55 Gallon Low Tech- New Update 10-27!

**clwatkins10** · 07-24-2008, 04:09 AM

okay, this tank used to house huge catfish... until they got too huge... so I redid it as I had been wanting to for a long time. I got $9 worth of plain gravel at home depot and 4 daylight compact florescent screw- in bulbs, three of which are 14 watt and the other is 17 watts. Light fixture is home- made out of poplar, I am planning on upping the wattage later.
Flora:
-Water sprite
-Crypt. Wendtii Red
-Crypt. Wendtii Green
-Tiger Lotus Red
-Java Fern
-Giant Hairgass
-Broad- leaf sag.
-Dwarf lily red

Fauna:
-9 neon tetras
-5 glass cats
-5 fire rasboras
-3 rummy nose tetras
-2 angels
-2 debauwi cats
-1 bristle nose pleco
-1 sparkling gourami
-1 banjo cat (may move if finally starts to grow, I have had him for 3 years now, still small)
-1 golden white cloud
-1 emerald eye tetra
-1 cory (i forgot what kind)
5-11-08

-----
Fast forward 2 months--- Most of the plants got eaten by snails

, but I got rid of the snails

. I received a load of free plants, and was inspired to get this thing goin again, so I bought some more plants here and there, and this is how it looks now----

**mizu-chan** · 07-24-2008, 04:39 AM

Looks really nice so far. I love how cheap you can get substrate at Home Depot and Lowes.
Looks great so far. Your plants really compliment each other.
Do you have any drift wood in there? I can kinda see something on top of the rock in the first pic on the right, but I can't really tell.

**clwatkins10** · 07-24-2008, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizu-chan

Looks really nice so far. I love how cheap you can get substrate at Home Depot and Lowes.
Looks great so far. Your plants really compliment each other.
Do you have any drift wood in there? I can kinda see something on top of the rock in the first pic on the right, but I can't really tell.

I took the wood out, I needed it in another tank and needed the planting space in this one

**clwatkins10** · 07-24-2008, 08:04 AM

I want to grow moss in here, but read this : http://www.aquamoss.net/Articles/Sia...uatic-Moss.htm And I want to keep my sae....

**clwatkins10** · 09-14-2008, 11:55 PM

I am probably going to rescape...soon. I will probably have everything in a kind of mound towards the right side of the tank, so that the fish will have a nice swimming area. The tank is on a peninsula on out countertop, so I think that it would be nice. Any thoughts?

**clwatkins10** · 09-15-2008, 04:10 AM

Any thoughts?

**clwatkins10** · 09-19-2008, 01:55 AM

did the rescape, pics later

**clwatkins10** · 09-19-2008, 02:26 AM

Still a lil cloudy, I like the open space. Im going to make an xmas moss carpet over the bare part. Lemme know what you think

**clwatkins10** · 09-19-2008, 02:59 AM

I need to get a BUNCH of crypts and stuff thats is low/ medium height.

**lauraleellbp** · 09-19-2008, 03:59 AM

As much as I love assymetrical 'scapes, IMO it really doesn't seem to make the most of the bowfront shape of your beautiful tank. I think this tank would actually do better with either a U-shaped design, or a more balanced/symmetrical scape with the "grassy plain" coming forward, out into the bow, IUKWIM?

**clwatkins10** · 09-19-2008, 04:09 AM

I know what you mean, but I wanted to have an area for the fish. My tank isnt a bow front... lol I wish it were tho haha. Im probably going to change it again, but I'll see what I can do with it

**lauraleellbp** · 09-19-2008, 04:25 AM

WoW- so it's not! I could have sworn it was from the first post, but now I look back and see that it was your gravel slope that made me think it was a bowfront tank.

I retract what I said then; just stick with, "assymetrical scapes are my fav!!" LOL

**chris127** · 09-20-2008, 09:11 PM

now what you need is a jungle of vals on the left side

**clwatkins10** · 10-01-2008, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris127

now what you need is a jungle of vals on the left side

If I could manage keeping them from turning to goo.
Today I added 4 more rummies. Im really liking how this fish schools. I know have ten. I got rid of the gold white cloud and the two debawi (sp?) cats because they were starting to nip at fins

**Tex Gal** · 10-01-2008, 04:41 AM

Gotta comment on the moss issue. I have had SAE's in my tank with moss. I never saw them bother it at all. I pulled moss out of my tank all the time and sold it. I do feed them each night with wafers, shrimp pellets, zucchini or cucumbers, etc. I did finally give mine up because they were eating my R. wallichi. I do still have flying foxes. Nothing bothers my mosses.

