Desktop Aquarium Stocking

T

tehSAC

Registered Member
Jan 17, 2006
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I know there isnt much room in these tanks but what would be a good idea on stocking? i dont want to much of a hassle, i just would like something nice to enjoy and have on my desk at work.

im looking at either one of these tanks.

Water Lilly

or

2.5 gallon

or

this one


maybe betta's? i dont really want a goldfish because they can get so dirty.



:)
 
I'd say a betta with a couple ghost shrimp. That would probably be the easy way to go.
 
Please, pick the largest tank and ONLY ONE Betta can go in. You can try ghost shrimp, but the betta may eat them. A betta can be dirty as well, you will still have to do weekly water changes and such. There is a lot of good info on the net about proper betta care..I have had many and they are very neat to watch:)
 
I would choose the Mini Bow 2.5 out of the list you've put up. The other 2 do not have hoods or lids of any sort (from what I can see in the ads anyway) and that could be bad at work. You don't have any control there over what sprays janitors are using, air fresheners, people spraying perfume and so on. Without a lid, a lot more of that kind of stuff could settle into your tank's water from the air. This would, of course, most likely be fatal to whatever fish you put in.

I'd put in a Betta, personally, and skip the ghost shrimp. Too many horror tales of shrimp that turn out to be a different kind and kill the fish. Also, people post repeatedly about Bettas that eat the shrimp -- you don't want to constantly need to have a separate quarantine tank going just to restock shrimp in your Betta tank. (And of course, you sure wouldn't be wanting to introduce disease by putting in NON-quarantined shrimp!)
 
What about a nice mystery snail (pomacea bridgesii)??? There are many to choose from colour wise now and they are very undemanding...Also very entertaining and active..You could keep one in a 2.5 gal.

a couple of pics of some of my snails..
126265848.jpg

126265851.jpg
 
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I hate evaporation in my tanks and thus think the open top tanks are not a great choice. I have an Eclipse System 3 in my office and I really like it. I have a Mini-Bow at home for my daughter (I have the 5 gal version) and while it's a nice tank also, I much prefer the Eclipse because everything is integral -- a fluorescent light, bio-wheel and mechanical filter, and an enclosed cover over the top. The mini-bow came with only a whisper filter and holes in the cover which leads to evap. Eclipse also has a 5g hex, a 5g corner, a 6g normal, and a 7g hex which I think would all be good choices for an office setup.

I use a Finnex 25W heater on both my 3g and the 5g at home -- one of the best products I've bought since I started the hobby! I do have a very hard time at work trying to maintain a constant temperature in the tank. After first setup, it was fluctuating between 76 in the mornings to almost 82 in the afternoons (with the heater set to 76). To minimize the flux, I have settled on 78 and now see only small climbs to 80 occassionally.
 
I would get one of those Eclipse or Explorer tanks with the in-hood filter. I have a 2 gallon explorer and that is the easiest tanK I have to maintain. I don't even have to heat it as the filter pump keeps the water warmed to about 78-80F....as long as I keep the lid on. The filters work GREAT too ! Get the largest one of those types of tanks that you can fit in your workspace. Get one that has a light included. That's the only disappointment with mine...no light on it.. :(

For stocking you can go with shrimp or ADFs (african dwarf frogs). Shrimp are VERY interesting to watch and always going about some type of business or other. There are many different kinds too. Not sure if you can put the shrimp in with the frogs or not....ADFs pretty much snap at anything that moves and could very well snap up your shrimp if they aren't quick enough.
 
Bettas are really pretty and stuff...the only problem is that they don't move much..shrimp are great too... :cool2:
 
If I were you, I'd go with just a Betta and maybe a snail. That is all you need, and all you can fit in such small tanks.
A goldfish is not only too dirty, but will outgrow such small tanks in the matter of days. One goldfish requires 20 gallons of water to be healthy. Anything smaller would cause its health to deteriorate and it to die in a matter of months. This is what leads people to believe that goldfish naturally don't live long. In reality, goldfish can life to be 30 years old if properly taken care of. Sadly, they are the most abused fish.
 
I just got this.. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=12104&N=2004+62761

I started out looking at exactly what you are looking at. I decided that since it was a corner unit, it wouldn't tank up much more room on my desk, and it doesnt. With 5 gallons, it gives you a bit more room and a few more stocking options. I wanted something with a hood. I had a 2 gallon without a hood..my roommate decided to try to PET my betta, and someone else almost laid a pile of papers in top of the topless tank..duh. I had my hand over it..says don't and she's still looking at me like an idiot trying to put the paper down.
 
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