Update

Well I've been in a bit of a funk.  But I figure we're due for tank talk.  I'm sure I have thousands of avid readers who can't wait to know if I've trimmed the Hygro or changed the water in my aquariums lately, Har Har.  And the answer is no, I haven't.  Gotta love the Natural Tank.  'Cause I hate changing water.  A friend mentioned her small tank today and made me think about the suitability of plants for a small tank.  Really, it depends on how often you wan to mess with the tank.  I made a Nano for my sister's Beta and she never has to trim plants.  She has only Sagitaria Subulata in low light.  But because she has plants, she rarely needs to change the water; maybe 1/3 to 1/2 the water every couple of months.  Diana Walstad trims her larger tanks with faster growing plants every month and tops off, but only changes half the water every 6 months.  I change some water every couple of months because I don't like the yellow tint it will get from the Dissolved Organic Compounds.  When I can see the yellowing, I change some.  But the plants do all the work.  They take out the Ammonia that fish give off as waste.  D Walstad proves the chemistry in her book .  For many small set-ups, all you need is a light.  My Nanos 1 gallons for Betas just sat in a well lit room.  And they were the easiest tanks I every had.  So, I think many plants are very suitable for small set-ups.  Some you can even do without a dirt substrate: Anubias, Marimo Moss Ball, Java Moss, Najas Grass and Hornwort.  But iit's pretty simple to freeze some dirt cubes and slide them under the rocks (watch the water temp), too or re-set a small tank.   Of course, I'd like to start a Planted Tank Revolution.  It's just so much easier.  And the fish are happier and healthier. 
  Now for my update.  My Turquoise Rainbow is still kicking and has become the King of the 20 gallon.  I went back to get him a friend and they were all gone.  Just my luck.  I'm hoping Rainbows will become more popular in LFS's, so I can easily find them.  My baby shrimp are growing well and thriving.  They have plenty of food just from the plants, but I have added some zucchini a few times, and a bit of extra fish food.  Getting the Gouramis into the other tank was a good move for them.  Maybe I'll have massive amounts of Cherries some day.  I bought and started soaking a piece of driftwood for this tank in hopes of getting a bristle nose catfish (Ancistus) from a friend in the plant club who has bred them.  I selected a piece of wood which will sit on stilted branches, with minimal contact to the substrate.  This way I won't be creating anaerobic spots in my soil.  The suckermouth cats really need this.  My tiny Otto. cat has gotten by on the Anubias rhizhome, but he'll appreciate it, too.  The cellulose helps their digestion.   So that's where it's at.  I am going  out of town for a day, but I figure they all can do without food for one day if DH forgets to feed them.  Though I may have a few less shrimp babies if that happens...