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Planted fish tank
- Thread starter tom e
- Start date
On the very right corner is the wisteria, but just to the left of that is the riccia moss, tied to some slate.
I also have some java moss but it's barely visible on the left side in front of the rotala. Kind of looks like a shadow. I've moved it into the shade because it was getting clogged with hair algae.. And my anubias are a little algaefied currently. Glad to hear you say that's common in new tanks. I almost pulled them, lol.
I also have some java moss but it's barely visible on the left side in front of the rotala. Kind of looks like a shadow. I've moved it into the shade because it was getting clogged with hair algae.. And my anubias are a little algaefied currently. Glad to hear you say that's common in new tanks. I almost pulled them, lol.
LBoz
Original Curmudgeon
Looks awesome!! What kind of substrate are you using? It's hard to tell...it looks larger than T. Moon Sand...Almost looks like Soil Master?
Don't worry about the algae...well, hair algae is a total pain, but you might end up with diatoms as it starts to get more established. I've learned to let that pretty much run its course and it goes away on its own. Florida Flag fish are awesome for hair algae though, if you're finding it getting out of control.
Really looking good, Tom...ALMOST makes me want to set up a new tank...almost.
Don't worry about the algae...well, hair algae is a total pain, but you might end up with diatoms as it starts to get more established. I've learned to let that pretty much run its course and it goes away on its own. Florida Flag fish are awesome for hair algae though, if you're finding it getting out of control.
Really looking good, Tom...ALMOST makes me want to set up a new tank...almost.
Cflaguy
Old School Snakeman
Can't go wrong with....
White Clouds.
Anybody ever do a tank to the point you could remove mechanical filtration? I did one about twenty years ago, took about 6 months as I remember. My Aunt did one a few years ago and claims it took only a few weeks. I know the starter chemicals technology is better today but come on.....
White Clouds.
Anybody ever do a tank to the point you could remove mechanical filtration? I did one about twenty years ago, took about 6 months as I remember. My Aunt did one a few years ago and claims it took only a few weeks. I know the starter chemicals technology is better today but come on.....
LBoz
Original Curmudgeon
I've done several tanks that relied solely on plants for filtration. I only have one right now, though. I've got an article you've all got to see...this guy used to be a moderator on my site, and this article will inspire the socks right off of you...I just have to find it.....
**edit**
Ok, this is my friend Clint Norwood's site, and the article is by Roy Corrigan. He's the nano master.
http://www.tinytanks.net/plants/nano_mavvy.php
**edit**
Ok, this is my friend Clint Norwood's site, and the article is by Roy Corrigan. He's the nano master.
http://www.tinytanks.net/plants/nano_mavvy.php
Chip
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒ&
Ignorantly posting before reading the link: my thoughts are that you need water flow for a healthy planted tank, so something has to move that water. As for "starter chemicals," you're spending as wise a dollar on "corn snake oil," imo.
Edit: link makes me want to set up a bowl!
Edit: link makes me want to set up a bowl!
LBoz
Original Curmudgeon
Doesn't it? I've read that article a million times, and it still enthrals me. There are many more photos of his work out there...he's really got a magical touch when it comes to the nano.
Cflaguy
Old School Snakeman
How big are the tanks Lori...
the ones you've done that relied on plants for filtration?
I have two "bowls" more like vases, a friend gave me some ten years ago, set up for Bettas. They have Peace Lillies (that is what I was told anyway) both in the water and planted in a bowl at the top of the vase.
the ones you've done that relied on plants for filtration?
I have two "bowls" more like vases, a friend gave me some ten years ago, set up for Bettas. They have Peace Lillies (that is what I was told anyway) both in the water and planted in a bowl at the top of the vase.
LBoz
Original Curmudgeon
Check out Diana Walstad's book The Ecology of the Planted Aquarium for some great info on natural, soil tanks. She's pretty amazing.
