My low tech 82 gal.

[Guillermo]

Hi guys, this is my 82 low tech 82 gal planted tank, it's been setup since November 1st. , 2003.

Tank : 51 1/4" long, 23.5" tall, 15 3/4" wide (130x60x40 metrical)
82.43 galons (312 litres)

DIY Stand: 1 1/4 squared iron with a wood cover.

DIY Canopy/cover : Aluminum with a glass on the bottom and a mirror on top, with 4 fluorescent 32 watts. lamps, ( It has extra space if I want to add 2 more tubes)

Light : 128 watts 10 hours/day

Filtration: Eheim Classic 2250

Heating : 1 200 watts. Hagen and 1 100 watts. Krill (Made in Mexico) at 80F(26°C)

Substrate : 2 15 lbs. bags of Azzo Plant Grower bed mixed with regular 3-5 mm. gravel.

No Co2, No Ferts.

Plants : Hygrophilla Polysperma, Limnophilla Sessiliflora, Microsorum Pteropus, Vallisneria, Anubia Barteri, Anubia Lanceolata, Anubia Nana var. Petit., Cryptocorine Wendtii Brown, Cryptocorine Lutea, Lilaeopsis Brasiliensis and some moss and ludwigia repens that refuse to grow, lol.

Wood : 4 Mopani roots and 1 mangroove.

No rocks yet (if I re-do the decoration, I would add some slate rocks)

Fish : Tetras (13 Cardinals,10 X-ray, 10 Lemons, 3 Black neons, 2 Red Phanton) A pair of bushy nose, and three corys (I will add 7 more)

Shrimp: Unknown number of caridinae (sp?)

Snails: The mighty and alway present planorbis

The Pics:

Left Side


Right Side


Center:


The Val Jungle (where the male bushy nose and shrimps hide)


The Java Fern (Microsorum Pteropus)


I covered the Eheim 'nice' intake pipe with a mopani root


My limnnophilla S. is recovering yet.


The lilaeopsis B. is growing very very slow, I guess its because it needs more light.



Anubia petit on the mangroove


Anubia Barteri on a mopani root


Higrophilla P.


Anubia L. (maybe experiencing lack of iron)


Crypto W. B.


General view




I'm tempted to re do the tank, maybe changing to a mix of fluorite and Onyx and make some kind of sltae terrace on the right side, add more roots and put a lot foreground plants (maybe more Lilaeopsis B.)

Thanks for looking the post and all comments are welcome.

Regards

[mrbelvedere]

More L. Sessiflora! Sorry, I suggest that to everyone, it is my favorite plant and all. I wouldn't worry too much about the substrate. Good start. In such a tall tankwith lower light, a good foreground would be crypts. It would give the tank a unique look. But hey, that's just me. And in your signature, you know how it says "no ferts"? That is really not the best course of action, I would rethink it.

[Wasserpest]

Looks great for a non-fertilizer, non-CO2 tank! Seems like you found the right balance there. Consider adding some root-tabs or fert sticks around the Crypt. Love those vallis! Bien hecho.

[Guillermo]

Hi guys, thanks for the kind words, glad to know you like my tank.

MrBelvedere, I love LS too! I had a bunch, but for some reason it decayed and it's recovering, this specie decays for some time, then thrives again, at least in my tank.I thought about short cryps in the foreground too due the low light, but I will have to add at least one more inch of substrate, 50/50 Fluorite/Onyx that is.

And in your signature, you know how it says "no ferts"? That is really not the best course of action, I would rethink it.

Yep, I'm considering some fertilizing if I make some changes in the substrate and right side, I'm a big fan of the phrase "If it's not broken...don't fix it " though. As I'm no ferts expert, which products can I consider taking in count my low light ? The only "fertilization" was provided by the azoo plant grower bed in the beginning, but it has lost its properties, the bag says it last 18 months.

Wasserpest, I bought a box of Sera Florenette A root tabs for the crypts I will put them tonight. Which fert sticks do you recommend ? Muchas Gracias

[Wasserpest]

Originally Posted by Guillermo

Wasserpest, I bought a box of Sera Florenette A root tabs for the crypts I will put them tonight. Which fert sticks do you recommend ? Muchas Gracias

De nada!

The Florenette should help somewhat, not sure if it contains any macros (NPK). I use something called Jobes sticks, but it is debated whether to recommend them or stay away from them, since they contain some Urea which can lead to algae outbreaks (search for jobes on the forum...). Some ppl use overpriced Seachem root tabs, some use AP brand, a little cheaper, some roll their own... it's up to you!

[Betowess]

Muy Bien. Even more so considering the no CO2. I think your light fish load might be a part of your successful method. Have you ever had any Black Brush Algae show up? I am very impressed. And I like the Mopani intake too! By the way, Marselia is a good low or high light foreground plant. Kind of clover like.

[Guillermo]

Hey Wassepest, I will search those sticks in the fish markets we have here in Mexco City, I can give'em a try, this is a "trial and error" hobby, lol. If they don't sell them, I can buy seachem's

Betowess, yep, the fish load is very important, I used to have discus fish and the plants didn't look like they are right know, all cichlids are messy fish, lol.

Have you ever had any Black Brush Algae show up?

Nope, the only "crisis" was caused by BGA, I applied the 3 blackout method combined with erithromicin (sp?) about a year ago and the BGA never has appeared again.

Thanks for the kind words amigos !!

[narhay]

Looking good...

If you don't mind, I have a few suggestions:

- Put that ugly green eheim tube somewhere hidden. I liked the root idea, but it seems to be gone in the full-tank shot...

- Your vals are growing really nicely. I would put a transition mid-level plant between them and the foreground because they just kind of rise up like a giant cliff out of nowhere. Your choice of plant for sure.

- I third the motion for more crypts in the front. Put some root tabs underneath and you'll have a lush foreground in no time.

The centre with the anubias and driftwood along with that health java fern is my favourite. Way to go.

Narhay.

[macclellan]

el tanque esta bien chevere... shows that low fish load + decent lights and no co2 can produce good results...

[Mangala]

I am IN LOVE with those Vals, by the way. It's what I'm hoping my corkscrew vals will do eventually in my angelfish tank (grow all thick and tall, that is) Right now they're sticking to mid-way up the tank. I hope that's not going to be permanent...

Perhaps I should move them towards the front and try to find some jungle vals?

[metfan581]

do you have a pic of the stand?

[Guillermo]

Hi metfan581.

I was taking a look at my photobucket albums and only found this old crappy pic, it was taken when I introduced a couple of discus, right after cycling the tank, it had only vallis and limnophilla and some crypts, the stand is DIY, it is made of iron and covered with wood, the stand on the left is 100% wood for storage.





If I can find a better pic, I will post it or post an update of this tank it is very different now, LOL

Thanks for asking.

[Guillermo]

I've found a couple of pics

The metal stand alone:



Wood cover finished :



Good Luck.