Amazon Biotope

[Platapus]

Hey Guys,

Im in the process of designing an amazon biotope, for the last 8 years i have kept marines but i also want to have a crack at a biotope, all this is a learning curve for me but im getting my head around it slowly, i just have a couple of questions

1) Is it really not viable to use a sump with a planted tank? i have a 5x2x2 with sump already that i was going to use but i have read that i would lose alot of co2 if i just this?

2) Would it be okay to use a skimmer on the system as i have read that amazionian water contains very low nurtients content so using a skimmer would aid me with this? though with it having a very low salt content compared to marines this may not work aswell! but would still like to know opinions on this?

3) Does anybody know of any good sites/books on amazon biotopes as i cant seem to find much on the net!

4) I also have a metal hailde unit which i have thought about using its a 150w 14k bulb would this be okay on a planted tank or will it be too strong?

Also could you have a quick look at my wish list and advise me if this would be okay, anything i should or shouldnt have?

Fish List

Corydoras Panda - (Panda Cory Cat)
Microgeophagus ramirezi - (Gold/Blue Ram)
Paracheirodon axelrodi - (Cardinal Tetra)
Hemigrammus rhodostomus - (True Rummynose Tetra)
Rachoviscus crassiceps - (Gold Tetra)
Gasteropelecus sternicla - (Silver Hatchet)
Hypancistrus zebra - (Zebra Pleco)


Plant List

Alternanthera reineckii ''roseafolia''
Echinodorus bleheri
Echinodorus macrophyllus
Echinodorus martii
Echinodorus osiris
Echinodorus bolivianus var. Magdalenensis.
Echinodorus schlueteri
Echinodorus uruguayensis
Eichhornia diversifolia
Gymnocoronis spilanthoides
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Lilaeopsis brasiliensis
Ludwigia inclinata
Myriophyllum aquaticum
Phyllanthus fluitans


Any help would be great thanks! B)

 

[andywg]

1) The sump system will encourage far more gas exchange and thus gas out most of the CO2 you would want to add for heavy planting. Mind you, most of the amazon seems to have visibility of about 2" and a sediment bottom. If you want planted you will expend a lot of eneregy just countering the effect of the sump. Better off using a cannister filter and stocking lighter.

2) Protein skimmers do not work in FW due to the larger bubble sizes and lack of charged ions found in marine salt to create the right conditions for the DOC to be removed. There's no real need for a skimmer, FW water changes don't cost anywhere near as much as SW.

3) Can't help, sorry.

4) The bulb is the wrong colour temperature. Plants want a temp closer to natural sunlight (somewhere 6000-7000K - which is ideal for coral growth too, but marine awquarists prefer the bluer colours of higher temps). A 14000K bulb in freshwater is likely to turn it into an algae tank before a planted tank.

 

[demonmagus]

this site is great for biotopes there are many different amazonian biotopes:


http/fish.mongabay.com/biotope.htm

 

[CFC]

Heres a link to a old post where a lot of information on biotopes was posted http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...9591&hl=biotope