10Gallons Low tech - Tree with Deep Roots

[mistergreen]

I visit CT often and see these stone wall up in the mountains. I believe some of them were built by slaves. So, those walls are the inspiration for my 10G tank.


I had this 10G for a while and it was a mess. I painted my room so it was a good excuse to tear it down and start over. The new design is a good excuse for me to explore the verticality of the substrate as well. I now have 2 levels to play with.

Well, enough talkin'



It started out looking very man-made but now that I'm looking at the picture; it looks quite natural.
This tank will be used exclusively to breed and raise fry.


Like the previous setup I will keep it low tech, soil substrate, with a little sunlight.

[Tex Gal]

I like your start.

[yikesjason]

It is pretty hard to see it. But I think it is going to look really cool.

[mistergreen]

Image lightened.

[mistergreen]

plants planted. I'll probably cut off those big leaves and let the crypt grow in small.

[hydrophyte]

Here is this tank again. It looks great so far. The hairgrass was a good choice.

[sewingalot]

I like the hairgrass. I can only grow this emersed. I don't have the patience for it submersed. What are your plans for dosing? If you are raising fry, are you planing on dosing at all? What fry are you going to raise? Hmmmmm????

[mistergreen]

Originally Posted by hydrophyte

Here is this tank again. It looks great so far. The hairgrass was a good choice.

thanks. I wanted a plant that won't cover up the rocks too much and I have tons of the stuff.

I almost turned this tank in a setup like yours (riparium) with frogs maybe. that would have been cool too.

[mistergreen]

Originally Posted by sewingalot

I like the hairgrass. I can only grow this emersed. I don't have the patience for it submersed. What are your plans for dosing? If you are raising fry, are you planing on dosing at all? What fry are you going to raise? Hmmmmm????

this is low tech. no dosing at all. It has soil underneath.
I bought $100 worth of fish. Thought I'd give them a try at breeding.
I got a few danio choprae and a cool looking leopard pattern danio I have no idea what they are
it's listed as Devario xyrops but I'm not sure.

I wish I have those fancy wild bettas though but my main setup is a river tank and they might not work out.

That reminds me, I should take pictures of the main tank.

[sewingalot]

I am finding I love the low/no dose tanks more and more. They seem to be more pleasing to me, more natural. Those fish are gorgeous. I am finding I am drawn toward the danio/devario fish more and more. They are quite lovely, under appreciated fish.

Yes, you should take pictures of your main tank.

[RipariumGuy]

Nice rock wall, I like the little drop off, and the selection of plants.

[mistergreen]

ok, it's been forever since I update this. It's a low tech so plants grow pretty slow. The crypt does well.

I also added a few new plants to see how they do in a low tech environment.
* hygrophylia compak
* Bacopa monnieri
* c. pulva
* dwarf chain sword

[JennaH]

i trimmed a little section off one of the hygro kompakt bushes in my hi tech and moved it to my low tech. it hasn't died and has grown vveerrryyy slightly but appears happy. this is looking great BTW the rock layout is great!
also if the bacopa is giving you issues IME lindernia rotundifolia 'variegated' does great in low tech and has a 'similar' appearance

[mistergreen]

Wow. Time to update this tank....


Nothing but shrimps and snails in here.. I'll add a betta in here soon. Yes, the shrimps will be good snacks. I thought some oak leaves would add some color and food for the shrimps.

The lighting is DIY, spiral CF. It's truely a low-tech tank. No ferts or CO2. It's mineralize soil but I do at a little boost of NPK, micro once in a while.

[chad320]

Is there a light on this at all or is it just sunlight? This is a very nice example of a low-tech tank. I love the way the crypt has grown in. And im assuming you moved all of the DHG?