newbie aquarium question

[niels123]

Although I do not have any concrete plans of building a real aquarium (with fish / plants etc.) at home I do wonder something. I've been a (nearly) lifetime mineral collector and many minerals only come in tiny crystals that are much smaller than 1 millimeter. The pieces usually fit in 1" x 1" x 1" boxes and are called micromounts.

Is there such a thing in the aquarium world as well? So a tiny aquarium (like a few liters up to 1G max) with fish / aquatic life that never gets bigger than 2-3 millimeters.

 

[jasrivas]

the only thing i can think of for a 1 gallon tank is freshwater shrimp and they can be tricky with water fluctuation occurring a lot at that size. i have seen people just keep small aquatic plants in 1 gallon fish bowls and tank with successes, but most smaller aquatic life generally need at least a 5 gallon to thrive like a freshwater Betta

 

[Gtinnel]

Sure there are, I’ve never had one but usually when I see them they just have a few small coral frags in them. I saw one user that put an aiptasia in theirs.
Here is one that can be bought

Micro Reef Ready Tank (0.3 Gallon) Standard (BLACK) - PNW Customs

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.

www.saltwateraquarium.com

 

[vetteguy53081]

In the ocean I have retrieved rock with minerals and shiny gold pigments and can only assume safe if it is/was in the ocean

 

[jasrivas]

In the ocean I have retrieved rock with minerals and shiny gold pigments and can only assume safe if it is/was in the ocean

not necessarily, it depends on hat kind of minerals but there is a possibility it can over time leach inside our small ecosystem and pollute the tank. i would not trust any rock with metals or minerals in it. even if you found it in the ocean it can still leach but if it leaches in the ocean nothing will happen because of how big the ocean is.

 

[vetteguy53081]

not necessarily, it depends on hat kind of minerals but there is a possibility it can over time leach inside our small ecosystem and pollute the tank. i would not trust any rock with metals or minerals in it. even if you found it in the ocean it can still leach but if it leaches in the ocean nothing will happen because of how big the ocean is.

No metals- no exceptions

 

[niels123]

No metals- no exceptions

I never have / had the intention to put minerals in the aquarium. I just was comparing the size: many mineral collectors limit themselves to tiny specimens. So I wondered if there is a group of fish tank owners that only has aquatic life the size of a few millimeters.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I never have / had the intention to put minerals in the aquarium. I just was comparing the size: many mineral collectors limit themselves to tiny specimens. So I wondered if there is a group of fish tank owners that only has aquatic life the size of a few millimeters.

I realize . You were wondering how safe. Others may see this and acdept as a warning

 

[niels123]

In the ocean I have retrieved rock with minerals and shiny gold pigments and can only assume safe if it is/was in the ocean

Sounds like pyrite. They quickly get unstable and decompose once in a more oxygen-rich and wet environment. It will leak Fe3+ sulphate into the water and lower the pH.

 

[ying yang]

Could just have a load of different copepods,ampripods and isopods and the pod I always forget how to spell ( octhropod) (orthropods) spelt something like that.
As for fish small enough to fit in a 1 gallon does it exist idk but would have to be super hands on checking water temp/parameters and the such

Even a small clown goby 1 gallon would be to small I would off thought ,but anyway you mention 2-3 mm size so idk

Good luck

 

[ying yang]

The world’s smallest fishes

Don't cheat by googling. Do you know what the world's smallest freshwater and saltwater fishes are? And just how tiny are they? If it helps: All the contenders are tropical.

reefs.com

Just googled if any 2-3 mm fish lol and smallest saltwater fish above at 8-10 mn

 

[Derrick0580]

There definitely are, but as a newcomer to aquariums you must be warned that the smaller the tank the harder they are to keep stable! Parameters can swing quickly in a tiny tank and wipe it out in the blink of an eye.

 

[stevelee]

Although I do not have any concrete plans of building a real aquarium (with fish / plants etc.) at home I do wonder something. I've been a (nearly) lifetime mineral collector and many minerals only come in tiny crystals that are much smaller than 1 millimeter. The pieces usually fit in 1" x 1" x 1" boxes and are called micromounts.

Is there such a thing in the aquarium world as well? So a tiny aquarium (like a few liters up to 1G max) with fish / aquatic life that never gets bigger than 2-3 millimeters.
Could just have a load of different copepods, amphipods, and isopods, and if you’re looking for information, Georgia Aquarium customer service can help with the pod I always forget how to spell (octopod) (arthropods) spelled something like that.
As for fish small enough to fit in a 1 gallon does it exist idk but would have to be super hands on checking water temp/parameters and the such

Even a small clown goby 1 gallon would be to small I would off thought ,but anyway you mention 2-3 mm size so idk

Yes, there are definitely miniature aquariums that cater to small aquatic life! These setups are often referred to as nano aquariums or micro aquariums. You can find tanks that hold just a few liters, and they can house tiny species of fish, shrimp, or even small invertebrates that stay within the 2-3 millimeter range. For example, some types of dwarf shrimp or micro fish, like paedocypris progenetica, are perfect for these small environments. Additionally, there are tiny aquatic snails and other organisms that thrive in these setups. When considering a micro aquarium, ensure that you maintain proper water conditions and filtration, as small tanks can be more challenging to keep stable. It's a fascinating way to combine your love for minerals with aquatic life!