No tech tank

[PaulG]

25G. Unheated. Unfiltered. Eledoa Crispa and Duckweed taken from the pond.

Will probably change to a daylight spectrum bulb soon enough.

Dirt. Gravel. Wood. Done.

[GMYukonon24s]

Is this just to grow plants?

[PaulG]

No.

[BBradbury]

Hello Paul...

Nice idea. Low maintenance. The light is heating the water, and the plants are filtering it. You have natural CO2 injection from the surrounding air. Actually, it's pretty high tech.

You will need to replace the water that's lost to evaporation too.

B

[PaulG]

Originally Posted by BBradbury

Hello Paul...

Nice idea. Low maintenance. The light is heating the water, and the plants are filtering it. You have natural CO2 injection from the surrounding air. Actually, it's pretty high tech.

You will need to replace the water that's lost to evaporation too.

B

Low wattage tank?

[Silmarwen]

I would like to see how this turns out, I hope you keep us posted as time goes on! What fauna are you thinking?

[PaulG]

Originally Posted by Silmarwen

I would like to see how this turns out, I hope you keep us posted as time goes on! What fauna are you thinking?

I can't decide/Still researching.

WCMM would be perfect but I think they'd prefer some water movement.

Zebra Danios I think would prefer more swimming space.

Bloodfin Tetras? Gold Barbs maybe? Or I could just have RCS.

[Silmarwen]

Zebra danios would defiantly prefer some more swim space, but gold barbs might work well. I haven't kept them myself. And shrimp are always an fun option! Good luck deciding

[caoder]

try some minnows from your local pond since most seems to be from there anyways.

[NeoCaesar]

Paul. Is that an 18X10X10? I have the exact same tank sitting with dirt soaking in it right now as my first foray into planted. Would be interested to know how you get on.

[PaulG]

Originally Posted by NeoCaesar

Paul. Is that an 18X10X10? I have the exact same tank sitting with dirt soaking in it right now as my first foray into planted. Would be interested to know how you get on.

Nope, bit bigger. 30 x 15 x 12.

[PaulG]

This is my 2nd Walstad in fact, definitely need more plants I know. Put some L. Repens and H.Polysperma in behind the wood, only tiny cuttings so far but they always grow super fast for me. Other than that the only thing that's changed is some massive duckweed growth, it's close to covering 2/3 of the tank now.

I know, slow progress!

Not sure about adding pothos, may add some emersed plants once it develops a little. It's a north facing window so maybe I'll even wait until the summer so they can benefit from the natural light.

[Coldnorthtoy]

WCMM are awesome - such beautiful little fish.

You might consider using a sponge filter to create some water movement - I do this in my 5.5 gallon Ghost Shrimp tank, just to keep things from getting stagnant, but it does generate a moderately decent flow.

You might also consider using a Marina Slim 10 just to create some flow as well - they are beautifully silent, self-priming, include a nice reticulated foam intake filter and are dirt-cheap (~$20 at Petsmart here in Canada). That's what's running on my Walstad 5.5 gallon WCMM tank. It just has a piece of foam in the filter chamber, but no filter material - and quite frankly, I'd be better off with nothing in there at all, since it's just for flow, basically.

[BBradbury]

Originally Posted by PaulG

This is my 2nd Walstad in fact, definitely need more plants I know. Put some L. Repens and H.Polysperma in behind the wood, only tiny cuttings so far but they always grow super fast for me. Other than that the only thing that's changed is some massive duckweed growth, it's close to covering 2/3 of the tank now.

I know, slow progress!

Not sure about adding pothos, may add some emersed plants once it develops a little. It's a north facing window so maybe I'll even wait until the summer so they can benefit from the natural light.

Hello Paul...

If you want to consider emersed plants, Pothos is average at best. Chinese Evergreen will filter the water much better, but the root ball will need to be aerated to ensure the roots get the nutrients from the water, so the plants grows and keeps the water pure for any fish you may want to add. Attached is a pic of one of my no water change tanks. I do have to replace the water lost to evaportation.

Good luck and above all, have fun.

B

[driftwoodhunter]

Originally Posted by BBradbury

Hello Paul...

If you want to consider emersed plants, Pothos is average at best. Chinese Evergreen will filter the water much better, but the root ball will need to be aerated to ensure the roots get the nutrients from the water, so the plants grows and keeps the water pure for any fish you may want to add. Attached is a pic of one of my no water change tanks. I do have to replace the water lost to evaportation.

Good luck and above all, have fun.

B

I was so excited about this because I'm dying to try this with my tanks - and yours looks so good, but turns out the Chinese Evergreen isn't suitable for me because I have cats. I just wanted to post this in case people have pets that can get to the plants...guess I'm on a search for non-toxic to cats plants...
Chinese Evergreen
Scientific Name:
Aglaonema modestrum
Family:
Araceae
Toxicity:
Toxic to Horses, Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs
Toxic Principles:
Insoluble calcium oxalates
Clinical Signs:
Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty swallowing