Low Tech Zen?

[FancyGrayFishJo]

Hi all!
I'm very new to planted tanks. In my 10g I have bamboo (not fully submerged) but I want to add a water lilly, marimo moss balls, stacked rocked etc. Basically, a very Asian theme... I was wondering if anyone had any ideas on how to accomplish this in a low tech setting...Also, what I would need. Thanks!
P.s right now I have top fin's premium gravel in Green in my tank and I've taken all of my decorations out. I also have three fancy goldfish.

[kamikazi]

The lilly and moss balls should be fine in a low tech setting. The lilly might benefit from fertilizer tabs or capsules in the gravel around it.

[xjasminex]

I'm sure that will look really cool! Unfortunately I must suggest that you get a bigger tank for your three fancy goldfish, their bioload is much to large and if they haven't out grown the tank yet they soon will. Having them in such a small tank will expose them to to high nitrates in a cycled tank and nitrate poisoning will follow. It can stunt them, and make their fins curl and not flow as nice as they could. I know because once I had no clue.

Plus a bigger tank means more room for plants!
If you'd like help or advice on your goldies feel free to pm me!

[FancyGrayFishJo]

haha no worries! I'm getting a 55g on Monday for my goldies :-) We will be either putting a betta and frog with 2 snails in this tank or a couple of guppies... Depending who wins that discussion between the mister and me ;-)

Any ideas on how to aquascape this? I have an idea of what I want it to look like but you guys are the pros

[xjasminex]

Good to hear!
Id do bamboo in the background, like evenly spaced or a wall of bamboo, that way you could hide the heater and filter!

Then do your stacks of stones here and there, some closer to the front and some closer the the back. Then a few marimo balls here and there!!

[Diana]

If the idea of a Zen tank means minimalistic, then I would look into the following idea:

One species of plant. Three or five stems. Not an even number.
One rock.
Sand or very fine substrate.
One fish.

Place the rock not-centered, and the plant near the rock, somewhat behind.
Keep the sand very clean, and level.

[FancyGrayFishJo]

I was definitely thinking a wall of bamboo too! I don't think I'm a minimalistic kind of girl hehe So, maybe, more feng shui then Zen. I like the idea of a fine substrate but how do I keep a fine substrate clean? Also, should I do a black or white background? Moss? Drift wood? I'm definitely doing the marimo balls because, lets be honest, they're awesome :-P

[FancyGrayFishJo]

Then again, I can always do 2 tanks ;-) Zen, minimalist, little one and a super lush, feng shui big one! I like it...

[xjasminex]

I'd do a wall of bamboo to hide the heater and filter and what not then do the black background...you can get bamboo from Walmart right now for a decent price. I use pool filter sand and it's fine but not to fine and it's cheap!

[dbot]

Maybe add hygroriza aristata? It's asiany