7g nano garden cube

[exv152]

So my wife was in Toronto this past weekend, and came back home with a surprise she picked me up at AI. She's not so much into the planted tanks, or aquariums for that matter, but I guess she's listen enough to my ramblings that she's picked up a thing or two because not only did she pickup a nano cube, but she also picked up a bag of ada aqua soil, some rocks and a light. The next step is to build myself a stand and get a filter. Always love this part of the hobby the best. Here's what I got so far...

Details...
30x30x30cm starfire nano cube garden
Sleek power compact flurescent fixture 1x 18w
One 9L bag of ADA Amazonia II aquasoil
Yamaya rocks
pressurized CO2 to come

Plants: Thinking small leaves, HC, glosso etc.

Fish: Thinking small minature tetras like mosquito rasboras, galaxy rasboras, amano shrimp etc.

Any suggestions regarding setup, stocking, plants are more than welcome...
Some shots


Inspiration from practicalfishkeeping-James Starr-Marshall

[charlie]

Nice Eric, looking forward to see what you do with this, Your wife did well 

[pm]

Nice.  I have had my eye on one of those for a while now to replace a 10 gal.

Jeez, if my wife came home from a trip saying that she got me aquarium stuff, I would fear she got me a corny ornament, or 5 bettas so they can school together 

[daworldisblack]

Lol Peter.. Hilarious! Woah Eric! Nice surprise eh? Looking to see where you go with it too! That reference tank looks pretty stellar!

[touchofsky]

Very nice surprise!  I look forward to your progress, too 

[Monte]

WOW.. Nice little setup. Your wife is definitely a keeper. lol

What did you do to deserve that ?    Can't wait to see it finished.

[exv152]

Thanks fellas, here are a few more pictures of some ideas I had for scaping. Found this really nice piece of root driftwood at BAs and thought it had lots of potential...thinking of just going with some HC to do a ground cover for now.

[Lurch1]

The tank looks sweet dude!

[charlie]

That looks good Eric.
Any back ground?
What are your stocking thoughts?

[exv152]

Thanks Lurch and Errol.

Errol, I've been looking into different small species of rasboras; celestial, mosquito, ember etc, but it'll probably depend on what I can find locally. As well, mabye a few amano and/or cherry shrimp. Any suggestions for whichever might be better at eating algae?

[charlie]

Thanks Lurch and Errol.

Errol, I've been looking into different small species of rasboras; celestial, mosquito, ember etc, but it'll probably depend on what I can find locally. As well, mabye a few amano and/or cherry shrimp. Any suggestions for whichever might be better at eating algae?

I would probably go with both shrimp, in fact that is my plan for the 10 gallon(amano & Yellow)
I`m contemplating some mosquito/chili rasboras as well for it or if i can find the Axlerod blue rasboras.
Errol

[Peekay]

You have a good eye for the hardscape. 

Looking forward to seeing it filled!

[sylros]

How exciting for you and what you've done with it so far is amazing. Can't wait to see the finished look. Definitely a display tank in the making! Thanks for sharing!

[daworldisblack]

Woah Eric! Very nice hardscape! I think La Niche got in some chilli rasbora this week! I wanted to pick some up but its kinda across the boarder for bussing so we'll see if i do get some. I already have a a small group and they are awesome! They certainly don't keep together but they are pretty nice. They are jumpers tho and have already lost one so you might need a glass cover there. CPDs are on sale at BA west according to the flyer so that could be cool too. Ottos as well would be a good addition. I really like how you got a sweeet looking piece of driftwood there! Jealous!

[fischkopp]

Nice size tank!

Personally, I would reduce the amount of wood and rocks in favor of more plants, especially since you are looking into lots of carpeting plants. Some fern would look nice on wood, or something bushy between the rocks and wood.

As for algae eaters, I highly recommend otocinclus. They do the best job at it.

[exv152]

Thanks fischkopp, and I definitely see what you're referring to and I like the suggestion of something between the stone and wood which didn't occur to me. Thanks daworldisblack, sylros, peekay and Errol. This one, like my last setup, will sit unfilled for a while before I mull over and study more ideas. If anything is worth doing well, it's worth taking the time to do it.

[exv152]

Here's an update pic since I started this tank about a month ago. Had to change the lighting because my AI pc burnt out, and replaced it with a cheap CFL hanging fixture. Wasn't sure if the light was going to be enough but the CFLs seem to emit good intensity in a small square footprint like 30x30cm. I've got HC, glosso, different types of anubias, hygrophila polysperma and some hygro difformis (the later two were added to have some fast growing stems). I'm running pressurized co2 and EI dosing (dry ferts). I have no fish in there yet, but looking to add some mosquito rasboras soon. Sorry for the poor quality photo, my camera really sucks.

[sas]

Very nice.
Whatever fish you end up going with, they're going to
be very happy in that tank.

[daworldisblack]

Wow! Looks real nice! A cube sliced right out of a rainforest! haha.. Do you have a 13W or a 26W bulb in there?

[exv152]

Very nice.
Whatever fish you end up going with, they're going to
be very happy in that tank.

Thanks Sue.

Wow! Looks real nice! A cube sliced right out of a rainforest! haha.. Do you have a 13W or a 26W bulb in there?

Thanks Rah, It's acutally a 23w spiral CFL. I think I may need more light, but for now the HC and glosso have responded nicely.