Am I a low tech?

ufimych · 06-05-2011, 04:02 PM

I want to find out, if I am qualified to be considered a low tech aquarist?
A 29 gallons tank equipped with a light fixture with hood, an electric heater and Aqueon brand water filter. This is all. I am supportive to a low tech aquarium idea, but without these three items I cannot keep all those fish species I like the most. They need clean water, a certain temperature range and presence of some fast growing plants for balancing the system the natural way.

**kevmo911** · 06-05-2011, 04:11 PM

The difference between low tech and high tech is generally thought of as the difference between having pressurized CO2 and a comprehensive fert regimen, versus not. So yes, you'd qualify

lauraleellbp · 06-05-2011, 04:51 PM

What kind of light fixture?

The key distinction between low and high tech tanks IMO is how much light is over them- since it's light that drives the whole system and determines how much other equipment/work you have to put into the tank to keep everything in balance...

KrazyFish · 06-05-2011, 06:06 PM

light is the driving factor behind aquarium plant health requirments. As I understand.

this will determine the need for CO2 and ferts.

Like she said above...........

Booger · 06-05-2011, 08:36 PM

Low tech. No tech. El natural. Walstad. No CO2 method.

They are all euphemisms for the same thing. I don't understand the need to label a lack of plant specific equipment as a method.

**Hoppy** · 06-05-2011, 08:51 PM

Non-CO2 method: Use low light, no CO2, no routine water changes, and very light occasional fertilizing.

Walstad method: (aka: el natural method): A non-CO2 method, utilizing natural soil substrate, aiming for obtaining adequate CO2 from biological processes in the substrate.

All other methods: Use higher light, with CO2 injection, and fertilizing at non-limiting amounts.

Low Tech: Whatever you want it to mean.

ufimych · 06-07-2011, 10:51 AM

Thank you for the replies. I feel better now among you, the low-tech folks. The heating and proper lighting are necessary. I do not use any chemicals in the tank to control this or that; all problems are solved biologically, although this works slowly sometimes.

FIT BMX · 06-07-2011, 11:51 PM

Do you have any photos?

colinlp · 06-11-2011, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIT BMX

Do you have any photos?

Wouldn't that be considered high tech?

lauraleellbp · 06-11-2011, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by colinlp

Wouldn't that be considered high tech?

ROFL

Well... since my own definition of "low tech" involves me having to invest the least amount of time possible to maintain my tanks, and otherwise showing other people how my tanks are doing would involve considerable effort kidnapping them from all their respective homes and dragging them to my house... I'm going to vote NO.

ufimych · 06-16-2011, 12:52 PM

The idea is to keep my intervention at a minimum, more fish watching and less labor with rearranging, landscaping and adding all kinds of chemicals to enhance this, to kill that, etc. I would say that my goal is to keep the system maintaining itself as long as possible. My plants serve the fish by providing enough oxygen and attractive hiding places; they also help to keep water in balance. I like when plants are thriving and grow, but I help only by removing the excess to keep free space for the fish and watch new shoots grow. My lighting is one 24 inches long 20 watt pectra Max fluorescent bulb. The aquarium is sitting in the corner, natural sunlight is reaching it in the evening prior to sunset for about 30 minutes. This is the time, when fish and plants look particularly pretty.

I knew some lazy aquarists, who had their tanks straight against the window and all the lighting was natural, summer or winter, on the north side of the house. The plants were mainly Vallisneria species, there were no heaters and the fish were cold water species. Looking at such a tank, a lawn mower came to my mind, but the system perpetuated for years without regular changfes of the substrate or water. This guy pulled a bucket full of unwated vallisnerias about two times per year. Honestly, this was not a very showy aquarium, but it was good for a lazy aquarist.

