Hello all:
This is my first post and I wanted to do it with some explanation and pictures.
I had an aquarium when I was a kid, but that was many, many years ago.
Last summer I decided I'd like to watch the little fishies again.
My subdivision has many beautiful natural lakes, so I also decided that I'd use as much material from my lake as I could.
So, when I started up the tank I first set out to find some nice aquatic plants.
With my john boat, a bucket, a small shovel, cheese cloth and zip ties.
When I found a nice plant that I liked and had the right size, I carefully dug it up making sure I didn't damage the plant or the roots.
I cut a 12" x 12" piece of cheese cloth (doubled up) and made a tight root ball with some of the original soil.
At the top of the root ball I zip-tied it and then cut the excess cheese cloth and zip tie tail.
Then I came home and planted my 30 gallon aquarium.
I did purchase some gravel for the base (coarse and medium).
I had found some lilly pads, a few clumps of grasses, some dollar weed, and other plant life which I don't yet know their names.
I also found a nice rock in the lake, which I use as centerpiece.
I added 27 gallons of water from the lake and ran the pump.
It took about three days for the water to be perfectly clear and it looked really nice.
I ran the light on the aquarium for 12 hours per day and an air pump with an airstone the remaining 12 hours when the light was off.
The plants started thriving almost at once.
Within a few days I saw new growth.
I replaced 20% of the water every other week with tap water collected two days in advance and with an airstone running 24 hours per day.
After 60 days I bought a heater and slowly started to raise the temperature to 80 degrees F.
30 days later I bought a bottom feeder and placed him in the aquarium. He seemed to like it.
A few weeks later I introduced 4 platties which have now started to reproduce as well.
I'm really pleased, but it's still a work in progress.
Here are some images:
Thanks for reading.
Happy Aquaculturing,
Perdro
This is my first post and I wanted to do it with some explanation and pictures.
I had an aquarium when I was a kid, but that was many, many years ago.
Last summer I decided I'd like to watch the little fishies again.
My subdivision has many beautiful natural lakes, so I also decided that I'd use as much material from my lake as I could.
So, when I started up the tank I first set out to find some nice aquatic plants.
With my john boat, a bucket, a small shovel, cheese cloth and zip ties.
When I found a nice plant that I liked and had the right size, I carefully dug it up making sure I didn't damage the plant or the roots.
I cut a 12" x 12" piece of cheese cloth (doubled up) and made a tight root ball with some of the original soil.
At the top of the root ball I zip-tied it and then cut the excess cheese cloth and zip tie tail.
Then I came home and planted my 30 gallon aquarium.
I did purchase some gravel for the base (coarse and medium).
I had found some lilly pads, a few clumps of grasses, some dollar weed, and other plant life which I don't yet know their names.
I also found a nice rock in the lake, which I use as centerpiece.
I added 27 gallons of water from the lake and ran the pump.
It took about three days for the water to be perfectly clear and it looked really nice.
I ran the light on the aquarium for 12 hours per day and an air pump with an airstone the remaining 12 hours when the light was off.
The plants started thriving almost at once.
Within a few days I saw new growth.
I replaced 20% of the water every other week with tap water collected two days in advance and with an airstone running 24 hours per day.
After 60 days I bought a heater and slowly started to raise the temperature to 80 degrees F.
30 days later I bought a bottom feeder and placed him in the aquarium. He seemed to like it.
A few weeks later I introduced 4 platties which have now started to reproduce as well.
I'm really pleased, but it's still a work in progress.
Here are some images:
Thanks for reading.
Happy Aquaculturing,
Perdro
Perdro. I admire your originality with the plants - looks good. I've never had much success with plants in my tanks, unfortunately. Well done for starting your aquarium up nice and gradually - too many folks can't wait long enough before they put fish in a new tank. Nice to see someone taking the time to do things properly.
