Hi, I want to start an aquascape with a tank thats 10 gallons or smaller. I dont want anything huge yet because Im on a tight budget (Im only 18 and I only have a part time job, and I dont want to ask parents to pay for anything).

Im looking for tanks with build in filters that are hidden from view (usually behind a panel at the back of the tank). Built in lighting would be nice, but if not- that is no problem.

Is there a tank thats good quality, around 10 gallons or less (5 gallons at the least), and inexpensive; costing around $50-80 (give or take a few)?

I will want to be keeping some yellow shrimp in the tank, and if possible a small school of tetras.

Please keep in mind that this will be a planted aquarium, specifically I want dwarf baby tears, hair grasses, and other plants such as staurogyne repens. Therefore it will need to be plant-friendly. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

Thankyou!


PS: If you do not have any experience with tanks like these, have no knowledge of the subject, or havent kept a planted aquarium before- please dont answer if you have nothing significant to add- I dont want any assumptions but rather responses from those who have planted tanks or experience with them.

And as always, please refrain from rude comments (I know the phrase "you get what you pay for") but there are loopholes, which I am trying to find via you guys.

I don't know if you can do it in that price range, but shopping for tanks on Craigslist might help. The problem you run into is that most small tanks are either plastic crap or for glass the cost per gallon is pretty high.

You can get a glass 5-gallon tank with glass lid around $20. Planted substrate will cost you $15 or more. You will need filtration of some kind. For that small a tank, you can get a reasonable HOB filter at Walmart. I don't recall the price on the small ones but they work okay. They might be a bit high flow for a betta and they aren't adjustable. The other filtration option would be to go with a sponge filter that you'll just have to hide with plants. You'll also need a heater, $15 minimum. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

That set-up probably costs you around $60 or $70 and then you need to buy plants and livestock.

On top of that, you have to purchase lighting. I don't know the lighting requirements of those specific plants without looking them up. If they grow in dim light, you can get an LED desk lamp at Target for about $15. If they require bright light, you'll shell out an obscene amount of cash to buy it.

I don't think you can do this for under $100 with all new equipment. If you can scare up some equipment used, it should bring the cost down quite a bit.

2 planted tanks with similar setups.

go to petshop and ask for help

I would suggest posing a question like this on MFK (Monster fish keepers in the planted tank/ aquascaping part) or AQ (Aquariacentral or maybe it's AquaticCentral....).

Just know that it's easier (especially if you want tetra's that need 20 gallons for sheer space anyhow) to keep a 20+ gallon tank.

You'll need T5 RO lighting (HO is too much for a simple tank).

I suggest a good plant substrate (especially with grasses and Baby tears). Something like Flourite or Eco Complete would be good.

Look around look some more and look on the internet for deals on tanks and supplies. A good HOB filter is easy to hide behind tall background plants like Java ferns or Val. Balansae.

It's not going to be cheap. I would suggest buying what you need over time. I"m nineteen and I've just started my new 20 gallon long tank on a tight budget (~140 a week) less when you consider the other things I have to get with it.

If you want ten gallons or less I suggest Guppies (not in anything smaller than ten gallons) or just invertabrates (five gallons). Just know tht the lighting will be tougher to pin down the smaller you get. It's also going to be your most expensive thing (besides the tank itself). Be prepared to spend about 40-60 dollars on a good light alone. You do not want to skimp out on the light. Trust me on this. A cheaper though less reliable alternative is to get a regular shop light and put a full specrtum bulb in it. Just be aware that they're not as efficient and in my experience the higher lighting promotes Algae Growth.

Something else to look at is hardscape? Do you want any of this?

http://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums… That's the plant section of MFK.