I Am Intrigued By Low-tech Tanks

[Captain Retardo]

I suddenly got intrigued by low-tech planted tanks, and I wish to have one. Is it okay if I have sand as a substrate? (I have cories and kuhli loaches)

The plants I am planning on getting:

Guppy Grass
Watersprite
Amazon Sword Plant
Hornwort
Java Moss
Java Fern
Maybe some Crypts and Anubias...

The light:

http/www.petsmart.com/global/product_det...&N=2030061&Ne=2

Or for the light I might get that ZooMed Tropic Sun light...

Note- I will get the light once my terrible light that came with the kit burns out Also, I won't have any FlourishExcel, or root tablets, no C02...etc.

 

[cujoho78]

Hi. I had a spare 10 gallon tank sitting around empty that i was basically using as a hospital/quarantine tank and i got tired of seeing it empty. So i built a hood for it, bought a regular 12" fluorescent light from Home Depot, put some sand in it and bought a few plants just to see what would happen. So far they're growing (or at least staying alive) just fine. I don't expect them to grow real fast, but i have seen some development in 3 weeks that is encouraging.

So i say go for it. Buy some plants that don't need intense lighting and see what happens. I haven't used any ferts or CO2 or any of that fancy stuff. Only light for 10-12 hours a day, and a water change every week. I imagine there would come a point where the tank wouldn't be able to support any more plants and that's fine with me. I just wanted to see what would happen. By the way, there's no fish in the tank yet either.

Good luck

 

[netcode]

Hi. I had a spare 10 gallon tank sitting around empty that i was basically using as a hospital/quarantine tank and i got tired of seeing it empty. So i built a hood for it, bought a regular 12" fluorescent light from Home Depot, put some sand in it and bought a few plants just to see what would happen. So far they're growing (or at least staying alive) just fine. I don't expect them to grow real fast, but i have seen some development in 3 weeks that is encouraging.

So i say go for it. Buy some plants that don't need intense lighting and see what happens. I haven't used any ferts or CO2 or any of that fancy stuff. Only light for 10-12 hours a day, and a water change every week. I imagine there would come a point where the tank wouldn't be able to support any more plants and that's fine with me. I just wanted to see what would happen. By the way, there's no fish in the tank yet either.

Good luck

with no fish in the tank i am surprised you have seen any growth. Your plants have no source of nutrients. I am sure if you leave fish out of that tank your plants will eventually die off.

Captain Retardo:
Low-tech tanks are great fun. I enjoy them because they are not as much work and you can keep just as nice plants.
You seem to have made good plant selections
Sand will be a good substrate for your plants, I do however suggest the use of root tabs around your swords. Root tabs are very cheap and require little effort.
I also do suggest the use of a simple trace fertilizer, seachem flourish is one, nutrafin has one too called plant gro or something along those lines. This stuff is cheap and you throw it in once or twice a week, I wouldn't consider that too much effort for the health improvements it will give your plants.

Anyways goodluck!

 

[Captain Retardo]

Great!

Would root tabs or flourish do any harm to my fish at all??? How much would those things cost?

I hope to plant my tank next summer, once I get some free time, and a job

 

[netcode]

Great!

Would root tabs or flourish do any harm to my fish at all??? How much would those things cost?

I hope to plant my tank next summer, once I get some free time, and a job

root tabs and flourish will not do any harm to your fish.. nor will any sort of plant fertilizer that is made for aquariums. As for cost, I am not sure about root tabs but the Seachem Flourish I buy at 12.99 Canadian. It will last me roughly 6 months in my 60 gallon tank, so it lasts very long.

PS check out my journal here

go to the last page and check out my reccent photos, it will give you an idea as to what can be achieved in low light tanks. Also keep in mind I am no professional, therefore even better results can be achieved.