Low tech, low light 10 and 20 gallon tanks. Dailup beware!(updated 09/19/09)

[Kolkri]

This is the 10 gallon set up on July 27th.

15 watt daylight.
filter that come with tank.
100 watt heater to keep it at about 78 degrees.

Excel 1m daily and trace when I remember.

Substrate is eco complete

Mostly crypts, water lettuce and Anubias.

4 white cloud mountian minnows and two dwarf platies. Snails that come in on some plants and one apple snail.

Day after set up.


Couple day ago.


Now The Peaks. (20 gallon)

Same plants and substrate.
Two 15 watt daylight bulbs.
This tank has been set up a while.

1 angelfish, 1 dwarf Gourami, 3 glass fish, 3 white cloud mountain minnows, 1 female betta



After redoing the plants to look nicer(and a nice trim the moss was taking over) and adding some rocks my husband was so proud of when he brought them to me.



Remember these are low tech tanks so don't be to hard on me. They also need some time to grow in some. And with luck Ill have some WCMM babies so I can add them to the 20 gallon.

[skinz180189]

Both look great. Loads of people are low teching on here

[Kolkri]

Yep I have been doing a lot of reading the last three years on here. Seen some very nice tanks. Mine sort of fall short compared to a lot of them here.
But don't stop me from trying. And most of my friends are impressed. But none of them have tanks at all and I even had a couple ask if my goldfish tank was salt water. So not sure they count.

[skinz180189]

Originally Posted by Kolkri

Yep I have been doing a lot of reading the last three years on here. Seen some very nice tanks. Mine sort of fall short compared to a lot of them here. But don't stop me from trying.

I often feel the same, but at the end of the day, a lot of the really impressive tanks are pumped full of CO2, take a lot of hard work to look after etc. I like the fact that mine require minimal maintenance, and still look good in my eyes.

Originally Posted by Kolkri

And most of my friends are impressed. But none of them have tanks at all and I even had a couple ask if my goldfish tank was salt water. So not sure they count.

Lol, Saltwater Goldfish. That's a new one to me.

[MistyRiver]

I like your tanks! The vals are awesome looking... I've always wanted a wall of them.
Your Angel is beautiful. I use to have one that had the same color and markings! But mine was not nearly as tall as yours is...

Originally Posted by skinz180189

I like the fact that mine require minimal maintenance, and still look good in my eyes.

Thats exactly right! That is how I feel when it comes to tanks... Or anything for that matter. Sure there are the shiny smooth Mercedes out there, but I like my filthy off-roadin' ford explorer. It wont cost me thousands to repair like that Mercedes would. This is just on a smaller scale.

[Kolkri]

Originally Posted by MistyRiver

Thats exactly right! That is how I feel when it comes to tanks... Or anything for that matter. Sure there are the shiny smooth Mercedes out there, but I like my filthy off-roadin' ford explorer. It wont cost me thousands to repair like that Mercedes would. This is just on a smaller scale.

You got that right. I'll take my old beat up van over any of the newer vans with all the extra. To much to break on them. And I love my by hand roll down windows.

[malaybiswas]

Tanks look lush and healthy but could use some pruning

In you 20g, the 2 vertical rocks look too well placed and artificial. You might want to cover the bases with some substrate/plants and try out some spacing/orientation schemes to see what looks more natural.

[Kolkri]

Prune? are you kidding I am trying to get more stuff to grow in.

I can't get any of the low growing plants to grow so gave up on them long ago.

[jinchi]

hey Nice tanks Kolkri,

Was wondering for your 20 gallon, what hood do you use? I have a standard penn-plax type hood but I only have 1 light inside. Did you do a DIY? Im going low tech too.

Thanks

[Kolkri]

No I didn't do it myself. I bought a dual strip light and it goes on my glass lid. It is nothing special no reflector or anything.
It's this one here.
However that tank is in front a window and gets very indirect light.

[jinchi]

Thank you Kolkri,

Is this something like your glass lid?

J

Originally Posted by Kolkri

No I didn't do it myself. I bought a dual strip light and it goes on my glass lid. It is nothing special no reflector or anything.
It's this one here.
However that tank is in front a window and gets very indirect light.

[Kolkri]

Yep that's it. At some time I want to get one for my 10 gallon. Looks so much nicer. IMO

[jinchi]

Also, from what Ive heard is that tanks are easier to maintain with a simple glass top

Originally Posted by Kolkri

Yep that's it. At some time I want to get one for my 10 gallon. Looks so much nicer. IMO

[lauraleellbp]

Nice tanks.

I agree about the placement of "The Peaks"- I'd move them off to one side a bit so that the focal point is approx 1/3 of the way from one or the other side of the tank, instead of having them centered. I do really like those rocks, though, tell your hubby he done good!

[Kolkri]

I would like to replace my Anubias assortment with something else. Any suggestions. I have always hated them but felt stuck with them cause they are not cheep. But they have got to go.