Lee Sweeting
Member
- Joined
- 7 Jul 2013
- Messages
- 677
Right! So... I've decided to ditch the co2 and start a low tech tank, mainly inspired by Alastair's Little Box of Chocolates, and Big Tom's Bucket O' Mud, who's journals have been exceptional in there concept and achievements, and a real source of inspiration whilst setting up this tank.
The principal idea behind this tank is to provide a stable and healthy home, capable of housing liquorice gourami. I've really developed a liking to these little fish, primarily through reading and subscribing to the Parosphromenus Project (THE FISH: All about the Licorice Gourami-Group). Unfortunately these little fish are struggling in the wild, due to the destruction of their natural habitat. So i thought i would try to set up a tank were they would be happy enough to breed. Although this is not a true biotope (this is now my main show tank), i have tried to taylor the water parameters to suite their needs.
Water parameters: gH - 5, kH - 1, pH 6.5 for now, i've added a lot of almond leaves and alder cones, so hopefully this will reduce the pH as the leaves and cones break down.
Tank Spec:
Tank: 89 x 30 x 44 (LxHxD), which equates to about 90 litres after displacement from Hardscape, substrate etc etc.
Substrate: Original pond aquasoil capped with Ebi gold.
Lighting: 2 x TMC mini 400 led's with controller. Set @ 30% and suspended 40cm above the tank. Photo period is 6 hours for the time being. I will increase this to 8 hours after about a month or so.
Filtration: JBL cristal profi e700 (700 ltr per hour).
Heating: Hydor inline heater set to 26 degrees C.
Hardscape: Redmoor root and yamaya stone.
Flora: Salvinia natans, Microsorum mini/petite, Microsorum trident, Aponogeton crispus 'Red', Anubias bonsai, Cryptocoryne parva, Cryptocoryne wendtii 'brown, Cryptocoryne wendtii 'green' Taxiphyllum barbieri, Hygrophila pinnatifida, Monosolenium tenerum, Vesicularia ferriei 'Weeping', Ranalisma Mini.
Fauna: Primarily liquorice gourami, not sure what else yet?
Thanks for looking, constructive criticism, ideas welcome.
Sorry for the crappy pictures, there just off my phone.
The principal idea behind this tank is to provide a stable and healthy home, capable of housing liquorice gourami. I've really developed a liking to these little fish, primarily through reading and subscribing to the Parosphromenus Project (THE FISH: All about the Licorice Gourami-Group). Unfortunately these little fish are struggling in the wild, due to the destruction of their natural habitat. So i thought i would try to set up a tank were they would be happy enough to breed. Although this is not a true biotope (this is now my main show tank), i have tried to taylor the water parameters to suite their needs.
Water parameters: gH - 5, kH - 1, pH 6.5 for now, i've added a lot of almond leaves and alder cones, so hopefully this will reduce the pH as the leaves and cones break down.
Tank Spec:
Tank: 89 x 30 x 44 (LxHxD), which equates to about 90 litres after displacement from Hardscape, substrate etc etc.
Substrate: Original pond aquasoil capped with Ebi gold.
Lighting: 2 x TMC mini 400 led's with controller. Set @ 30% and suspended 40cm above the tank. Photo period is 6 hours for the time being. I will increase this to 8 hours after about a month or so.
Filtration: JBL cristal profi e700 (700 ltr per hour).
Heating: Hydor inline heater set to 26 degrees C.
Hardscape: Redmoor root and yamaya stone.
Flora: Salvinia natans, Microsorum mini/petite, Microsorum trident, Aponogeton crispus 'Red', Anubias bonsai, Cryptocoryne parva, Cryptocoryne wendtii 'brown, Cryptocoryne wendtii 'green' Taxiphyllum barbieri, Hygrophila pinnatifida, Monosolenium tenerum, Vesicularia ferriei 'Weeping', Ranalisma Mini.
Fauna: Primarily liquorice gourami, not sure what else yet?
Thanks for looking, constructive criticism, ideas welcome.
Sorry for the crappy pictures, there just off my phone.
