First off I don't work for this LFS but he let me take some pics of his low tech tanks so I could show you guys that low tech doesn't mean ugly and cheesy plants. He uses NO CO, fancy substates, or testing equipment, just gravel and weekly water changes and a decent light(2-3WPG). His idea is to get more people into planted tanks by showing them how easy it can be AQUARIUM SERVICES LLC
This is a 125 gallon with nothing more then a decent layer of gravel 3-4 inches, canister filter and a power head for some water movement. Lighting is some flourcent plant bulbs on a strip light . He does have a couple of nice piece of dift wood in there that have mossed over nicely.
You can see the tank from all sides as you enter the store.
Front of the tank I couldn't get rid of the glare from the store doors that where open sorry.
He then has a cherry shrimp tank with hundreds of shrimp in it. Its a 20 gallon tank acrylic, with a CF 32 watt and runs a undergravel filter with Aquaclear 20 powerhead. He just got done getting out some shrimp for me so the water was a bit cloudy but normally crystal clear.roud:
I laugh at the people that state you can't use an undergravel filter for a planted tank.:icon_lol:
different view. Notice the shrimp on the moss balls.
In the front of the store he has a really big Ray tank with some angels to keep them company. It's in the shape of a pie and I am guessing around 200 gallon range. He does run two metal halide lights due to the lack of space and open top. You can see one ray on the far left againist the glass.
AQUARIUM SERVICES LLC is a great place to vist if you are in the Grand Rapids area of West Michigan. This is why I got into plants, if you see his tanks and here how he takes care of them with such little maintance it will really get you going on a natural as possible planted tank.
I read some of these fourms and wonder to myself do some of these guys every sleep? Some people spend so much time on dosing , CO, KH,nitrates, PH,WPG, if it becomes to much work you won't stick with it or enjoy it plus the cost goes up . I think that's what makes his tanks so different he doesn't test PH, no dosing ,just decent gravel, the right amount of fish, plants,decent bulb and (tap) water changes and you can grow most plants with excemption of some exotics. The 75 gallon has been growing about a year to get that height so his growth is slow and steady, no added headaches of cutting and rescaping every month just set up and enjoy.:icon_bigg
Now don't get me wrong I understand High tech tanks have there place for growing certain plants many semi exotic kinds but I am just curious Can anyone break down what it costs them per month on lets say a 50-75 gallon tank? CO bottles, ferts, test kits , chemicals etc ?
What do you guys think I would love to hear feed back.
This is a 125 gallon with nothing more then a decent layer of gravel 3-4 inches, canister filter and a power head for some water movement. Lighting is some flourcent plant bulbs on a strip light . He does have a couple of nice piece of dift wood in there that have mossed over nicely.
You can see the tank from all sides as you enter the store.
Front of the tank I couldn't get rid of the glare from the store doors that where open sorry.
He then has a cherry shrimp tank with hundreds of shrimp in it. Its a 20 gallon tank acrylic, with a CF 32 watt and runs a undergravel filter with Aquaclear 20 powerhead. He just got done getting out some shrimp for me so the water was a bit cloudy but normally crystal clear.roud:
I laugh at the people that state you can't use an undergravel filter for a planted tank.:icon_lol:
different view. Notice the shrimp on the moss balls.
In the front of the store he has a really big Ray tank with some angels to keep them company. It's in the shape of a pie and I am guessing around 200 gallon range. He does run two metal halide lights due to the lack of space and open top. You can see one ray on the far left againist the glass.
AQUARIUM SERVICES LLC is a great place to vist if you are in the Grand Rapids area of West Michigan. This is why I got into plants, if you see his tanks and here how he takes care of them with such little maintance it will really get you going on a natural as possible planted tank.
I read some of these fourms and wonder to myself do some of these guys every sleep? Some people spend so much time on dosing , CO, KH,nitrates, PH,WPG, if it becomes to much work you won't stick with it or enjoy it plus the cost goes up . I think that's what makes his tanks so different he doesn't test PH, no dosing ,just decent gravel, the right amount of fish, plants,decent bulb and (tap) water changes and you can grow most plants with excemption of some exotics. The 75 gallon has been growing about a year to get that height so his growth is slow and steady, no added headaches of cutting and rescaping every month just set up and enjoy.:icon_bigg
Now don't get me wrong I understand High tech tanks have there place for growing certain plants many semi exotic kinds but I am just curious Can anyone break down what it costs them per month on lets say a 50-75 gallon tank? CO bottles, ferts, test kits , chemicals etc ?
What do you guys think I would love to hear feed back.