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The tank I'm logging in this thread is the tank that was inspired by this thread: http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/threads/36902.1.htm?13#

The tank is a 4"x4"x4" acrylic cube made by AZOO. It's got a capacity of ~0.25 gallons, or ~1 liter.

Here's a pic of the tank
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0431.jpg

The plan for the tank started out with the thread mentioned above, and evolved into me wanting to do an itty bitty (pico?) tank with a real hardscape and some decent plants. The goal was for the tank to be small, while appearing to be large up close by using proper proportions.

This tank isn't going to be temporary, it's meant to be a full blown tank with a decent lighting and filtration system, etc, that is somewhat self sustaining and not too demanding.

I decided to use an Aqualifter with an air diffuser over the intake line for filtration, and a 10,000k 15w CF bulb for lighting. I don't have a light fixture for it, but I've got a light socket that plugs into an outlet... so it's hanging above the tank with no reflector at the moment, but is plenty bright. Kinda ghetto, but it works.

See for yourself
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0589.jpg

I decided to stock the tank with one, possibly two ghost shrimp, because I can't get cherry reds locally and I'm too cheap to order online.

For plants, at least for now, I'm going with Glosso (LFS was able to get some in for me, but it's not too healthy, but whatever, I'll deal with it), Cabomba (for a 'pine forest' in the back), and a 'moss tree' with java moss.

Moss tree that I'm trying to mimic
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/Img2007/View/50.jpg

I've also got some microsword that I might put in, too.

For the hardscape, I've epoxied a rock to a small piece of driftwood o.O
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0430.jpg

Sadly, I had to cut a bit off of the bottom of the drift wood (the part that sticks out below the rock) to get it to fit in the tank o.O

Today, I got everything together and set up the tank! Here's how it turned out!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0581.jpg

Top-down view
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0584.jpg

View from the right side
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0567.jpg

The tank and aqualifter, zoomed out a bit
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0563.jpg

I've never had glosso (wanted HC but couldn't get it) before, and I know it's kinda tricky, so I hope I don't kill it. I've got a whole bunch more in my 5.5g (ugh, I hated planting all of those little buggers!) that I can move over if the tank crashes. I think I've got enough light for it, but I don't have any CO2 (yet... thinking about setting up a 20oz pressurized system with a DIY regulator for this tank and my 5.5g). I'm dosing Flourish Excel along with Kent's generalized FW plant fert... it's a mix I've been using for a few years in my other tanks (lower light than this, though), and it works fairly well. Is there anything else I need to do for the glosso?

I'm waiting for the moss tree to grow and 'poof out' a bit, and for the glosso to take root and spread around. I'll post weekly pics as it fills in and keep you guys updated on it. I'll probably post stuff about my 5.5g planted tank (that you can see is helping to support the 4" cube's light that you can see in the 2nd photobucket link) that I set up recently as well.

I've done smaller planted tanks before (2.5g, 5.5g, 10g, etc), but this is my first planted tank of this scale, and I'd definitely like some feedback on it. I don't think I did too bad, but I don't think it turned out quite as well as I'd hoped (the stuff is a little too big for the tank, IMO). Suggestions are definitely welcome, I'd like to make this little thing as nice as I can! Let me know what you think

Thanks

I know you gave the dimensions of the tank in the other thread but I don't think I got a picture in my head of just how small it really is. You certainly have a challenge with that tank and I'll be interested to see how this goes.

Have Fun

G_T

Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

GT used the same words I was think about. It is going to be a great challenge especially if you are trying to keep things to a scale.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

GT, Keith: Indeed it is very small. Do you guys think I did okay with the scale/proportions?

Update: All of the plants have grown a little bit, and are looking a little healthier/less stressed. I'm doing something right, yay! Everything gets exponentially more hard to balance when you get to this size of a tank... it's good to know that I'm not failing entirely... it's a start!

Also, I guess the aqualifer (the only mechanical filter) isn't designed to run 24/7, as it's designed for ATO's and whatnot. So I'm putting it on a timer to give it a 30 min break every 12 hours to let it cool down. At least it IS working as a filter with the air diffuser over the intake, as the diffuser collected so much stuff that it was clogged and barely pumping water... so I had to put a new diffuser on (tried rinsing the old one, no luck... gonna try with a brush).

