Here's a pic of my 27L Nano Planted Betta Tank on the 16th of June 2009:

And here's it now:

I removed the CO2 bell as I was seeing no positive results. The grass has spread a bit and I've added some more. I need to get a new lid (if anyone has a spare lid for a 40x25 aquarium or perspex please contact me) and a new light tube. Please advise on what looks good/bad and what I could do to improve it.

Thanks.

Good luck on the grass spreading. It usually needs 2wpg and good organic Carbon.

It's doing quite well actually, with an old light tube and no added CO2.

your betta must be happy in there. grass usually needs really high light, but who knows, if its growing well then maybe itll continue to do well.

Maybe I have a special kind? It thrives under useless light where even Polysperma is failing. Hoping it'll fill in a bit. Does anyone trim theirs?

He seems to love it. 27L of space but most of the time he does head first dives into the grass and sits there for ages.

No you don't have a special kind.

You are just growing it in a glorified bucket

Thanks Vinson. Laugh all you want but if it works, it's good enough for me!

what he means is you should get a bigger tank :lol:

and you want a bigger tank now don't you? hnaahahhahahahaha

I like Nano tanks! This one fits perfectly on the shelf next to my hospital tank, great contrast lol. Then there's my 85L breeder below, I don't think I need any bigger tanks at this stage.

But seriously, I can't find any 8w T5's anywhere.

nothing wrong with smaller tanks!

It gives those of us with space constraints a chance to enjoy the hobby too.. so that has to be a good thing!

I get the impression sometimes that if we have smaller tanks , we get looked at as "novice" or not true aquarists lol. Well I am a novice because of my short history but I reckon I've learned a lot already. Just a shame I can't fit a bigger tank anywhere in my home.

I get the impression sometimes that if we have smaller tanks , we get looked at as "novice" or not true aquarists

not true as the size of the tank is not important

it's what you do with the tank that is the important thing

I can't find any 8w T5's anywhere.

What length are you needing? Have you tried http://lightbulbman.co.nz/?action=produ ... gory=10245 he might be able to post them to you

Smaller tanks can be harder to maintain than larger ones so if you are able to keep a small tank looking good over a long period of time it is a sign of good fish keeping, not the work of a novice at all

nothing wrong with small tanks at all!

nanos can be amazingly hard to maintain and as such a true planted nano is a task for the more experienced aquarists.

the need more maintenance, often can be more expensive as if you really want a real nano that is planted and life like, you need to invest in real good lighting, perfect looking substrate, the perfect plants, and most importantly great filtration.

If i set up a nano for someone it usually has an eheim 2213 running on it, is always rimless and usually has t5's suspended above it.

not a cheap task i must say.

much harder to maintain as there is less water and so more room for error as the concentration of pollutants may be higher in a smaller volume of solution.

plus the visual impact of some nanos are absolutely amazing.

i just setup my 20L for my giant betta.

Will post pics as soon as its got lighting :lol:

I reckon Nano's are so much better than larger tanks. Easier and more simply to scape and don't require large dosing rates, not that I dose anyways.

Would like to see pics Morcs.

Will do. I need to change my plants though. I just threw all my plants from my 130L into there, so have some hairgrass (i hate it) an amazon sword, some hygros and a java fern.

Will probably switch the javafern for a crypt and get some pygmy swords or something for the front.

Found my BN on the floor this morning obviously didnt like my plants either. Or the Oscar...

I'll have your old plants!

I'll have your old plants!

Ill let you know. Im setting up a new 250L hopefully this weekend, So will see what I can use.

Heres my Nano. 20L.

I moved the plants to the sides to provide room as its a bit full with fish at the moment.

Got 3 baby angels growing out in one container, and the Giant betta is in the other container as my Oscar is using it as a hospital tank at the moment. Hard to photo when just dosed with methyline blue lol.

I will have some plants for you once my 250 is setup. Maybe a few java ferns, some Hygro and an amazon sword. Will PM you when im certain.

Morcs that is a nice little set up.

Neat! That could be filled in quite nicely.

Just did a waterchange and shuffled it around a bit. added a plantpot. Lol.

for the purpose of the pics I let the fighter out... he was chasing the oscar round and round. :lol:

and check out the baby golden angels. hard to get a decent pic though. 3 left from a whole spawn

Are those fry I see in the last pic?

Are those fry I see in the last pic?

Yep, Golden Angels