06-05-2011, 04:02 PM	#1
ufimych Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Buchanan, Virginia, USA Posts: 113	Am I a low tech? I want to find out, if I am qualified to be considered a low tech aquarist? A 29 gallons tank equipped with a light fixture with hood, an electric heater and Aqueon brand water filter. This is all. I am supportive to a low tech aquarium idea, but without these three items I cannot keep all those fish species I like the most. They need clean water, a certain temperature range and presence of some fast growing plants for balancing the system the natural way.

06-05-2011, 04:51 PM	#3
lauraleellbp Fresh Fish Freak (View User Tanks) PTrader: (69/100%) Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 22,486	What kind of light fixture? The key distinction between low and high tech tanks IMO is how much light is over them- since it's light that drives the whole system and determines how much other equipment/work you have to put into the tank to keep everything in balance... __________________ Geckos galore: Geckos in Tails, and follow Geckos in Tails on Facebook 29 gal Planted Tetra Tank, 46 gal Betta simplex community, 90 gal Low Tech Community, Amazon Fishing; my Journal of 10 days in Bolivia along the Rio San Martin

06-05-2011, 08:51 PM	#6
Hoppy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (57/100%) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 17,288	Non-CO2 method: Use low light, no CO2, no routine water changes, and very light occasional fertilizing. Walstad method: (aka: el natural method): A non-CO2 method, utilizing natural soil substrate, aiming for obtaining adequate CO2 from biological processes in the substrate. All other methods: Use higher light, with CO2 injection, and fertilizing at non-limiting amounts. Low Tech: Whatever you want it to mean. __________________ Hoppy

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06-05-2011, 04:11 PM	#2
kevmo911 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (32/100%) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 3,751	The difference between low tech and high tech is generally thought of as the difference between having pressurized CO2 and a comprehensive fert regimen, versus not. So yes, you'd qualify

06-05-2011, 06:06 PM	#4
KrazyFish Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Binbrook, Ontario, Canada Posts: 425	light is the driving factor behind aquarium plant health requirments. As I understand. this will determine the need for CO2 and ferts. Like she said above...........

06-05-2011, 08:36 PM	#5
Booger Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27/100%) Join Date: May 2004 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 575	Low tech. No tech. El natural. Walstad. No CO2 method. They are all euphemisms for the same thing. I don't understand the need to label a lack of plant specific equipment as a method.

06-07-2011, 10:51 AM	#7
ufimych Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Buchanan, Virginia, USA Posts: 113	Thank you for the replies. I feel better now among you, the low-tech folks. The heating and proper lighting are necessary. I do not use any chemicals in the tank to control this or that; all problems are solved biologically, although this works slowly sometimes.

06-07-2011, 11:51 PM	#8
FIT BMX Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Kansas, USA Posts: 265	Do you have any photos?

06-16-2011, 12:52 PM	#11
ufimych Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: May 2011 Location: Buchanan, Virginia, USA Posts: 113	The idea is to keep my intervention at a minimum, more fish watching and less labor with rearranging, landscaping and adding all kinds of chemicals to enhance this, to kill that, etc. I would say that my goal is to keep the system maintaining itself as long as possible. My plants serve the fish by providing enough oxygen and attractive hiding places; they also help to keep water in balance. I like when plants are thriving and grow, but I help only by removing the excess to keep free space for the fish and watch new shoots grow. My lighting is one 24 inches long 20 watt pectra Max fluorescent bulb. The aquarium is sitting in the corner, natural sunlight is reaching it in the evening prior to sunset for about 30 minutes. This is the time, when fish and plants look particularly pretty. I knew some lazy aquarists, who had their tanks straight against the window and all the lighting was natural, summer or winter, on the north side of the house. The plants were mainly Vallisneria species, there were no heaters and the fish were cold water species. Looking at such a tank, a lawn mower came to my mind, but the system perpetuated for years without regular changfes of the substrate or water. This guy pulled a bucket full of unwated vallisnerias about two times per year. Honestly, this was not a very showy aquarium, but it was good for a lazy aquarist.