Hi all,
Not sure if anyone here will remember me, I've been out of the hobby for a good few years now.
I would like to get back into having a tank, and feel the need for discussion as I believe there may have been some developments in certain areas whilst I've been away. Please bare with me!
Goal:
The pleasure in this hobby for me comes from observation of an aquarium, long term. Watching it tick over peacefully for years. Rescaping, maintainence, pruning, water changes etc are for just a massive pain in my opinion.
I have chosen the 45 h (45h x 30d x 45w) as it's the largest tank I can accommodate space wise, the idea being that the 56 litre tank should be more stable than my previous 19 litre ADA Mini M tank, which frankly was a complete nightmare (algae, plants dying).
So I want a super low tech (read as little maintainence as possible) tank that can slowly mature with the aim to keep the same scape for years. Which leads me to:
Method:
This is an area which I would like to learn whether there have been recent developments. Previously I used the Tom Barr method for low tech which was sort of a lean EI dosing scheme if I recall correctly. I still have quite a bit KNO3, K2PO4 and Trace elements mix all bought from Aqua Essentials before. Is there a new school of thought for low tech? Dosing? Lighting? Water changes? I do not plan on C02 at all, or any carbon addition, though discussion around the latter regarding new methods could be interesting.
Plants:
Firstly, I have had what I would call 'success' previously for periods of several months with a 12 litre tank, and a 54 litre tank, (amongst the years of frustration I might add), success meaning hardly any algae, healthy plants and no need for much maintainence. What both of these tanks had in common was that they were both pretty overgrown and that seemed to put them 'in balance' or something. So this time I will plant as densely as I can from the start.
I have a love for Bolbitis (mini and normal) it's my favourite plant by a mile bar none. However, I have never been able to sustain it for long. Even so I am determined that I will have a beautiful tank full of it! Please any advice with regards to bolbitis would really be appreciated. London tap water by the way.
I plan on mosses, ferns (java types etc), bolbitis, Anubius petite. Any other suggestions welcome for low tech long term tank. Undecided on crypts, would probably rather have more mosses!
Substrate:
Would it be better to use a nourished substrate as well as sand or just sand if all plants are attached to wood / rocks and not planted in the substrate? I'm thinking it might be nice to use substrate as this would allow me to just pop a new plant in in future should I want to try it. Thoughts?
Hardscape:
Planning on a large island of rocks and protruding branches coming out, covered in mosses and ferns.
Lighting:
I am considering the Dennerle Power 5watt LED. Previously I had a Plantedbox 9w fluorescent light on my ADA Mini M, which many people said could be too much light, so I think think might be a good place to start. Any other suggestions welcome baring in mind my goal.
Filtration:
This is an area I need some advice. I do have a 200 watt hydor heater that I bought and never used, but I sold my old Eheim. I want something good quality and well designed for easy maintenance. And as quiet as possible as this tank will be in a bedroom. Price for any equipment isn't an issue, I'm less poor now
I have an old lily pipe outlet by 'power men' looks about 10mm ish. Though I need an inlet safe for baby shrimp. And thoughts on the best inlet and outlet for this setup?
Also any tips on making water changes easier through the design of the initial setup would be great.
Inhabitants:
The tank will predominantly be a shrimp tank. I may add ottos, and possibly other fish later, but that's really not the focus. I will probably go with Sakura Cherry shrimp. Had them previously and they were fantastic.
To those who help me make this successful, I'll send you free shrimp and plants when it is!
Not sure if anyone here will remember me, I've been out of the hobby for a good few years now.
I would like to get back into having a tank, and feel the need for discussion as I believe there may have been some developments in certain areas whilst I've been away. Please bare with me!
Goal:
The pleasure in this hobby for me comes from observation of an aquarium, long term. Watching it tick over peacefully for years. Rescaping, maintainence, pruning, water changes etc are for just a massive pain in my opinion.
I have chosen the 45 h (45h x 30d x 45w) as it's the largest tank I can accommodate space wise, the idea being that the 56 litre tank should be more stable than my previous 19 litre ADA Mini M tank, which frankly was a complete nightmare (algae, plants dying).
So I want a super low tech (read as little maintainence as possible) tank that can slowly mature with the aim to keep the same scape for years. Which leads me to:
Method:
This is an area which I would like to learn whether there have been recent developments. Previously I used the Tom Barr method for low tech which was sort of a lean EI dosing scheme if I recall correctly. I still have quite a bit KNO3, K2PO4 and Trace elements mix all bought from Aqua Essentials before. Is there a new school of thought for low tech? Dosing? Lighting? Water changes? I do not plan on C02 at all, or any carbon addition, though discussion around the latter regarding new methods could be interesting.
Plants:
Firstly, I have had what I would call 'success' previously for periods of several months with a 12 litre tank, and a 54 litre tank, (amongst the years of frustration I might add), success meaning hardly any algae, healthy plants and no need for much maintainence. What both of these tanks had in common was that they were both pretty overgrown and that seemed to put them 'in balance' or something. So this time I will plant as densely as I can from the start.
I have a love for Bolbitis (mini and normal) it's my favourite plant by a mile bar none. However, I have never been able to sustain it for long. Even so I am determined that I will have a beautiful tank full of it! Please any advice with regards to bolbitis would really be appreciated. London tap water by the way.
I plan on mosses, ferns (java types etc), bolbitis, Anubius petite. Any other suggestions welcome for low tech long term tank. Undecided on crypts, would probably rather have more mosses!
Substrate:
Would it be better to use a nourished substrate as well as sand or just sand if all plants are attached to wood / rocks and not planted in the substrate? I'm thinking it might be nice to use substrate as this would allow me to just pop a new plant in in future should I want to try it. Thoughts?
Hardscape:
Planning on a large island of rocks and protruding branches coming out, covered in mosses and ferns.
Lighting:
I am considering the Dennerle Power 5watt LED. Previously I had a Plantedbox 9w fluorescent light on my ADA Mini M, which many people said could be too much light, so I think think might be a good place to start. Any other suggestions welcome baring in mind my goal.
Filtration:
This is an area I need some advice. I do have a 200 watt hydor heater that I bought and never used, but I sold my old Eheim. I want something good quality and well designed for easy maintenance. And as quiet as possible as this tank will be in a bedroom. Price for any equipment isn't an issue, I'm less poor now
I have an old lily pipe outlet by 'power men' looks about 10mm ish. Though I need an inlet safe for baby shrimp. And thoughts on the best inlet and outlet for this setup?
Also any tips on making water changes easier through the design of the initial setup would be great.
Inhabitants:
The tank will predominantly be a shrimp tank. I may add ottos, and possibly other fish later, but that's really not the focus. I will probably go with Sakura Cherry shrimp. Had them previously and they were fantastic.
To those who help me make this successful, I'll send you free shrimp and plants when it is!