My low-tech 55

[cyfan964]

It's finally filled in enough that I'm not embarrassed to show pictures of it.

http://imgur.com/a/7WZIJ

Any critiques are more than welcome.

I've tried a lot of stem plants, but some of my fauna (don't know who) loves to eat them. I can't even get Rotala started.


Flora:

Cryptocoryne spiralis
Cryptocoryne wendtii
Cryptocoryne ciliata
Anubias barteri
Anubias nana
Anubias nana 'Petite'
Sagittaria subulata
Echinodorus rubin
Willow Moss - Fontinalis antipyretica

Fauna:

Puntius padamya - 15
Hemigrammus bleheri - 10
Melanotaenia boesemani - 3
Malanotaenia lacustris - 1
Paracheirodon axelrodi - 10
Carnegiella strigata - 4
Corydoras panda - 5

Batik Nerite - 7
Red Spot Nerite - 4
Zebra Nerite - 1

[cyfan964]

Here's what it looked like when I started, for comparison sake.

http://i.imgur.com/27s5w.jpg

[Seedreemer]

Very pretty! I like the tannins too. Do you ever open that curtain for light? All of my tanks that got sunlight thrived and algae vanished (despite what you read).

[cyfan964]

Originally Posted by Seedreemer

Very pretty! I like the tannins too. Do you ever open that curtain for light? All of my tanks that got sunlight thrived and algae vanished (despite what you read).

I do open them occasionally, but I personally love the tannins in the water so I try to keep it as low light as possible.

It kind of makes the tank feel a little mysterious looking and I like that about it.

I appreciate the compliment!

[bkraz]

I assume that 55 gal is approximately 48 x 21 x 12.5

I am struggling with mine, right now. What light(s) are you using?

[driftwoodhunter]

I'm a huge fan of tannins, too! My friends just don't get it, but you hit the nail on the head; I love the mystery it evokes. Your anubias are awesome - I love how large they are. Do you know which kind they are?
haha - forget that, I just learned how to read

[skindy]

I'm normally not a big fan of tannins but I think you did it right. It looks really nice! I've also never had rotala survive when fish were involved :/

[cyfan964]

Originally Posted by bkraz

I assume that 55 gal is approximately 48 x 21 x 12.5

I am struggling with mine, right now. What light(s) are you using?

This is what I use and in my opinion it is the best lighting you can have for a low tech 55.

http://www.amazon.com/Coralife-Aqual...alife+lighting

[driftwoodhunter]

Originally Posted by bkraz

I assume that 55 gal is approximately 48 x 21 x 12.5

I am struggling with mine, right now. What light(s) are you using?

I have two of the Coralife fixtures, one on each of my 29g tanks - I have never had a problem with mine in the 2 years I've had them, but there are threads where people have had trouble. I like mine.

However, I bought this for a low light/low tech 55 that has since been torn down - now I use the light on my 125. You can see more of it & how it looks in my 125 tank journal under my signature. I LOVE this light! Inexpensive, and the bulbs are very, very inexpensive. If you check my posts, I have plenty with pics of the tank (haven't gotten far with the journal yet) and you can see how the tank looks lit...

http://reviews.homedepot.com/1999/20...ws/reviews.htm

[bkraz]

Originally Posted by cyfan964

This is what I use and in my opinion it is the best lighting you can have for a low tech 55.

http://www.amazon.com/Coralife-Aqual...alife+lighting

Wow. Just... wow. Look, I've read Hoppy's thread about PAR. But this is amazing to me (which shows why I'm struggling and why I'm here). I had a tough time growing much in my 55g tank until I got up to a 130W coralife CF fixture and of course have been set on Watts per gallon ever since. And you're rocking this 55g tank with 48W of standard output T5 light?

I have much to learn!

[bkraz]

Originally Posted by driftwoodhunter

I have two of the Coralife fixtures, one on each of my 29g tanks - I have never had a problem with mine in the 2 years I've had them, but there are threads where people have had trouble. I like mine.

However, I bought this for a low light/low tech 55 that has since been torn down - now I use the light on my 125. You can see more of it & how it looks in my 125 tank journal under my signature. I LOVE this light! Inexpensive, and the bulbs are very, very inexpensive. If you check my posts, I have plenty with pics of the tank (haven't gotten far with the journal yet) and you can see how the tank looks lit...

http://reviews.homedepot.com/1999/20...ws/reviews.htm

I've seen this Home Depot light referred to many times on here, now. I'm checking it out. It seems like it might be a little too much light, even, for what I want to do. I am just looking for a stable, low-tech environment. Heck, I still haven't ever used fertilizers ... if I could keep it that way I would love it.

The coralife fixture I used was their 130W aqualight with 2 65W 10,000K lamps in it. I have replaced the ballast twice and the wires twice. Every time I refurbish it I'm $100 into another light. Now I'm at this step, again.

So I'm scrambling, right now: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=209001

[cyfan964]

Originally Posted by bkraz

I've seen this Home Depot light referred to many times on here, now. I'm checking it out. It seems like it might be a little too much light, even, for what I want to do. I am just looking for a stable, low-tech environment. Heck, I still haven't ever used fertilizers ... if I could keep it that way I would love it.

The coralife fixture I used was their 130W aqualight with 2 65W 10,000K lamps in it. I have replaced the ballast twice and the wires twice. Every time I refurbish it I'm $100 into another light. Now I'm at this step, again.

So I'm scrambling, right now: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...d.php?t=209001

The key to any lighting is picking appropriate plants for the light you have. I've stuck with plants that can tolerate very low light and have not been in a rush to have them grow, so it has worked out well for me.

I've never dosed fertilizers and MAYBE do water changes once every 2 months if I'm lucky.