Thomas McMillan
Member
- Joined
- 9 Jun 2008
- Messages
- 1,126
So, it's no secret that I've been wanting to set up a Sri Lanka biotope for ages. Just because I like the idea of creating something as natural as possible, because Crypts are my favourite plant (they come from Sri Lanka), because Cherry Barbs look like cool fish and because the lack of biotope entries in the AGA each year has inspired me.
I did go through a phase or maybe setting up a Gourami biotope instead, but a poll sorted that out.
Okay. So the tank is 35l, 50cm long and about 25cm high/wide give or take. Here's what I've come up with:
I'm planning to leave it open-top. I think it will look more natural - like the roots of a tree on the river side, and also when the Crypts mature it will look even more awesome when they start to grow emmersed.
As far as planting goes, mostly Crypts. I might get some Aponogeton Crispus aswell because this also comes from Sri Lanka. I might also moss up the wood. I know moss isn't from Sri Lanka...but yeah.
For the livestock, Cherry Barbs. Probably two males and four females but I'll cross that road when I come to it. I might also add some Cherry Shrimp (yes, not from Sri Lanka I know but they carry on the 'cherry' theme ) and/or MTS.
Lighting will be around 1.5wpg which I think is plenty. TPN+ and Flourish Excel as usual. I'll probably use Tropica Plant Substrate but not sure on that as of yet.
I'm also considering having a mixed-grade foreground of sand and graded gravel, similar to Saintly's ''opti-white take 2'', but still not 100% on this either.
So yeah, that's the plan. This journal will be a bit dead for a couple of months because I won't be setting this up until after Christmas, but boredom leads to the posting of premature journals.
I did go through a phase or maybe setting up a Gourami biotope instead, but a poll sorted that out.
Okay. So the tank is 35l, 50cm long and about 25cm high/wide give or take. Here's what I've come up with:
I'm planning to leave it open-top. I think it will look more natural - like the roots of a tree on the river side, and also when the Crypts mature it will look even more awesome when they start to grow emmersed.
As far as planting goes, mostly Crypts. I might get some Aponogeton Crispus aswell because this also comes from Sri Lanka. I might also moss up the wood. I know moss isn't from Sri Lanka...but yeah.
For the livestock, Cherry Barbs. Probably two males and four females but I'll cross that road when I come to it. I might also add some Cherry Shrimp (yes, not from Sri Lanka I know but they carry on the 'cherry' theme ) and/or MTS.
Lighting will be around 1.5wpg which I think is plenty. TPN+ and Flourish Excel as usual. I'll probably use Tropica Plant Substrate but not sure on that as of yet.
I'm also considering having a mixed-grade foreground of sand and graded gravel, similar to Saintly's ''opti-white take 2'', but still not 100% on this either.
So yeah, that's the plan. This journal will be a bit dead for a couple of months because I won't be setting this up until after Christmas, but boredom leads to the posting of premature journals.