cheap/simple sponge filters (not HOB) with spray bar, and a heater and lights. Thats it.

Plants do very well, though I probably don't have anything that is exotic or highly demanding. I am forever giving away plants or discarding them..........

[CrookiestoPro9991]

May I see photos of your filter setup? I’m a DIY folk, before this filter type, I used to build a fountain with a cheap mini pump from Amazon and use lava rock and ceramic rings and mangrove roots plans in a chamber as my filter. It was my first time for a shrimp tank also just about 2GL and I had like a colony of bloody and cherry shrimps with so many shrimplets so I guess it was a success. But due to some unexpected events when it was at its best yet I was away for quite some time and no one took care of it so all the adults gone and surprisingly few shrimplets make it when the tank almost dried out!!! It’s broke my heart to see that. So after some time I restart it and use HOB filters (they are about $10) and surprisingly  I have encountered more issues this time! ? I just used those recommended aqua soil for substrate, some seiyu rocks and Okha dragons for the fountain setup and simple low maintenance plants for my aquascape. It’s pretty much the same for this time. Maybe I’m the one who is always lucky at my first shot but not so much at my second trial ? it happened the same for my cooking as well lmao 

[sdlTBfanUK]

Below is a link to a filter the same as I use, very basic/simple, sponge and a pump;

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/384939056024?hash=item59a027db98:g:ZEQAAOSwUmhieHTi

The ones I use have a seperate cap on the base, I remove that so there is more open area of sponge, and to remove the sponge for cleaning I just turn the whole unit 90 degrees on the glass and can then pull the sponge out, literally takes a few seconds and no dismantling/seperating of any of the unit. I use 2 of these in each of the bigger tanks.

I don't use anything other than the sponge or CO2 or Fertilizer in any tank! 

I know how you feel about losing a whole tank full of shrimps, that happened to me when a heater stuck on and cooked them............... My second attempted didn't work and so the rasbora are in that tank for now. My first time with the taiwan bee shrimp was a terrific success and that was started with a small 3 gallon tank and then moved to a bigger tank (?), maybe that is partly the secret to success?

I like your fountain idea, it sounds very interesting. Did that incorporate some form of filter?

[CrookiestoPro9991]

The filter looks like one of the model of Dennerle version for nano tank I came across in some websites. To answer your questions on my filter fountain DIY, yes it works as a internal filter with the chamber. I guess it did a better job than what I have now since have to replace the filter quite often. The way I did with the first attempt didn’t have to replace anything but it would take a bit some time for everything in stable but once it does, I don’t have to do much of maintenance. The mangrove roots helps stabilize the nitrites or ammonia very well if you have appropriate amount of them! Some shrimps even climb up to the fountain and like to stay there 😂 I don’t know if I can find an old photos of it or not. If I can find one I’ll post it here but the quality of the photo might not be best 😂