Would this low tech work?

[Mongerman]

By low tech, I mean really low tech

standard 10 gallon
No lamp, only ambient light in living room
No filter
inert substrate

Only planning to plant java fern, java moss carpet and anubias

Only inhabitant will be a betta and maybe some shrimps

If need be, I can get a light for about 1-1.5wpg and a hang on filter. But I would prefer not to have it.

Opinions?

[Zefrik]

It depends on how much light the tank receives. It is kind of a broad question that is hard to answer. There are so many variables.

[Mk4Gti]

I think you will need some light even if its a basic t8 or t12 florescent.

[vincenz]

I think if the tank receives at least indirect sunlight for most of the day, it will work fine. The plants you listed are very low maintenance.

Shrimp and 1 betta are perfect for this kind of no-filter setup too.

[EnigmaticGuppy92]

i would use a cfl bulb for that 10 gal low tech

[Mongerman]

The tank will recieve ambient daylight for about 8-10 hours per day. No direct sunlight. As mentioned, I can add a light if need be, but would prefer not to

[EnigmaticGuppy92]

the light would improve the viewing of the tank and will ensure that there is enough light i would try without the light and then add it iff need be

[Fishly]

With no additional light, the plants may survive, but they won't grow, so they won't absorb any nutrients from the water column. Without a filter, the water will be stagnant and biofiltration will be hindered, so you will really need to stay on top of water changes.

Why don't you want a light and filter on the tank?

[Mongerman]

Originally Posted by Fishly

With no additional light, the plants may survive, but they won't grow, so they won't absorb any nutrients from the water column. Without a filter, the water will be stagnant and biofiltration will be hindered, so you will really need to stay on top of water changes.

Why don't you want a light and filter on the tank?

To be honest, it's just to see how low I can go

[Diana]

Ambient room light is not usually enough for a planted aquarium. By the time the light from the nearby windows has passed through the glass and water there is not enough energy for the plants.

A little direct sun (especially in the morning or late afternoon when it is not so hot) would help a lot.

I started with just 1 wpg, T-12 bulbs (a few tanks had T-8s) and that was not enough light. The tanks that were nearest a window (a little bit of direct sun) did fine. The tanks in the bright rooms, but no direct sun needed closer to 2 wpg with those sorts of bulbs.

A 10 gallon tank is pretty small. Even when lighting was figured out in watts per gallon, and T-8s were the 'latest and greatest', it was realized that smaller tanks needed proportionately more light, so that 1 wpg was pretty useless, 2 wpg was barely low light, and to actually grow something you really needed 2.5-3 wpg to be low to medium light.
Based on these numbers, the 'ambient light' had better be pretty bight, and perhaps a no-lid tank to let in maximum light.

As for no water circulation, this is not a very good way to run a tank. Even if you want no filter (debris removal), the tank will be a lot better with the water circulating.

Here is one reason why:
Gas exchange happens only at the surface, and the molecules that enter the water at the surface take a LONG time to diffuse through the water. By the time they are even half an inch under the water the fish will be right up there breathing the oxygen, so none gets any lower.
In the opposite direction, CO2 from the fish, deep in the water, will not escape very fast, either.
Eventually gas exchange can happen, but it is so slow you will be left populating the tank with just one very small fish, or a few shrimp. (That might be the goal, that is OK).

Also, any fertilizer generated anywhere in the tank is not circulated to benefit all the plants. As the fish (that one small fish) exhales ammonia, only the nearest leaf can benefit. If the fish is even near a leaf at the time.

[Mongerman]

I've decided to go with the walstad method. Will try for around 20w of lights with a hob filter.

Would marsilea, dwarf sag or pygmy chain sword work better in the setup as a carpet?

[EnigmaticGuppy92]

there are many carpet options and those species are viable

[Mongerman]

Thanks, thats good to know.

Another question, I'm using this work lamp to light my tank

http://www.ikea.com/sg/en/catalog/products/60370183/

Assuming I'm aiming for about 25w, would it be better to have a single lamp with a 25w lightbulb or 2 x 13w lightbulbs?

More specifically

1x http://www.philips.com.sg/c/energy-s...specifications

vs

2x http://www.p4c.philips.com/cgi-bin/d...71829116897300

[EnigmaticGuppy92]

i would go for 2 13w of possible because you can remove one if its to mucgh with the one bulb your pretty much stuck if its to high light

[BKausfish]

Read this

http://naturalaquariums.com/aquariums/art02.html