I may have to look into some sort of external pump, or maybe a very small air pump. Just something so the water doesn't get stagnant. Btw, today I found a mosquito stuck to the surface of the water, wings down, legs up... still alive... I squished it

I'll probably post up some more pics this weekend

Keep the comments coming

I have had several good looks at that tank and it seems too bottom heavy especially the rock and the DW.
If you have ever looked for shrimp in the wild they seem to hang around reedy areas. One good way for catching them is to get a twiggy leafy branch and hang it upside down and leave it for a short time. When it is pulled up it will be covered in shrimp.

Now what I am thing is if you could try a small twiggy piece of DW that takes up most of the area (remember it will be open spaces) you could easily have the stem of the DW well out of the water as if it had fallen into the water. By doing that it will give a lot of height to the tank. Also I think you will find the shrimp would appreciate it a lot better.

I hope this makes sense to you.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Hmm. When the plants (particularly the moss tree) grow in, the tank won't be quite so top heavy, but I do like your idea, and will definitely do it in one of my next pico-tanks (that's what I'm calling these now).

Yes, 'these'. I went shopping this weekend and found a few more tanks that are even smaller than the 4" cube (and one that's for another project)

The 5 pico tanks, in order from biggest to smallest, going left to right
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0620.jpg

I'm starting to think something is wrong with my scale, 'cause the 4" cube is definitely not 1 liter... half of a liter at the most, I think. It's about half the size of a 1 liter pop bottle.

I measured each of the new tanks' volumes manually by filling them 50cc's at a time and multiplying by the number of syringes full of water.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0643.jpg

From the left, the tanks are:
-3.5"^3, 400cc (0.4L)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0634.jpg

-2.5"^3, 215cc (0.215L)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0630.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0636.jpg

-3" diameter, 3" tall, 215cc (0.215L)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0631.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0637.jpg

-2" diameter, 2.5" tall 100cc (.1lL)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0632.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0638.jpg

I'm going to try to do something unique in each tank, though I'm not entirely sure what, yet. I'm thinking I may have to order some tiny plants online, but I'm not sure yet. I'm going to design/build a central sump for these tanks before I go any farther. I think I may buy or borrow a glass drilling bit and build overflows into each of them, and pump the water back up with one pump and a DIY gang valve/junction type thing. I'll probably use a 1-2.5 gallon tank as a sump, with a heater and filtration in there.

The other tank I got is to house my Mondo Grass (which doesn't fit in with the scape in my 5.5 gal tank, and is too big to fit in any of the others). I might put a few shrimp in there with it, but I'll try to keep this one simple.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0627.jpg

I've got some ideas in mind for the pico-tanks, but I'm open for suggestions for aquascapes/stock lists for all of the tanks. Let me know if you can come up with anything

I'll keep you guys posted on the progress (and probably change the title of this thread)

Thanks for reading

Those are tanks, those are drink glasses! I don't have any ideas for you but I'd love to see how they turn out.

--------------------------------------------
The aquarist is one who must learn the ways of the biologist, the chemist, and the veterinarian.

Actually, they're tea light candle holder things, Shini o.O

But yes, I'll keep you updated

Well all that will keep your brain active fore some time.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Hey PW !!! Good to see yer still pushing the envelope in creativity !! love it !!

Just a few ideas for ya, maybe some artistic flare, instead of drilling ALL the " tanks " for an overflow, just drill one, arrange them in a manner of smallest on top, largest on bottom, in a cascade sequence, either having the water over run from one into another, or maybe have some hardscape built onto/into the stand diverting the flow into the next tank....kinda like a picotank/waterfall/fountain setup.... yeah ?? and for your elevation problem without pushing too much water flow, look into something like a small bellows pump or for a more consistent flow a small peristaltic /gear pump may even be suitable....


just a few thoughts

J.

Aye, it will keep my noodle going for a while, Keith.

Yeah, IH, I'm always trying to find something new/crazy to do. Be it gas/hydrogen cars, crazy electronic circuits, or random fishy things (breeding/raising mollies in full saltwater, etc)... I'm always trying to do something different

I'd thought about doing a cascading type setup, but I've never seen them work very well in the long run. The tanks on the end of the loop always end up dirtier than the others, and if one thing gets plugged up, everything overflows. I don't know how I'd get them to flow from one tank to the next without drilling them, while getting reasonable water flow without making 'running water' noises.

