lowest maintenance large tank set up?

Low maintenance tanks are pretty much my goal and I've figured a few things out.

In my opinion the two most important factors for a low maintenance tank are plant selection and water flow. Even in a low tech setup, there are a ton of stem plants that are happy to grow 4+ inches per week and trimming is a real chore. I almost completely avoid stem plants and stick with plants and mosses that are more well behaved.

In my next tank I will be gluing plastic dividers around sections of substrate to prevent plants from spreading as well. Plants like crypts and hairgrass will aggressively move sideways but never leave the substrate so a clear plastic divider that extends a centimeter or two above the substrate will be invisible and keep them from taking over.

Water flow is important because if done correctly it can completely eliminate the need to vacuum. You want a mild but even flow that moves across the entire tank and is strong enough to lift detritus from the substrate. This isn't that hard to accomplish but you may need to experiment with outflow/inflow positioning and keep some space open in the hardscape to limit dead-spots.

Finally use a dimmer so you can pull back the lighting once things have grown in.


I would consider a sump easier to maintain than a canister, but honestly keeping the filter clean is not the hardest part of caring for an aquarium.