1 gallon nano tank PICS

[apexi]

Hi guys,

I'm new to the forums. Just thought I'd share a pic of my most recent project. It's been taking a lot more time and effort to keep this thing going compared to my bigger tanks, but it's been a fun challenge. It also looks pretty cool sitting on my computer desk ;)

http://members.shaw.ca/rotapowered/nanotank.jpg

[blitzen25bm]

dude you got an awesome camera.

[Dragon_Lord_Tia]

thats a nice tank 125gjoe look out. id say a fighter would go nice in their and i say get ride of that ship or what ever it is an try more plants;)

[Grassguy]

Even I can tell that that's a Shell Station.:rolleyes:

Nice Tank:)

[Dragon_Lord_Tia]

lol what ever it is IMO the tank would be better without it and with more plants and a fighting fish

[Uncle Bete]

I think its pretty neat... I guess what ya might consider a sureal touch to it... and lotsa blue, I like blue!

btw, what is that behind the service station? a heater?

I've seen pics of a few nano tanks done by people with a clue, as I have a feeling apexi, does.

The sad part is that these LFS's that I always read stuff about in mag. etc. that were supposed to support , because there the real people that are going to give us the BEST ADVICE ETC. Will sell these things to anyboby and everybody, and most likely gives the people without a clue a false sense of security, like, I can handle this little thing(as apexi stated "It's been taking a lot more time and effort to keep this thing going compared to my bigger tanks..."). And then I wonder how many LFS's have turnt around and sold them a goldfish to put in it.
thats a subject that could go on n on for a while, so I'll shut up.

nice job all around apexi


I'm guessing you probably have around 6-8 wpg lol so i'm sure the plants you have will be plenty.
now if someone would make a nano thermometer :D

[Grassguy]

nano nano!:D

[apexi]

Originally posted by Uncle Bete
I think its pretty neat... I guess what ya might consider a sureal touch to it... and lotsa blue, I like blue!

btw, what is that behind the service station? a heater?
now if someone would make a nano thermometer :D

Thanks for all the compliments guys. Yeah that little thing behind the gas station is a heater. It's the smallest I could find, 4" long, 7.5 watts. I bought it off ebay, but I think Walmart might also sell these things. The thing about this heater is its small size and low wattage, but I don't think it really has a built in thermostat. It's more or less preset, so it fluctuates with ambient temperature, which of course can be a real problem. I have to use a sophisticated digital timing system (not cheap), to cycle the heater on/off to keep things in check. I'm trying to get a 6" thermostatic controlled heater to fit in there, because that would no doubt be the best option.

Come to think of it, I think this little nano tank has actually costed me a lot more money than if I got a complete 10g-20g kit at the LFS, but that wasn't the objective.

Believe it or not, I actually do have a nano thermometer for this tank...LOL...not shown in the pic. I'll post a pic up later.

[Grassguy]

Isn't that a thermometer at the back on the left hand side?

[apexi]

Originally posted by Grassguy
Isn't that a thermometer at the back on the left hand side?

yup, but that's one of those slow reading Hagen floating ones. The nano thermometer I have is very tiny, and contains liquid alcohol for very fast readings. I'll post pics later this evening.

[OrionGirl]

Nice setup. I at first thought it was good ol' Sponge Bob. :)

I have the same heater--I bought it for a 2.5 gallon tank, and took it out within 2 days. It boosted the temp up to 85! Way too warm for the betta and otos. So, it's now in the 'spare parts' bin. I ended up moving the fish to another tank rather than fight with the heater.

[Aquarius0015]

My 7.5 watt heater has also been a disappointment. It's going back to Wal-Mart. I think it was bought and returned before I bought it. It only moved the temperate 1 or 2*F over room temp. Heck, an incandescent light does better than that.

[apexi]

no doubt, the heater is one of the greatest challenges with this tank. It does a fine job bringing up the temps, but it's not as stable as I'd like, since it fluctuates with ambient temps. It doesn't seem to have any kind of thermostatic control, except a safety fuse that will blow over a certain temp. At this point, the only way to control is using timing patterns, taking into consideration the cooling rate of the water, and balancing that with the heating rate of this lil heater (7.5 J/s). You can do the math using basic thermodynamics, but a lot of work for such a small tank.

I will be going to the LFS to check out some 6" submersible visi-therms, to see if squeezing one diagonally across is an option. It wouldn't be pretty I imagine.

