Nano Planted Tank (around 7 gallons) Strange rhombus shaped tank

Hey guys,

As I have stated in my other thread I have been keeping fish for a few years, but have only really had planted community tanks. I picked up a 7 gallon tank in malaysia (30 ringitt or ten dollars- precisely why I lugged it all the way here) and had it set up at my old house with a few white clouds and pygmy cories.

Part of the issue I'm having is the shape of the tank- it did not come with a light and a standard hood just isn't going to fit. I could build myself a custom lid but would still have to face the problem of finding a fluorescent hood light that is less than 12", and at the moment I also do not have the time or the funds to do so. So I came up with some alternatives:
A) Fluorescent light that clips on to the side of the tank, perhaps 7-10W
B) Gooseneck fluorescent desk lamp appropriately positioned above the hole in the lid (lid is a thin hard plastic sheet with a hole in it)
C) Screw the plants and go with a submersible LED and fake plants

So this tank has been running for a couple of weeks- I did a water change at the end of the first and second weeks.
I realize I still have a week or two to go before it is fully cycled but wanted to get some information so I know what I can and can't do with it.

Specs:
7 Gallon tank (looks like half a hexagon from the top)
Tetra Whisper 10i internal filter
25 watt heater
Topfin mini air pump and airstone

I was thinking of a densely planted tank with some nano-rasboras, preferably Pheonix or chilli rasboras (between 5 and 6) and maybe 3-4 pygmy corydoras.

Any opinions or advice are welcome

Did a bit more research and the pygmy cories are better suited for the 20g i have set up because they are top half fish. strange, they seemed perfectly happy in a well filtered and frequently changed 7g, lived long enough for me to have to find them a new home (due to moving)
So I am considering 2 dwarf otocinclus instead of 3-4 pygmy cories, will this tank support them? I plan to change the water by 25% every four days

sorry to triple post but adding pictures and water quality
One picture of the top so you can see for yourself how strange the shape is (more a trapezium than anything) hence the difficulty in finding an adequate light

Ammonia: 0.25ppm
Nitrite: 0ppm
Nitrate: between 5 and 10ppm (not quite dusky orange on the API master test)
pH: 7.6 or above, will run one when I get home from class



The water is still cloudy, probably from some bits of food left from when I threw in some flakes to kickstart the bacteria. Will do a 25% water change during which I'll clean the gravel very thoroughly and see if that fixes the problem.

rourk89 said:

This is a very cool tank and I also would have lugged it all the way back from Malaysia. For a top, I think your best bet would be to get a custom piece of glass cut, or go and cut one yourself, and what is the maximum length for a light you could buy.?


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I measured the straight edge and apparently I could manage a standard 12" light, not until I get a proper hood for it though- that plastic warps when placed too close to a candle, putting a hot light on it is a no-go. I'll go and ask at my local home depot if they can custom cut some tempered glass for me. This is proving to be an expensive couple of weeks! :O

Will be so worth it when they are finally set up though, so psyched!

FreshyFresh said:

Pretty cool for $10 Kumar.

I agree that topless would be easiest, unless you could source a piece of plexiglass or plastic lighting diffuser to cut to shape.

A clamp-on utility light with a cone shaped aluminum diffuser, fitted with a plant appropriate CFL lamp would be a great option. Might be able to clamp it right to the back of this tank, thus further eliminating the need for a top.

That whisper internal filter takes up a lot of valuable space in there unfortunately.

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I was astonished when I saw the size, but I'm a chronic insomiac and the slightest amount of noise tends to keep me awake/wake me up. I have a penguin mini but it doesn't work so well, its more of a trickle than an actual flow- really irritates me and prevents me from sleeping

Mini rasboras, by the description should be okay in a small school- I'm assuming they can turn as fast as tetras and also enjoy playing in a good current (provided by both the filter and the airstone) and can do laps without becoming too unhappy

Otos may be out, because they need an established algae supply- I'd like a scarlet badis but it'll definitely kill my rasboras (assuming I can get any) given the very similar colouring and size

perhaps a sparkling gourami or two?

also: I saw a 20W sump clip on light on big al's, if I modified the clip would it be sufficient for plant growth when placed 2-3" from the water?