My Low Tech Planted Tank

[Qays]

Hey all, Thought i'd post some pics of my low tech planted tank.

Size: (18x12x12) 11 US Gallon

Lighting: 15W Interpet Triton (1.3 wpg) - Will soon get an arcadia freshwater 8w tube giving me 2wpg (not exact on a small tank though, so lower).

Plants: Java Ferns, Cabomba, Vallis, Hygrophila Polysperma. -Soon adding some foreground plants like java moss and anubias.

NO CO2, NO Fert, NO Aquarium soil etc...

Fish: 5 Guppies, 5 Neon tetras, 3 Cories

You can also see the hygrophilla poly I

Before:

After:

Still not finished though, but so far, this is it.

More pics:

QUESTIONS:

-Can i grow Java moss on the large rocks you see there? Will it look good on the rocks?
-From looking at my lighting and plants, will my plants be ok in this light? Will i have algae issues?

Thanks, and feedback on tank would be nice, and also if anyone has questions, ill try to answer!

 

[Alex_]

ya, moss would look good on those rocks all you have to do is tie it down with fishing line.

yes, you'll probly get algea if do not dose co2 or ferts or have a plant soil and 2 watts is not exactly low tech.

i would get root tabs and a all perpose doser like seachem or tetra make good ones imo.

also read all the pinned topics they answer your q's better then i can.

Good luck
-Alex

 

[Qays]

Yes, but 2wpg, is not 2 wpg in an 11 gallon because the wpg rule does not count for small tanks.

It would be a much less wpg.

I have read the pinned topics, but they dont answer the specifics for my question.

Thanks for the reply

 

[Themuleous]

1) Great tank, much better IMHO Needs some foreground stuff, but good start.

2) I would tie the java moss to the rocks with cotton, I find it much easier to work with and doesn't 'slip' around as much especially on nice smooth, round rocks like those.

3) I would think 2WPG on 11G doesn't necessitate CO2 but as always it'd probably help.

4) Some sort of liquid fert would be a good idea, but again not essential, you'll add various trace things when you do a water change (thats of course unless you use pure RO/DI which I doubt). If you can get it tropica master grow (think this has been renamed so prob best to check with tropica first) it the best liquid fert you can get.

Sam

 

[Qays]

1) Great tank, much better IMHO Needs some foreground stuff, but good start.

2) I would tie the java moss to the rocks with cotton, I find it much easier to work with and doesn't 'slip' around as much especially on nice smooth, round rocks like those.

3) I would think 2WPG on 11G doesn't necessitate CO2 but as always it'd probably help.

4) Some sort of liquid fert would be a good idea, but again not essential, you'll add various trace things when you do a water change (thats of course unless you use pure RO/DI which I doubt). If you can get it tropica master grow (think this has been renamed so prob best to check with tropica first) it the best liquid fert you can get.

Sam

Thanks alot sam!
Definately need foreground plants

I am looking about on ebay for some good foreground plants, any you could reccomend in my tanks conditions?
(low light, No co2, no fert, no gravel)

Im really looking forward to planting my java moss as i have ordered some, i will update pictures when i go further.

I want to keep the tank as low maintenance as possible, if i have algae issues (have had diatoms but nothing else so far) I will look at fertalisers (or if i get bored i will).

My main aim was to just cover up my equipment so that they dont look ugly, but now im looking at improving the looks of the tank.

More comments and advice needed!

 

[Themuleous]

You could look to one of the smaller crypt species, they can be quite small and are undemanding so probably idea for your foreground

S

 

[Qays]

Think they will do well without fertaliser gravel?

Also, what other options are there?

i got my java moss today! Tied down successfully, Waitinf for it to take shape a bit more

 

[Themuleous]

You could just add a few root tabts for the crypts? You could try some dwarf sagittaria?

 

[Qays]

I like the dwarf sagittaria idea! Just looked it up and it seems like a good plant.

I have 2 questions though:

1) how is it pruned?
2) will it do die in my light? (1.3, soon 2wpg - Remember it isnt as high in a small tank)

Do you think some dwarf anubias will work? Or will it die? Its quite expencive for even just a few leaves worth, so i dont want it to die.

Thanks alot Sam!

 

[Themuleous]

To prune in to you just remove the older leaves (a bit like removing the outer leaves on a leak or such like) I dont think you can really reduce the height of it though if that's what you mean, but it shouldn't look to tall in your tank.

I've got some growing in my main tank which Ive just swapped over, to plants and thats at about 1.08WPG so there you go! Of course it wont grow hugely well but it should still grow again a plant substrate helps. I guess you could always mix in some to what you already have?

All the anubias species are quite hardly and will tolerate low light so you should find it grows.

Sam

 

[tetraman]

Yes! Join the club! You're the only person I've met with any kind of green cory!

 

[julia298]

Your tank looks lovely. Id like to see pics when youve got some foreground plants growing.
It makes me want to try a smaller tank.
My back tells me NO, 2 tanks is enough.

 

[adam98150]

Qay,
What starter unit did you use for your 11g lights? As it looks very bright and mine looks quite dim(I think its because of my cheap starter units)