[Aquarius0015]

As popular as nano-tanks are with consumers, you would think that someone would take notice and produce a mini-heater with a thermostat. Maybe I should have take an electronics class this semester. I could patent the idea, manufacture it, and make a small fortune.

[Slappy*McFish]

Nice, clean tank. It makes for a great child's tank with the colors and all...you have kids? I had that exact same color gravel in my very first tank. I think, over time, some of that blue will wear off leaving behind white pieces of gravel.

[LMOUTHBASS]

but can't help but get the trapped prisoner feeling for the fish

[Hans]

you know, you could get one of those frying pans that you plug in to the wall and make french toast, and put that tank on it, and keep the heat real low?

my brother keeps putting bettas in his nano, but they jump out! i think he should just get a few guppy feeders

[fishdude]

nice

my bettas dont jump :confused:

[Uncle Bete]

are they white? :laugh:

I haven't heard of them jumping either, so my first thought was.
Is the heater shorting out or something?!?!?!?!!!:eek:

[PumaWard]

I've found them on the floor a few times... luckily they weren't all dried out.

[apexi]

Originally posted by Uncle Bete
now if someone would make a nano thermometer :D
Did someone say nano thermometer? Here is my nano thermometer installed in the upper right. It is a TINY liquid alcohol thermometer, that is a fraction of the size of the Hagen floating one you see in my original picture.

I also removed the original heater I was using before, since I couldn't get consistent stable temp. I picked up a TRONIC 6" unit, and can't stop raving about how great this heater is. It's electronic thermostatic control (not mechanical like most heaters)& thermal sensor keep the temperatures amazingly accurate, not to mention the small size. The temps on my thermometer won't budge a hair above where it's set to. Rock solid.

So anyhow, I'm sure the fish will be happier with the more stable temps.

http://members.shaw.ca/rotapowered/nanotank2.jpg

[OrionGirl]

Bettas are well known jumpers. It's how they move to new sections of the bogs in their native waters. The long finned varieties are not as good as their wild brethren, but can still easily jump out of a tank. Covers are a good thing!

[Aquarius0015]

I saw a set-up almost exactly like this at my LFS, except it was green, held only one neon tetra, and did not have a heater, thermometer, or crazy ornament. I thought it was adorable until I realized it cost close to what a 10g would cost. Eek.

[apexi]

Originally posted by Aquarius0015
I saw a set-up almost exactly like this at my LFS, except it was green, held only one neon tetra, and did not have a heater, thermometer, or crazy ornament. I thought it was adorable until I realized it cost close to what a 10g would cost. Eek.

Dun forget the custom power glo lighting setup ;)
Actually, I tallied up the total I spent on everything thus far, and indeed, it's actually cost a lot more than a complete 10g setup kit at the LFS. But this nano project has been well worth the time, money, and effort.

[mcard]

Dude, that is one sweet setup. Where did you find this tank? I haven't seen any at Petsmart or the like.

[apexi]

Originally posted by mcard
Dude, that is one sweet setup. Where did you find this tank? I haven't seen any at Petsmart or the like.

Actually I haven't seen any at the local petsmart, or larger chains either. However, you may want to try some of the smaller, privately owned LFS. They may stock it.

[apexi]

In case anyone is interested, I made a little video of my tank and my OTO :D

Enjoy.


Right-click-save-as:
http://members.shaw.ca/rotapowered3/minitank.wmv

[sigmatauntaylor]

Thats a preety nice video!
What did you use as a camera and editing program?

[PumaWard]

I have to say that your oto looks huge in that video. :D

[F.sparverius]

Neat! The heater looks huge in that picture but it goes with the gas station. I like the set up. It seems that nearly all of the tanks here are plant rock and driftwood only tanks. Whats wrong with some unnatural ornimentation every now and then? :D

Where did you find that heater? I have a 5 gallon tank and my spare 100 watt visitherm is a major overkill, most of the time I just use the lights as heaters.

I also found out that small tanks cost more than your standard 10 gallon set up....and the plastic scratches, unlike glass.:(

[apexi]

Originally posted by sigmatauntaylor
Thats a preety nice video!
What did you use as a camera and editing program?

I just used a Sony Handycam, and did the editing using MovieXone, and Windows Movie Maker.

[apexi]

Originally posted by F.sparverius
Where did you find that heater?

It's a 50 Watt 6" Submersible TRONIC heater. Since it has an electronic thermostat, it keeps incredibly accurate temperature, comparable to the Ebos.