matty Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 When I broke down my last tank and sold off all of my saltwater stuff I still had my mangroves. I decided to keep them and put them in a vase, in the kitchen window, needless to say they have grown like weeds. I decided I wanted to put them in their own little tank and make it kinda a biotope just for them and see how big I can get them. I bought this little tank for that purpose Originally I was going to make it fresh water for the ease and the fact I have found mangroves to do well in fresh water but I am thinking now that I want to make it a species saltwater tank. I will also be placing this in the tank and attaching the mangroves to it, allowing the roots to grow down and among the branches. I will probably have sand but no corals. I will also be hanging one of these over the tank: With a single spot in it, it is adjustable so it should cover my needs for the life of the tank. My question is, what should I stock it with? Fish? Inverts? I was thinking a few small cardinals would be cool but the tank is only 5 gallon. Maybe a whole bunch of sexy shrimp, some squat lobsters? Any suggestions? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack-the-reefer Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 I like the small inverts idea. I picked up a pair of bumblebee shrimp from Jason over the weekend. Those and sexy shrimp would be pretty cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Higher Thinking Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Small Goby and shrimp pair? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Or just make it brackish and do an opae ula shrimp biotope Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack-the-reefer Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Or just make it brackish and do an opae ula shrimp biotope That would be cool. You could add some bumblebee gobies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted November 24, 2014 Author Share Posted November 24, 2014 Or just make it brackish and do an opae ula shrimp biotope I have never done brackish or shrimp like that before, they are cool looking. Are they difficult? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted November 24, 2014 Author Share Posted November 24, 2014 That would be cool. You could add some bumblebee gobies. I like these guys too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Fill it with beer, drink with straw - quickly, repeat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vanz Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Jmanrow says they are indestructible I've never kept them but was thinking of another office tank with those. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badxgillen Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 I would second the pistol and goby pair. So many combinations , with all of them being very intertaining. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 You could rig it for dwarf seahorses if you don't mind hatching the food. It'd be a great home for a small angler if you wanted to try one again. Shrimp are pretty easy and require next to no maintenance depending on the species you go with. The more fish you get in their the more maintenance your going to have to perform. Just depends on how much work you wanna do. IMO dwarf seahorses would be the coolest thing. They'll love the mangroves, you can get some small branch rocks or dead acro skeletons, they can live and breed in the same tank. Fill it with beer' date=' drink with straw - quickly, repeat.[/quote'] I could show you how to ferment it in there, then you wouldn't even be wasting a bottle! We'll get you a siphon hose... could be a good time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack-the-reefer Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 Opa ulae shrimp are pretty foolproof I think. They're the little shrimp that come in the sealed off biospheres. If they can live in there, they can live anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micah Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 You could rig it for dwarf seahorses if you don't mind hatching the food. It'd be a great home for a small angler if you wanted to try one again. Shrimp are pretty easy and require next to no maintenance depending on the species you go with. The more fish you get in their the more maintenance your going to have to perform. Just depends on how much work you wanna do. IMO dwarf seahorses would be the coolest thing. They'll love the mangroves, you can get some small branch rocks or dead acro skeletons, they can live and breed in the same tank. I could show you how to ferment it in there, then you wouldn't even be wasting a bottle! We'll get you a siphon hose... could be a good time. When do I see the PNWMAS program "Tanks for Alcoholics"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pledosophy Posted November 24, 2014 Share Posted November 24, 2014 When do I see the PNWMAS program "Tanks for Alcoholics"? I don't know, I keep inviting you out but you don't get back to me :P Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 TFH was advertising a new nano-species book, could be a good read and relative to your build! http://www.tfhmagazine.com/saltwater-reef/feature-articles/book-excerpt-the-101-best-nanoreef-species.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 Well I know one thing, I want low maintenance so seahorse's are out, they would be awesome though. I know I don't want a goby pistol pair, they are great I have just had them before. I'm looking into the shrimp idea now, the idea of brackish appeals to me, so does some sorta cryptic fish and darker water. Maybe like a black water extract? Lots of choices. I'm planning on running the electrical this weekend so hopefully shortly there after I will have it running. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack-the-reefer Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 Mudskippers are brackish too. They are really fun to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 As small as this tank is, I don't think I would be able to make a spot for it to get out of the water. They are super cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheClark Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 If you need your Harlequin shrimp back just say the word. I do love them though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty Posted November 25, 2014 Author Share Posted November 25, 2014 ? how are they doing? As much as I love them, they have a great home with you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmylucas Posted November 25, 2014 Share Posted November 25, 2014 You can give it to me! :o lol jk I like the style of the aquarium though. its very sleek looking. I may have to downsize to something similar to that when I move. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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