Crazy idea for cheap build

1337 Views 7 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Maechael, Sep 15, 2012

Maechael

Discussion Starter · Sep 11, 2012

Hello everyone, I'm new Here, have said hi and am looking for thoughts on what to do with my 2nd tank.

To start it's a 29G tall tank, and it's currently holding the changed water from my 20G long.

I've noticed most every planted tank here has 2 filters minimum haha, I'm aiming for 3 cheap filters eventually moving to 2 nicer ones.

It has pure sand at the moment, with some stones, and a ceramic Buddah.

What I'm thinking of doing with it, is relatively simple from your Guys and Gals tanks, is having a true low tech low light tank, no Co2, no expensive lights, no timers or anything.

I want to use something like grey/blue stone or gravel.
maybe with some smaller carpet type grasses, and some small leafed slightly taller plants for the midground, and some thin tall grasses for the background.

I'm not looking to replicate any specific zone, or region, or even climate.

Thinking of stocking it with true Dwarf cichlids, smallish Tetras and Guppies
and tons of shrimp, since I and my girlfriend love ghost/glass shrimp.

I've rambled on, but basically I would like plant suggestions for the tank, and fish suggestions to go with said plants.

Thanks for your time, and I'm sure effort.

Any suggestions will be accepted as is, but photos would make life easier, as My LFS of choice is a little less than helpful when it doesn't live in saltwater.

Not trying to be lazy, I've done some looking, and read a few dozen pages here on this exact topic. But the combined experience present here, I can't help but say, what would you do here?

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Diana

· #2 · Sep 12, 2012

The easiest way to make that low tech is to add some fertilizer tablets (slow release) under the sand.

Most dwarf Cichlids eat shrimp. Maybe not the adults, but certainly the baby shrimp. Small Tetras might be Embers, or dwarf Rasboras are good, there are several species. Celestial Pearl Danios are good, too. I would skip the Guppies, they tend to do better in harder water than the others. Just one school is plenty in this small a tank. Then you can get enough of them to really school.

Most of the ground cover type of plants are not low light. By the time you get enough light for them to thrive you are also looking at CO2, more fertilizers... high tech.
Try Dwarf Clover. Marselia sp. It is about the lowest light ground cover.

Some of the plants that are considered weeds in a high tech set up grow at a reasonable rate in a low light tank, so do not discount things like Anacharis.

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Maechael

Discussion Starter · #3 · Sep 12, 2012

to Diana

Thanks for the input, I knew some cichlids would, didn't know about all of them, figured there would have to be some sort of herbivore, or omnivore that leans towards vegetation.

The guppies are a must, because I've got too many for my 20G long, and they need a heater in this place from now until mid-march.

I'm leaning towards light scaping with floaters and above lighting, and lights behind the tank, for the lower level plants.

Has anyone here ever tried using multiple level lighting? light above and beside the tank?

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Maechael

Discussion Starter · #4 · Sep 13, 2012

2nd thoughts

Ok, So in revision.

I'm thinking of using something like miracle grow, under a 1/2" of sand under around an inch of gravel.

Not sure if I want to slope it at all, but have been toying with the idea of something like the Nike "swoosh" mark, with a largish rock holding up the curve against the narrow end glass.

I would like to try my hand at some mosses, a few stem plants and some DHG that I think is near perfect for carpet.

Anything bad in this idea?

Or rather, anything that will present a challenge?

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JunJunJenn

· #5 · Sep 15, 2012

As far as the filters I've been using one filter on my tanks but they are meant for tanks twice their size.

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TheAwakening

· #6 · Sep 15, 2012

Maechael said:
Thanks for the input, I knew some cichlids would, didn't know about all of them, figured there would have to be some sort of herbivore, or omnivore that leans towards vegetation.

The guppies are a must, because I've got too many for my 20G long, and they need a heater in this place from now until mid-march.

I'm leaning towards light scaping with floaters and above lighting, and lights behind the tank, for the lower level plants.

Has anyone here ever tried using multiple level lighting? light above and beside the tank?

i have tried adding one light to the side of my aquarium by mounting it to a desk right by my stand and aiming at my tank, the problem was that the tank would get ridiculesly hot (probably because it was a heat lamp for my old turtle) and the water would get extremely warm, also it did not look very appealing having a random light attached from my desk aimed towards the tank, but if you can manage to get a light that doesnt produce much heat, and you think its attractive go for it, definitly lights up the lower section

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kevmo911

· #7 · Sep 15, 2012

You're going to want a timer for lights unless you rely on direct sunlight.

I have the same tank - a 29g tall - and have two T8 15w bulbs. A couple months ago, one of the bulbs mostly burnt out, and is just producing that dim light that flourescents get when they're telling you they need to get changed out.

Since then, all my dwarf sag down at the bottom completely died out. The different types of java fern are fine, and the anubias seems to be stable. Low-lying moss is gone, though the stuff near the top of the tank is doing okay. Crypts are just chillin.

Anyway, you're gonna need a basic 2x15w T8 fixture (or direct sunlight) to get more than anubias, javas, and crypts to live a quiet, slow life. And I have a poor/decent DIY reflector over both bulbs.

I'd suggest a high-CEC substrate - EcoComplete or Flourite, maybe, though since you want cheap, baked clay in the name of Turface or Oil Dri. Pool filter sand and bare-bones kitty litter are other alternatives. Most of those are grey, or come in shades of grey. Even playsand will work for you. Or you could go just plain dirt, or you could mineralize it if you have the time and motivation (look up Mineralized TopSoil, or MTS, here on the forum). CEC, or Cation Exchange Capacity, basically means a measurement of the amount of nutrients a substrate will absorb for future use. Wiki it for further info.

Anyway, those are some of my thoughts on the basics. Stocking comes later.

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Maechael

Discussion Starter · #8 · Sep 15, 2012

Thanks for the input!

I think I've settled between between, a marineland penguin 200 or 350, for the filter because I like what I've read on them.

and with how I've got my tank setup, it's on a short box table.

I have a few 3' lamps that can sit just about 6" away from the bottom and the side of the tank. I've been using a 13W CFL for the hornwort in my 20G long.

I work during the day, so my lights come on around sun-up and go off around sun down.

I've been thinking something like 6x13W CFLs until I can make the hood/canopies I've planned for.

Thanks for the input everyone, Just remember, even if I don't immediately do what you suggest, it doesn't mean I'm not listening.

Thanks, John.

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