Would love your ideas!

[Evad]

Hello team! For the past 20 years I have had a planted freshwater tank and have really enjoyed it, but I am now at a stage in my life where I need something that requires a lot less maintenance/monitoring/care. This is why I am posting here - to get your ideas!

I have a 180 gallon with two FX4 filters and more lighting than I will ever need for the new setup. I am looking for something that is lower maintenance and doesn't require a lot of care. I can do 50% water changes twice a month.

Any ideas? African cichlids? Stick with regular tropical fish and just use fake plants? Discus? Heck I would even consider a regular goldfish tank.

Thanks for any ideas you have would be appreciated.

 

[AbbeysDad]

I'm not sure I follow. Maintenance in a low tech planted tank is merely partial water changes and filter maintenance (for your canisters is probably once a month or every other). So what are you looking to quit doing to have less maint?

 

[Evad]

I'm not sure I follow. Maintenance in a low tech planted tank is merely partial water changes and filter maintenance (for your canisters is probably once a month or every other). So what are you looking to quit doing to have less maint?

Thanks for asking. In the past I have had higher light planted tanks with CO2 and lots of supplements. I have to stop using all of those things. I need to get to as simple as a setup as I can get or otherwise I just need to let it go and give it away

 

[PheonixKingZ]

180 gallons, would leave you with a ton of possibilities. I would love to have a discus tank, but it is all up to you. What kind of substrate are you using?

 

[Colin_T]

How about growing plants in pots with fertilisers in the pots so it doesn't leech into the tank. Then just have a planted tank without CO2.

You can go Rift Lake cichlids but if you have soft water you will need to add mineral salts to increase the hardness.

What are the tank dimensions (length x width x height)?

What is the GH (general hardness), KH (carbonate hardness) and pH of your water supply. This information can usually be obtained from your water supply company's website or by telephoning them. If they can't help you, take a glass full of tap water to the local pet shop and get them to test it for you. Write the results down (in numbers) when they do the tests. And ask them what the results are in (eg: ppm, dGH, or something else).

What fish do you like?
We can make suggestions but if you don't like particular fish it will make it harder to do.

 

[seangee]

What about just going low tech on the plants. Plenty of choices that don't require high light, CO2 or fertilisation (as you are used to it)