I think I'm going to rig a small pump to a set of airline tubes running to the tanks. I'm not sure what I'll use for the drains, but I've been thinking about drilling the bottom and using a 'standpipe' running to where I want the water level. I may even use a 'durso standpipe', but I'm not sure how well that will work with tiny tubing. I'll do some trial runs with various configurations and see what works and what doesn't. Will keep you guys updated on how that goes.

Update on the 4" cube tank: everything seems to be going well so far!

The Moss Tree isn't doing too much yet... its growing in thick around the wood, but hasn't started to grow away from the wood yet.

The Cabomba is doing well, and one of the stems has sprouted a bud/branch at its base and has grown to about 1" so far. The other plant doesn't look too terribly healthy at the base, but seems to be recovering.

The glosso stayed rooted, but didn't do anything for a while. Another one has sprouted next to one that I planted, so it appears to be doing okay!

The ghost shrimp seems to be doing well, too. He's kept the tank nearly algae-free and is active and healthy.

The Aqualifer I'm using for the filtration system is working well so far. The only problem is that the air diffusers I'm using for the prefilter (which is the only filter) clog up in a matter of days and I can't clean the junk out of them... they have to be replaced. That problem will be solved when I build a central sump for the tanks, though.

I'll do some water tests and post up more pictures later this week It all looks pretty much the same at the moment anyway o.O

I also planted some of that glosso in my 5.5 gallon tank, and what didn't get uprooted is doing fine/growing. The microsword I put in there is doing well and spreading fast. The mondo grass seems to just be sitting there doing nothing, but is at least looking green/healthy. None of the plants (except the uprooted glosso) are showing any signs of distress after the first few days (where some of them looked kinda blah from the moving around). The tank is just covered in some thin fuzzy bright green algae that I need to scrub off... need to dose some more ferts...

Thanks for your comments and suggestions, everyone. Keep 'em coming

I thought I'd drop by and let you guys know that I'm still actively working on the nano-tanks, but am lacking a working camera at the moment (point/shoot borrowed by friend, DSLR not powering up).

I'm up to 16 tanks that range in volume from 50cc to 500cc. I still need to pick up some shot glasses, too. One of the tanks (the 4" cube) is planted and running, the rest are still in the design/construction phases.

With the 'cascading' idea...
I've got a set of four 50cc tanks (in the shape of a flared cylinder) that I'm stacking in a pyramid shape, with the top tank having 3 holes drilled in it, draining into the 3 bottom tanks. The 3 bottom tanks will have 1/16" ID standpipes draining into a central sump. I've got the 3 holes drilled most of the way, but it's really slow-going... I'm going to need to buy a real glass drill bit. There's no way I'm going to spend ~20 hours drilling holes in ~20 tiny tanks.

Also going along with the 'cascading' theme, I've got a 400cc cube that will have a lip cut on one side of it where it can overflow into a 300cc cube (which will have a standpipe draining into the central sump).

I picked up a bag of white sand to use as a substrate for some of the tanks... will be using eco-complete for some of the others... maybe some other various substrates, too.

I've been working on a few prototypes for pump -> airline adapters made out of standard stuff... but I may build something completely custom... not sure yet...

The 4" cube is still going strong, btw. The moss has thickened and is starting to grow away from the 'tree', now... I'm hoping to have a full moss tree within 2-3 weeks. The rest of the plants in there are doing okay/growing, but not really flourishing without CO2. Once I get all of the tanks set up on a central sump, I'll probably build a mini compressed CO2 setup with DIY regulators and a 20oz paintball gun tank.

I'll post up more pictures as soon as I either get my point an' shoot camera back, or get my DSLR going

I'm looking for ideas for aquascapes for most of the tanks. Some plant recommendations would be appreciated, too, as I don't have a ton of experience with tiny foreground plants. I've got driftwood and substrates figured out for most of the tanks, but that's about it. Any help/comments/ideas/suggestions would be most welcome. I'd love to hear what you guys think

Thanks for reading/commenting

I picked up 4x 60cc shot glasses and 2x 296cc martini glasses to turn into tanks . Also got a glass 4" cube (so I can make a cascading type thing with the 2 other glass cubes), another 100cc cylinder, and some others... up to 25 now o.O

I'm thinking about putting some small flowering plant in one of the martini glasses, as you often see martinis with flowers in them. Maybe something that resembles an olive in the other?

Some of these have flowers...
http://www.pacificrimsarasota.com/images/line_of_martinis_web.jpg

Any idea on plants? I was thinking anubias nana petite, but I dunno if they'll be able to do well enough to flower in ~300cc o.O

Any ideas, anyone?

