Both Low and High Tech!!!
Well, Ok, since no one else is going to start! I've put my tank up on other threads but here it is again anyway . . .
Oceanic 70g (36" x 18" x 24" tall), Eheim Ecco 2234 and Eheim Pro II 2028 (canister filters), Coralife Turbotwist 18w UV, no heater, 111w of light, 1/2" of gravel, mirrored background, no C02 at this time.
Fish -
Orange Oranda (5")
Calico Ryukin (3")
"Tancho" Ranchu (4")
Black Moor (3")
5 SAE's (Siamese Algae eaters)
Albino Bristlenose Pleco
Plants -
Java fern (on driftwood)
Anubias Nana (on driftwood)
Cryptocoryne Wendtii (potted)
Vallisneria spirallis (potted)
Curly Crinium (potted)
Marimo Moss balls
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Cheers,
Ci
This is a little 10 g. NPT (Walstad style Natural Planted tank)
It has a soil substrate capped with gravel, no filter (the plants do all the work) no heater, natural sunlight from south and east windows (the lamp is just for viewing in am and pm) and a tiny table top fountain pump for circulation. No water changes, just topoffs - no vacuuming - no ferts - no air. Walstad wrote a book - "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium" outlining the principles for a tank like this and has sort of a cult of devoted followers.
This tank has been running for almost 2 yr.'s problem free. As low tech as you can get!
7 male guppies
3 oto's
self sustaining populations of mini pond snails and cherry red shrimp
________________________________________
Cheers,
Ci
Very nice, lets see more.
Here's a pic of mine taken recently. I cleaned it right after this pic was taken. I have 2 orandas, 2 fantails and a pleco. Most of my plants are in containers.
Bump for more pictures
Today was the big day. I put my white sand back in the goldfish tank and added some of the plants I have. Not much but it's a start.
Steve why the sand? Everything I read says little to no substrate on goldies for cleaning purposes. Now that all said it looks great!!
I had problems with sand - hope you don't have any. My tank was never clear with it and I couldn't keep it vacuumed without losing a lot of it anyway.
I'm kind of old fashioned. I just like the looks of something on the bottom. Everything I read said stay away from gravel for goldfish. that sand was OK. This is #16 white sand blasting sand. it's pretty course as sand goes, and very clean. I didn't even have to rinse it. At $6 for a hundred lb bag I can afford to vacuum some of it out and throw new in from time to time. I only have a thin layer down.
first one is in the wall and you walk under it as you go down the stairs second on set up in dec it was a christmas gift for my wife.
Here's some close-ups of the plants.
Here's my 180 from a couple of months ago. I have a trimming to do this weekend and I will post an updated photo then.
Steve
An ignorant person is one who doesn't know what you have just found out.
Will Rogers
Holy Cow! Are those Discus really that bright? That tank is awesome.
They actually look kind of dull in that picture! Check out the breeder's site:
www.discushatchery.com
Peter Thode is pretty good at his stuff (used to be a judge in international competitions, which are remarkably similiar on the "rabidness scale" to international koi comps!!!). I would recommend him to anyone who considers buying discus via FedEx.
BTW, I want that Windelov Java fern in your tank! Can you see my little one in the top of the driftwood? It is pathetic compared to the one you have!
Steve
Last edited by kitfoxdrvr; 02-26-2008 at 03:34 PM.
An ignorant person is one who doesn't know what you have just found out.
Will Rogers
Here's my 55 after I got it going and really learned what I was doing. I gradually got to this point, and went through some awesome algae and green water before it took off. In addition to CO2, I was using potassium nitrate, potassium chloride and some trace minerals on a weekly basis.
steve