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New to Low Tech, Seeking advice

1K views 6 replies 3 participants last post by  AUvet14 
#1 · (Edited)
I have a 30 gallon high tech tank and I'm setting up a GLA 36-L high tech iwagumi setup. I've now decided to set up the 10 gallon tank that's just been taking up space for a low tech/low maintenance shrimp tank. Here's what I've got:

Standard 10 gallon glass aquarium and stand
Basic cheapo hood with 15W T8 fixture
Aquaclear 20 HOB filter
Aqueon heater that came with the kit when I got it 3 years ago

I'm planning on using Fluval Shrimp Stratum for substrate.

Here's the plants I'm wanting to keep:

Anubias barteri var. nana "petite"
Anubias barteri var. coffeefolia
Bolbitus heudelotii (african congo fern)
Microsorum pteropus (java fern)
Cryptocoryne wendtii green
Cryptocoryne lutea
Cryptocoryne balansae
Some sort of moss, undecided among: Fissidens fontanus, Singapore moss, flame moss, willow moss

As far as stocking goes, only a few otos and painted fire red shrimp.

Does anyone with experience in low tech setups have any suggestions or foresee any problems with keeping these in a low tech setup?

P.S. Oh yeah, this whole scape will be created around a piece or two of manzanita branch and some extra sieryu stones that I have left over.
 
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#3 ·
Thanks! :) I wasn't sure about that lighting. Is there maybe a particular bulb that I should get? I'm pretty sure the bulb in the hood right now is the cheapo aqueon bulb that came in it. I definitely need to replace it.

My goal is to have enough plants that I shouldn't have too much trouble with algae. I guess all of these species grow slowly enough that carbon supplementation isn't really necessary?
 
#5 ·
Bulb doesn't matter too much. Just make sure its a 6500k bulb as that is the optimum color for growth in plants. And if you plant heavy enough, theres lots you can do without carbon. My tanks a jungle without CO2 or excel and I have fast growing and slow growing stuff and almost zero algae.
 
#7 ·
Bulb doesn't matter too much. Just make sure its a 6500k bulb as that is the optimum color for growth in plants. And if you plant heavy enough, theres lots you can do without carbon. My tanks a jungle without CO2 or excel and I have fast growing and slow growing stuff and almost zero algae.
I would be getting a bulb around 6500K anyways, as that's my preferred color temperature for viewing anyways. Lol.

As far as planting heavily enough, I also have quite a few stems in my 30 gallon high tech, some of which might do okay in the low tech setup, although I'd prefer not to have to trim very often. Perhaps myrio mattogrossense and blyxa japonica might do okay but I like the how the textures of anubias, ferns, crypts and mosses look together. :) I might just add more of these.
 
#6 ·
I usually only use the heater on my other tanks during the winter when my apartment is cooler. I don't use one the rest of the year, but I think I see what you're saying. I do try to keep my 30 gallon a little on the warmer side, around 78, but I guess the shrimp actually might prefer it cooler. I just listed it because I have it. Lol. Might not even use it.
 
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