Bowls are the same as nanos. Nano simply means < 2.5 gal, IIRC. If you have enough plants, there's no need for mechanical filtration (this is species dependent, of course!!). Water changes and proper feeding, as well as proper fish for such a setup, make it pretty easy. I've done it with african dwarf frogs, shrimp, endlers, killis...I'm not saying it's the easiest thing in the world, and probably not for the "day one" hobbyist, but it's not difficult either. My adf tank was my favorite. My last frog lived five years in a nano...dang he was cute, too.
Bowls are the same as nanos. Nano simply means < 2.5 gal, IIRC. If you have enough plants, there's no need for mechanical filtration (this is species dependent, of course!!). Water changes and proper feeding, as well as proper fish for such a setup, make it pretty easy. I've done it with african dwarf frogs, shrimp, endlers, killis...I'm not saying it's the easiest thing in the world, and probably not for the "day one" hobbyist, but it's not difficult either. My adf tank was my favorite. My last frog lived five years in a nano...dang he was cute, too.
LBoz
Original Curmudgeon
It's ok....they're all pretty light like that. I have one that's mixed with flourite and Shultz Aqua gravel. The shifted places, but by that time a nice mulm formed on the gravel. You have to vac plants with thin airline tubing anyway, and even that's a pain, but it doesn't rip out your plants or mess up your substrate too much. Mulm will be your friend!!
Do you guys know of a good prefilter I can use? I have an eheim canister filter (don't know if that matters) I know both the shrimp and guppies will be reproducing (I think I already have a pregnant guppy) and while I'm sure the guppies will try to eat them all, I don't want to see the survivors end up in the filter.
I was looking at some online, but I wasn't sure if they would fit on my tubing. Are they pretty universal or do you have to be careful ordering?
I was looking at some online, but I wasn't sure if they would fit on my tubing. Are they pretty universal or do you have to be careful ordering?
LBoz
Original Curmudgeon
I always use the AC sponges as well, but only on my breeder tanks. For a display tank, I prefer the zoo med 501 sponge filters...you can usually find them in the reptile section of most lfs.
Tom, this is one of my favorite online supply sites.... www.kensfish.com
Tom, this is one of my favorite online supply sites.... www.kensfish.com
Great idea, thanks!
My last question was just in time I suppose. I was looking into the tank today and it looks like I have 2 berried shrimp!
Question for you Lori: Do they lay the eggs and then attach them under the tail, or should they be there already? One of the shrimp has them attached, and the other looks like they are on the substrate, and she's sort of moving them around. I wondered if she decided to dump them (?) or if I caught her in the process of attaching them where she's going to carry them till they hatch.
Fingers crossed! I could use some more shrimp..
Question for you Lori: Do they lay the eggs and then attach them under the tail, or should they be there already? One of the shrimp has them attached, and the other looks like they are on the substrate, and she's sort of moving them around. I wondered if she decided to dump them (?) or if I caught her in the process of attaching them where she's going to carry them till they hatch.
Fingers crossed! I could use some more shrimp..
LBoz
Original Curmudgeon
Tom, your red cherries are high order (they have a trendy new name now, but I still use that) so there is no larval form. Your berried shrimp is constantly rotating her eggs with her spinnerettes, and she'll deliver fully formed live babies. They will be extremely hard to see for the first few days, but if you look close enough you'll see them, usually hanging out on plants eating micro fauna. They'll be pretty clear until the females start to mature, then you'll be able to tell the males from the females...but that will take several weeks.
Good luck, and definitely get that pre-filter on there! I use the black ones by zoo-med. I think it's for turtle power filters...they're expensive, so I cut them in half and just place each half over the intakes. The good news is that they last forever. I use the AC sponges in breeder and grow out tanks, but the black ones in my display tanks.
Keep us posted!
Good luck, and definitely get that pre-filter on there! I use the black ones by zoo-med. I think it's for turtle power filters...they're expensive, so I cut them in half and just place each half over the intakes. The good news is that they last forever. I use the AC sponges in breeder and grow out tanks, but the black ones in my display tanks.
Keep us posted!