Planted Aquariums Anyone?

[Sonny]

A recent post here got me interested in planted aquariums. After a little research I realized that there is a fairly large community of people out there that take seriously the art of aquatic gardening. These tanks can look very natural or like a well mainicrued landscape. Here are some samples of a prize-winning aquariums like I am talking about:

planted aquarium 1

planted aquarium 2

I am thinking of setting up one of these tanks. Does anyone here have experience with them?

[gander]

I only have a small planted aquarium right now it is obly 28 gallons.
I have java fern and Crytocorne in it.

[Sonny]

Gander,

Can you tell me about the equipment you have in your tank? Special lighting? CO2 injector? Any fish?

Thanks,

[Mr.Bill]

http://www.plantedtank.net/

A very nice informative link, with nice DIY stuff

[gander]

Sonny I dont have any special equipment, Those 2 plants grow very well. I have some small goldfish in the tank. My java fern I have had for years. The cryptocornes need to be replanted. I turned the aquarium off this summer and kind of forgot the plants no light or anything and they all survived until I started it up again.

I do have an old friend that the last time I was at his house had one like the pictures you showed and he had all of that for his. He had lots more money thatn me and all that equipment is expensive.

[Sonny]

Mr. Bill, thanks for the link, it looks like it has lots of info.

Gander, I am still trying to get an idea of how much a reasonably nice tank might cost. I am going to a local aquarium design firm this afternoon to look at some of their displays. They seem to specialize in planted aquariums.

Here is the picture from Aquarticles web site that originally got my juices flowing:



I don't have the room or budget for one that large but would like to come close if I could.

[gander]

That is very pretty but it would just pop if it had maybe 40 or more Cardinal tetras in it.

[savannahrobinson]

I think these are lovely.

I don't have any standing water inside the house. Working with families that have mold problems for the past five years has sworn me off of anything that adds humidity into a house. No potted plants (the inside plants are all silk) and no aquariums. Until they all died (electrical failure) the goldfish were outside.

I'm going to start over with goldfish next spring. Maybe earlier if I get the chance. Goldfish uproot plants, tho.
I'd have to have a separate tank for the landscape, with maybe tetras. Maybe just with no fish at all.

It would be hard to show a tank like that. How would you move it?

[Leekinneykoi]

Hi Sonny, I posted the link where you found the planted tanks, they can be beautiful and some folks are as serious about it as Koi ponders, but nice tanks can be done cheaply by natural balance fish provide fertalizer and plants Oxygen, good lights , sand or fine gravel for roots and simple sponge filters you can create beautiful plant tanks. Have fun and Google natural planted aquariums.

Mr. Bill, thanks for the link, it looks like it has lots of info.

Gander, I am still trying to get an idea of how much a reasonably nice tank might cost. I am going to a local aquarium design firm this afternoon to look at some of their displays. They seem to specialize in planted aquariums.

Here is the picture from Aquarticles web site that originally got my juices flowing:



I don't have the room or budget for one that large but would like to come close if I could.

[Sonny]

Yes, I think a school of tetras would be way cool in one of these tanks too. Not too many, just enough to keep things in balance.

Lee, I have come to realize it is a serious hobby. I heard there is a club here in Houston just for the folks who garden in aquariums. They trade plants that are hard to find, etc. Just like a regular garden club.

Savannah, I think the competitions involving these tanks is done through photography. They don't bring them all together physically, you send in pictures. So a winner must be a good photographer in addition to aquarium keeper.

They are really beautiful and I would love to have one but I am nervous about jumping into yet another hobby. I think I will force myself to wait on any decisions until after the holidays just to make sure it isn't a passing fancy.

[Cowiche Ponder]

rather than buying a new tank check out www.craigslist.com for the houston area and see if you can find a nice tank used. I know I've seen some around here, but I have to justify it (not hard to do ) and then find a place in the house to put it. THAT is going to be hard to do.

[DesertPonder]

I've been totally amazed at some the planted tanks I've seen on the http://www.goldfishparadise.com/forum/phpBB2/index.php
forums. Some of the members take it pretty seriously and there are some beautiful tanks. I've never had much luck getting aquarium plants to survive and goldies just chow them down anyway. I will buy a bunch or two of cambomba and put it in my tank and my very large Oranda will scarf it down in just a few days. He's a pig!

[Shawn]

I enjoy having plants in mine, but not much likes to grow.. Haven't ever tried Java Fern... might need to look into that...

[Swimming Jewel]

It's only a 10 gallon terrarium, but here is/was mine...micro-pond and all...






It grows REAL fast and I have had to replant it twice.
For now it's a mossy rock garden with a few mini ferns.
And a Betta in the little pond.

[DesertPonder]

Joyce, that is so cool! I love the iittle pond. How did you do that?

[Sonny]

Joyce, that is very nice. Hard to believe it is only a 10 gallon aquarium. Does it require much maintenance? Is that a little waterfall on the left side?

I just got back from the showroom at Aquarium Design Group looking at various types of displays. They had terrariums, paludariums and aquariums. Everything was so very well designed and they all made impressive displays. I am a sucker for the planted aquariums though. I think I've pretty much decided to give one a try. The guy was really helpful telling me all about the plants, fish and equipment. They get their inspiration from Takashi Amano and I must say it has inspired me as well.

[Robert]

It's about 6 months old.

[*Ci*]

It's about 6 months old.

Hey Robert! Nice to have you back: )
Very nice terrarium, very natural looking … any livestock? Is that an ExoTerra tank?

I have a small first attempt, as well, also about 6 months old! With Orange Dream isopods and springtails.

[gray cat]

Very nice terrariums Robert & Ci. They both look so natural. Thanks for sharing your pics with us.