I just realized that I have WAY too many little tanks o.O

I got my camera back and got some pictures of all of the little tanks, and some updated pics of the 4" cube

Here's the 4" cube as of an hour ago, shortly after a cleaning/waterchange (with an eyedropper for removing water/debris).
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0686.jpg

This angle shows the 'floofy-ness' of the moss-tree a little better. Note that it's got a decent amount attached to the wood, and is just starting to grow away from the wood.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0684.jpg

You can see that the glosso isn't doing too great, but meh. It was half dead when I got it, and I don't have CO2 for it... but it was fun. I'll leave it in there and hope for the best. If it dies, I'll pull it, if not, I'll leave it.

Other than the glosso, everything seems to be doing okay. The cabomba has some growth on it (the right stalk has a shoot at the bottom), but a few leaves have withered away due to damage from planting.

So here are all of the new tanks. 24 empty ones (with the 4" cube, that makes 25)!
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0682.jpg

Here's what I'm going to do with the 'cascading' idea. I'll trim a little lip on the two larger cube tanks so they drain into the next smallest tank. Then a pump will return the water to the biggest tank.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0674.jpg

Cascading idea #2: Drill 3 holes in the top tank, let it drain into the lower tanks. Have a bowl or something under it all to catch the water and return it to the top tank.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0678.jpg

Martini glasses and shot glasses. Not sure what I'm doing with these yet, but I'd still like to do the flower thing in one of the martini glasses.
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0676.jpg

Three 100cc cylindrical tanks. No idea what I'm doing with these yet... maybe a microsword 'forest' in one?
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0677.jpg

Two cylindrical 'vases', with a martini glass next to them for size reference. Methinks I'm going to do something with stem plants (probably microsword, too) in them.

A nifty little thing that's got a little pedestal thing built into the bottom of it o.O
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0675.jpg

Other misc 'tanks'...
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0679.jpg

I've got plenty of time to plan out these tanks, as I'm not going to set any more up until I move into my new apartment (when I find one)... maybe another month or so. So I've got a lot of time to plan/build/plumb/hardscape/gather materials.

I got a few different kinds of substrate (mostly different kinds/colors of sands) to experiment with... will post more on that later.

So now that you guys have seen all of these tanks, do any "ZOMG YOU HAVE TO DO THIS IN THIS TANK!!!" type of ideas come to mind? Let me know what you can come up with

Side note: here's a cute little baby molly that was born in my saltwater tank, got sucked into the overflow, and ended up in the pump chamber of my sump. He was born in saltwater, and will live in saltwater for the rest of his life
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0689.jpg

(And here's his mum!)
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y22/PoisonWaffle/DSCN0690.jpg

Anyway, lemme know if you can come up with anything on the pico-tanks

Thanks

WOW What fun you're going to have with all of those

There's definite growth in the original tank and I like the way its heading but I feel like you might need to add something to encourage the tree top foliage to spread out more and give a more branchy impression... maybe a small piece of moss covered mesh or something wedged over the top of the trunk? or toothpick 'branches' covered in moss?
Its going to be very hard to 'play' in that size tank without disturbing everything though.

As far as inspiration for the new containers... I really like the work of Slobodan Lazarevic with pico tanks... So intricate yet all in proportion.

I also really like the idea of a brandy snifter jam packed with Lilaeopsis or something similar - simple yet elegant. I've seen something like this somewhere with a betta in it (bleh) but I can't seem to find a decent pic of one tonight.

Good luck with the apartment hunting and keep us posted with how this develops.

G_T



Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built the Titanic.

Yes, I'm definitely gonna have some fun with these tanks

You're right, there isn't much room to 'play' in tanks of this size... it's hard to not bump anything else when I move one thing or another. Methinks I'm just going to leave the moss-tree as it is for now... hopefully it'll fluff up a bit in the coming weeks. If it doesn't, I'll figure something out... the toothpicks sound like a good idea

I read that article, and I checked out a few more of his tanks. He's got some really neat ideas. I like how he uses so many small/detailed rocks. I'm gonna be on the lookout for some that I can use...

There's a natural scape in a river I saw whilst snorkeling that I've been wanting to re-create. There's also a series of waterfalls here that would be interesting to re-create. I just need to find/make the right size/shape of tanks...


Hmm... a brandy snifter... that'd be kinda cool. I'll keep my eye out for one.

Thanks for the reply and ideas

I'll keep you guys posted