Kana's 2.5 nano entry

[Kana]

Hello, I know this is late but it looks like there are a few other last minute entries. I found this site about a week ago and debated entering the build-off but decided it looked like it could be fun and I planned on setting up a nano anyway so here goes...

I'm scrounging in my garage for most of the parts-
-2.5 gallon glass aquarium and glass top
-mini jet power head with air line tubing to diffuse and disperse flow so I don't have a sand storm
-live sand and live rock which I will get at a local shop
-and since I don't have a light fixture, and am afraid of zapping myself or my house by building one, I'm getting a Coralife mini-aqua light with a 9W actinic and 9W 10,000K lamps.
-No fish will be added but I'd like to add some zoos and shrooms. Varieties will depend on availability. I haven't decided on whether or not to add a shrimp or crab.
-I'm going to monitor water quality to determine water change needs and am using r/o water.

Nothing is started or set up yet.

I could be leaving something out...feel free to call me on it. I just wanted to get this in before I'm bombarded by creepy little people begging for candy. I'll get some pics up soon if this is ok.

Kana

[VWD]

Welcome to TRT and the Buildoff, Glad to have you taking part in it. You will like TRT and all the great people here.

[dobejazz]

Welcome to TRT

[skeety]

YEAH!!


Welcome to TRT, and GLAD to have you joining in the fun!!

You are gonna love it here (TRT). ANd hopefully you'll have fun here (Nano buildoff).

[wharyat]

Welcome to TRT and the buildoff. Good luck and have fun!

[Loverotties]

Welcome to TRT! Good luck!

[Geoff]

Welcome to TRT!!!



G~

[capt2000]

[Kana]

Wow, thanks for such a warm welcome and your encouragement. I think this is friendliest fish forum I've ever been on

Kana

[alaskaknucklehead]

sounds like TRT!

[Kana]

I've had a mini setback as far as getting my sand because the store suddenly up and died so I'm going to order some. There really aren't any saltwater stores around here. On the up side, I did find some premium fiji aqua-cultured rock in small pieces. Petco had several small pieces in their rock tank that weren't really for sale, just broken chunks. I told them I would buy it for the price of their small whole rocks and they gathered up all the small pieces, almost 5 pounds for $10.

I have a question though. I dipped it in a higher salinity water to de-bug it, just for a minute, and quite a few bugs came off. Some were little wormy things and some shrimp-like critters. I'm curious if these could be mantis shrimps or do other types of shrimps freeload? I'd take a pic but you'd need a magnifying glass, they are about 3-5 mm, clear with little black eyes. They have a definate curling the tail under the legs way of moving. I'm kind of curious about them though. What could I do to feed them or grow them out a little so I could tell what they are- or is it worth it. They are in a separate tank from the curing or intended pico tank. I did bring the salinity down for said critters after dipping rock so they are still alive.

I'll try and get some pics up soon but I don't know how exciting an empty cycling tank is or a cure tank with rock might be

Kana

[alaskaknucklehead]

The worms are more than likley a type of " bristle-worm" most are great scavengers and many people consider them a part of the "clean up" crew.

Good LR will be full of many diferent types of shimp, copepods, ect. In time given the right conditions these populations will grow and may even become a food source depending on animals you plan to keep.

[Geoff]

those were pods and worms. they are actually good things to have. the worms are better than the pods, but both are great scavengers. prolly should not have hypersalinated the rock, this could kill some of the critters in the rock causing them to die, which in turn will make a cycle in the tank. that rubble has prolly been cured for ages, so was pretty much good to go.

G~