BTW I loved the 2nd scape you did. The current one just appears too empty to me. Perhaps a foreground would help and the fish could still swim in the water above the foreground....

07-24-2008, 04:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
clwatkins10 ¡ɐɯɯoɯ 'ɐoɥʍ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,709	55 Gallon Low Tech- New Update 10-27! okay, this tank used to house huge catfish... until they got too huge... so I redid it as I had been wanting to for a long time. I got $9 worth of plain gravel at home depot and 4 daylight compact florescent screw- in bulbs, three of which are 14 watt and the other is 17 watts. Light fixture is home- made out of poplar, I am planning on upping the wattage later. Flora: -Water sprite -Crypt. Wendtii Red -Crypt. Wendtii Green -Tiger Lotus Red -Java Fern -Giant Hairgass -Broad- leaf sag. -Dwarf lily red Fauna: -9 neon tetras -5 glass cats -5 fire rasboras -3 rummy nose tetras -2 angels -2 debauwi cats -1 bristle nose pleco -1 sparkling gourami -1 banjo cat (may move if finally starts to grow, I have had him for 3 years now, still small) -1 golden white cloud -1 emerald eye tetra -1 cory (i forgot what kind) 5-11-08----- Fast forward 2 months--- Most of the plants got eaten by snails , but I got rid of the snails . I received a load of free plants, and was inspired to get this thing goin again, so I bought some more plants here and there, and this is how it looks now---- __________________ EHEIM PIMP #298~~~~~~~I said it's great to be a TENNESSEE VOL! 55->Low-Tech - 20->High Tech - 10-> Vertical Terrarium - 7.2->ADA 30-C Moss Scape - 2.5->Rimless "Little Mountain" Last edited by clwatkins10; 10-28-2008 at 02:07 AM.

07-24-2008, 04:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
mizu-chan Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 776	Looks really nice so far. I love how cheap you can get substrate at Home Depot and Lowes. Looks great so far. Your plants really compliment each other. Do you have any drift wood in there? I can kinda see something on top of the rock in the first pic on the right, but I can't really tell. __________________ 魚は好きです。 20L journal (:

07-24-2008, 08:04 AM	#4 (permalink)
clwatkins10 ¡ɐɯɯoɯ 'ɐoɥʍ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,709	I want to grow moss in here, but read this : http://www.aquamoss.net/Articles/Sia...uatic-Moss.htm And I want to keep my sae.... __________________ EHEIM PIMP #298~~~~~~~I said it's great to be a TENNESSEE VOL! 55->Low-Tech - 20->High Tech - 10-> Vertical Terrarium - 7.2->ADA 30-C Moss Scape - 2.5->Rimless "Little Mountain"

09-14-2008, 11:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
clwatkins10 ¡ɐɯɯoɯ 'ɐoɥʍ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,709	I am probably going to rescape...soon. I will probably have everything in a kind of mound towards the right side of the tank, so that the fish will have a nice swimming area. The tank is on a peninsula on out countertop, so I think that it would be nice. Any thoughts? __________________ EHEIM PIMP #298~~~~~~~I said it's great to be a TENNESSEE VOL! 55->Low-Tech - 20->High Tech - 10-> Vertical Terrarium - 7.2->ADA 30-C Moss Scape - 2.5->Rimless "Little Mountain"

09-15-2008, 04:10 AM	#6 (permalink)
clwatkins10 ¡ɐɯɯoɯ 'ɐoɥʍ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,709	Any thoughts? __________________ EHEIM PIMP #298~~~~~~~I said it's great to be a TENNESSEE VOL! 55->Low-Tech - 20->High Tech - 10-> Vertical Terrarium - 7.2->ADA 30-C Moss Scape - 2.5->Rimless "Little Mountain"

