[mesohorny]

That's an awesome piece of driftwood.

thanks; a good find. it's actually 2 I set up to look like a gnarly stump. the wonder of zip ties!

 

[Dan110024]

I don't know what the exact rules are for low tech, so forgive me if it's a little more than typical low tech. I dose excel and half strength EI but still have low light and obviously no pressurised CO2. I also added DIY root tabs 4 days ago.

I planted it one week ago. I'm amazed at how fast some of the plants are growing. I don't think my high tech tank has ever had plants grow this fast before. It kind of doesn't make sense. Haha. I added some left over star grass to my high tech tank (ADA AS, EI, CO2 & High light) and it's grown faster in the low tech tank.

Here is the tank 24 hours after I'd planted, once the water cleared up....

And here it is exactly 7 days after planting. The star grass has taken off. The vallis isn't doing badly either and the amazon sword is growing a little too.

This thread is what pushed me over the edge to setup a low tech tank. It really shows that low tech can indeed be lush and healthy. From looking at everyones tanks through this thread, I figured it was best to start out with as many plants as you can fit. I didn't want to see the back of the tank at all. I think I've come close enough to accomplishing that, and it's still only freshly planted. I don't think I can fit in another bunch of vallis in the back there. I actually almost didn't have room to plant the last couple. Hopefully it stays as healthy as it is now

 

[burr740]

Some really great looking tanks on this page^^^


Here's a 20 long I recently brought back from the dead. For almost a year it was nothing more than a depository for cuttings and plantlets that I didnt want to throw away. I'd just toss stuff in there and forget about it. Had an old standard hood with a single T8. Couple months ago I finally decided to plant a few things properly and make a presentable low tech.

It's mainly crypts and swords off bigger plants Ive had in my 75 at one point or another. There's a java fern on a rock, and an anubias on the wood. Plus a couple other random sprigs.

Substrate - Black Diamond blasting sand, a little bit of regular black aquarium gravel.
Ferts - a heavy application of Osmocote+ root tabs.
Filter - Some kind of old Whisper HOB
Light - two T8 bulbs in a homemade box. Pics of that to follow.

After about a month I started dosing Excel, because the light is borderline too much.

Livestock is a 4 fancy guppies, 2 platys, 2 ottos, and a baby bristle nose pleco.


First planting -

Couple months later, it's coming along pretty well.

Ignore that big clump of Willow moss, lol. It's just sitting there until I decide what to do with it.

Here's the light. I just made a simple wooden box and mounted two cheap 24" household fixtures inside. Then added a reflector made out of aluminum flashing.

 

[Dan110024]

Those lighting fixtures look surprisingly easy to make! Looks good.

 

[ROYWS3]

Thought I had more photos but this was the only one I could find and it's not great. It's a corner of one of my 20H's with a half dozen Kliener Prinz swords. There are some Crypts, bylxa and red Ludwigia in the photo too. Lighting is a 24" aquatraders 10000k/actinic fixture. Daily dosing of API CO2 booster and Tetra Flora Pride. Substrate is Eco Complete

 

[anastasisariel]

Here's mine. I neglect water changes, frankly. I use dry ferts... my own EI adaptation (sorry I can't be more scientific). One 48 Finnex Planted Plus, one 48 Current Sat LED, and one 30" dual T5 Coral life fixture that is positioned over my Lobelia Cardinalis/ DHG carpet.Sump filtration. Everything does so good it's creepy. 2 true Siamese Algae eaters and 1 BN Pleco to help keep away algae (I haven't had algae for almost 9 months.) Most plants grow slowly but steady.

 

[boredincubicle]

Here is my low tech 30. I have 2 t5 fixtures up top, root tabs throughout and usually dose Flourish once a week or so, but have been cutting back after a recent BBA outbreak that came on when I replaced my bulbs. Used to dose Excel, but my vals have never appreciated it and I've had a hard time deciding if it's worth letting some of them melt and die off to get them used to daily doses.

Decided to give a molly a shot as a BBA cleanup crew and he has done wonders, so now I'm not sure what I'll do.

 

[demart]

This is my first ever fish tank. Decided to go planted.
36g Bowfront
Aqueon 55/75 HOB filter
Hagen glow 24" single t5ho
Eco complete capped with gravel
Amazon swords, java moss, java fern, jungle val, dwarf sag, and a few assorted crypts.
7 neons
6 rummy nose
5 bleeding heart tetras
6 panda cory
4 oto cats

Tank has been running for 2 months. Any suggestions always welcome. Still learning.

 

[Dan110024]

This is my first ever fish tank. Decided to go planted.
36g Bowfront
Aqueon 55/75 HOB filter
Hagen glow 24" single t5ho
Eco complete capped with gravel
Amazon swords, java moss, java fern, jungle val, dwarf sag, and a few assorted crypts.
7 neons
6 rummy nose
5 bleeding heart tetras
6 panda cory
4 oto cats

Tank has been running for 2 months. Any suggestions always welcome. Still learning.

You should get some root tabs under the substrate. Your plants will benefit from it. Looks good, though! I'm interested to see what it'll look like once everything grows in.