09-19-2008, 01:55 AM	#7 (permalink)
clwatkins10 ¡ɐɯɯoɯ 'ɐoɥʍ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,709	did the rescape, pics later __________________ EHEIM PIMP #298~~~~~~~I said it's great to be a TENNESSEE VOL! 55->Low-Tech - 20->High Tech - 10-> Vertical Terrarium - 7.2->ADA 30-C Moss Scape - 2.5->Rimless "Little Mountain"

09-19-2008, 02:26 AM	#8 (permalink)
clwatkins10 ¡ɐɯɯoɯ 'ɐoɥʍ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,709	Still a lil cloudy, I like the open space. Im going to make an xmas moss carpet over the bare part. Lemme know what you think __________________ EHEIM PIMP #298~~~~~~~I said it's great to be a TENNESSEE VOL! 55->Low-Tech - 20->High Tech - 10-> Vertical Terrarium - 7.2->ADA 30-C Moss Scape - 2.5->Rimless "Little Mountain"

09-19-2008, 02:59 AM	#9 (permalink)
clwatkins10 ¡ɐɯɯoɯ 'ɐoɥʍ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,709	I need to get a BUNCH of crypts and stuff thats is low/ medium height. __________________ EHEIM PIMP #298~~~~~~~I said it's great to be a TENNESSEE VOL! 55->Low-Tech - 20->High Tech - 10-> Vertical Terrarium - 7.2->ADA 30-C Moss Scape - 2.5->Rimless "Little Mountain"

09-19-2008, 03:59 AM	#10 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (39) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 9,128	As much as I love assymetrical 'scapes, IMO it really doesn't seem to make the most of the bowfront shape of your beautiful tank. I think this tank would actually do better with either a U-shaped design, or a more balanced/symmetrical scape with the "grassy plain" coming forward, out into the bow, IUKWIM? __________________ 10 gal Shrimpy Jungle http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=24524 29 gal Asian themed tank for Betta simplex (in progress) http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=24513 46 gal of Sword Addiction (in progress) http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=24542 90 gal New World Community http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

09-19-2008, 04:09 AM	#11 (permalink)
clwatkins10 ¡ɐɯɯoɯ 'ɐoɥʍ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lexington, Ky Posts: 2,709	I know what you mean, but I wanted to have an area for the fish. My tank isnt a bow front... lol I wish it were tho haha. Im probably going to change it again, but I'll see what I can do with it __________________ EHEIM PIMP #298~~~~~~~I said it's great to be a TENNESSEE VOL! 55->Low-Tech - 20->High Tech - 10-> Vertical Terrarium - 7.2->ADA 30-C Moss Scape - 2.5->Rimless "Little Mountain"

09-19-2008, 04:25 AM	#12 (permalink)
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (39) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Naples, Florida Posts: 9,128	WoW- so it's not! I could have sworn it was from the first post, but now I look back and see that it was your gravel slope that made me think it was a bowfront tank. I retract what I said then; just stick with, "assymetrical scapes are my fav!!" LOL __________________ 10 gal Shrimpy Jungle http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=24524 29 gal Asian themed tank for Betta simplex (in progress) http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=24513 46 gal of Sword Addiction (in progress) http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=24542 90 gal New World Community http://forums.tfhmagazine.com/viewto...p?f=82&t=23207

09-20-2008, 09:11 PM	#13 (permalink)
chris127 Bored.. (View User Tanks) PTrader: (33) Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Punta Gorda, Florida Posts: 1,843	now what you need is a jungle of vals on the left side __________________ Eheim Pimp #307! 20 Long - - - 10 Shrimp

10-01-2008, 04:41 AM	#15 (permalink)
Tex Gal Plant Nut $Tex Gal's Avatar$ (View User Tanks) PTrader: (37) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Joshua, TX Posts: 647	Gotta comment on the moss issue. I have had SAE's in my tank with moss. I never saw them bother it at all. I pulled moss out of my tank all the time and sold it. I do feed them each night with wafers, shrimp pellets, zucchini or cucumbers, etc. I did finally give mine up because they were eating my R. wallichi. I do still have flying foxes. Nothing bothers my mosses. BTW I loved the 2nd scape you did. The current one just appears too empty to me. Perhaps a foreground would help and the fish could still swim in the water above the foreground.... __________________ Just keeping on keeping on.... 125G 10G Shrimp Tank

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