 

[HSA1255]

This is my 20g high that has turned into a jungle. I am almost embarrassed it is so overgrown... but I also kind of like the craziness of it. I did recently trim some plants and gave a bunch away. I think I'm about 1/2 - 2 years in on this tank. Can not remember the substrate I used, capped with black gravel... wish I would have done black sand. No ferts, no heat, no light even (used a light from another tank to take this picture). It sits near a window and receives some direct and indirect sunlight throughout the day though. 20-25% weekly, sometimes bi-weekly, water changes keep things running smoothly. I use distilled that I remineralize. Blue dreams, Super tigers, MTS and Nerites are all doing well in here. The jelly like plant, I believe it is pellia, is out of control in this tank and is also doing well and spreading in my brackish opae ula tank. I know I'm due for a change of plants and scape soon... but this 20 is so low maintenance and the plants and shrimp seem to be doing well so I just keep leaving it alone and maintain regular water changes. Very, very low tech. Oh, it is filtered by an eheim 2215, spray bar with several extra holes drilled in make the current soft, not crazy. I replace the batting (cheap quilt batting) in the filter once every 3 or 4 months... I do not touch the media beyond that. I water all the house plants and some of my outside potted plants with the water I remove from this tank for cleanings... amazing plant food!

 

[anfield]

Here is an update on mine. A year old now, Eco complete substrate with root tabs. No CO2. Daily 0.5ml of excel and once weekly API leaf zone. The ludwigia has decent orangish coloration. But no good reds.

Lighting is two satellite plus strips (one smaller one). Monthly water changes only. Have a clean up crew of 15 nerites, 5 amanos and 5 otos that keeps the algae at bay. Photoperiod is 8 hours.

 

[Bradleyv1714]

Here is an update on mine. A year old now, Eco complete substrate with root tabs. No CO2. Daily 0.5ml of excel and once weekly API leaf zone. The ludwigia has decent orangish coloration. But no good reds.

Lighting is two satellite plus strips (one smaller one). Monthly water changes only. Have a clean up crew of 15 nerites, 5 amanos and 5 otos that keeps the algae at bay. Photoperiod is 8 hours.

That tank looks awesome! I like the idea of having a smaller sized light! what size is that tank and light?

Bradley

 

[anfield]

The tank is a 40 gallon breeder. Since it is deeper than your average tank (18 inch) I have one satellite plus strip that spans the entire length (3 ft) and a shorter 2 ft strip for the front. I do have a cover on the tank. I also have trouble growing ground cover of any kind. But other wise plants growing really well. Some algae but the clean up crew takes care of it. I hardly ever even have to clean the glass. Definitely low maintenance. I actually add a couple of ml of excel daily not 0.5 ml. Occasional certs too because my nitrate is low sometimes. More light would probably help with the lawn but then I'm pretty sure I would have more algae issues

 

[xenxes]

Here's my latest low-tech (compost, clay, peat substrate, no water changes, no dosing), 90g, so I finally moved up from nanos:

Up and running about 3 1/2 weeks, growing in steadily but fighting off some early-tank algae (with floaters and tannins). I'm so tempted to turn to the dark side and go CO2.

 

[BigMO]

My low tech 10g:

Its been set up for a bit over 9 weeks. Controsoil, Sat+, Excel and root tabs. Filter maintenance every two weeks and a 50% change weekly. Otocinclus, Nerites and a healthy RCS colony. Too easy!!

 

[jlfkona]

5 gallon low-tech tank set-up about 2 month ago. Home to a Dumbo Betta, a couple shrimp and some ramshorn snails. I really like how it is filling in.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Hilde]

Here's my latest low-tech (compost, clay, peat substrate, no water changes, no dosing), 90g. Up and running about 3 1/2 weeks, growing in steadily but fighting off some early-tank algae (with floaters and tannins). I'm so tempted to turn to the dark side and go CO2.

Looks like a tank that has Co2 injected. All tanks have algae especially in the beginning.

 

[xenxes]

Looks like a tank that has Co2 injected. All tanks have algae especially in the beginning.

Just compost + light. I started dosing 1/5 Excel to fight back some of the staghorn and lowered the light to 8 hrs.

 

[Hilde]

Just compost + light. I started dosing 1/5 Excel to fight back some of the staghorn and lowered the light to 8 hrs.

I have found having a 3hrs siesta light period helps keep algae under control.

 

[Jethro702]

Figured I would post my low tech tank.

Its a 37gal tank and here it is:

Its been up and running for a little over 2 months

Lighting: AquaticLife Dual T5HO w/ a 6700k and 10000k bulb on for 7 hours a day.
Filter: TopFin HOB 75
Heater: TopFin 300w
Substrate: FloraMax loaded w/ root tabs
I dose KN03, K2S04, KH2P04, and Plantex CSM+B once a week.

Flora: S. Repens, Amazon Sword, Argentine Sword, Hygrophila Angustifolia, Crypt Wendtii, Crypt Balansae, Jungle Vals, Java Fern, Bacopa Monnieri, Java Moss, Ludwigia Repens, Rotala Nanjenshan (I Think lol)

Fauna:
3 Dwarf Neon Rainbows
2 Celebes Rainbows
2 Madagascar Rainbows
2 Dwarf Gouramis
3 German Blue Rams (Long Finned)
1 Electric Blue Ram
5 Cherry Barbs
4 Otos
15ish Ghost shrimp and tons of pond snails...

Hope y'all like it