Joined
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530 Posts
Cool, good luck!
Natural Nano *Experiment* Tank
I decided to brush off my 2 gallon I had laying around the garage. recently I've had this itch to start a "closed system" type planted tank.
the substrate is set up the Walstad method of dirt capped with gravel or sand. In this instance I put a layer of red clay in between the dirt and sand. so hopefully this will provide enough nutrients for the plants over time without having to dose. like I said this is an experiment so only time will tell.
I found two fly grubs in the filter the morning after I set everything up, pretty gross, but I did use "organic" potting soil so what do ya expect lol:hihi:
My ultimate goal is to remove the filter I have set up once the plants are heavily grown in and basically just let nature balance itself out. I'll probably only keep snails in this setup, but I've heard others have had success with a couple hardy cherry shrimp.
here's a little peek
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caught the light hitting the tank this morning. It looked pretty cool!
the substrate is set up the Walstad method of dirt capped with gravel or sand. In this instance I put a layer of red clay in between the dirt and sand. so hopefully this will provide enough nutrients for the plants over time without having to dose. like I said this is an experiment so only time will tell.
I found two fly grubs in the filter the morning after I set everything up, pretty gross, but I did use "organic" potting soil so what do ya expect lol:hihi:
My ultimate goal is to remove the filter I have set up once the plants are heavily grown in and basically just let nature balance itself out. I'll probably only keep snails in this setup, but I've heard others have had success with a couple hardy cherry shrimp.
here's a little peek
caught the light hitting the tank this morning. It looked pretty cool!
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
Joined
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149 Posts
You should stick some porous base rock in the more holes the better.. You could prob have more livestock in it would provide more places for denitrifacating bacteria to colonise .. Nice thread I'm going to subscribe..
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Joined
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112 Posts
Here's whats up
I found a nice little niche on my bookshelf away from sunlight (so I won't have algae problems) to setup this tank on a more permanent basis
Current Setup:
- Azoo Palm filter
packed with filter floss, a small bag of carbon, and some kinda terrestrial plant that really grows well half submerged in water.
- planting soil capped with a layer of red clay, sand, and a bit of Azoo shrimp sand.
- 10" 27 watt PC fixture w/ a modded LED "bulb"
Flora:
-Hydrocotyle tripartita "Japan"
- Crypt Wendtii
- Christmas Moss
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Its kinda "dusty" right now from the sand so don't mind the dirty looking plants.
I have a tiny terracotta plant pot holding my manzanita branch down since its not yet water logged.
I threw in a piece of almond leaf to balance off the PH a bit
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This is my PC light fixture modded a bit. awhile back the connection for the second light bulb burnt out and I never felt bothered enought to rewire it. recently I picked up and basically dismantled and modded one of these http://www.petco.com/assets/product_images/0/047431906105C.jpg for a reef tank. I had taken apart the stock led that came with that tank.
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I found it mounted really nicely in this PC fixture. Basically it acts as a replacement for the second PC bulb, you can see it mounted next to the 1st PC bulb (my thumb is kinda over it). It snapped right into the brackets without needing to be glued in or anything, pretty nice if I need to make adjustments down the road.
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The LED has a nice moonlight setting. Pretty bright for this tank lol:hihi:
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My next goal is somehow to get a cover for this so that it can be somewhat closed system.
I found a nice little niche on my bookshelf away from sunlight (so I won't have algae problems) to setup this tank on a more permanent basis
Current Setup:
- Azoo Palm filter
packed with filter floss, a small bag of carbon, and some kinda terrestrial plant that really grows well half submerged in water.
- planting soil capped with a layer of red clay, sand, and a bit of Azoo shrimp sand.
- 10" 27 watt PC fixture w/ a modded LED "bulb"
Flora:
-Hydrocotyle tripartita "Japan"
- Crypt Wendtii
- Christmas Moss
Its kinda "dusty" right now from the sand so don't mind the dirty looking plants.
I have a tiny terracotta plant pot holding my manzanita branch down since its not yet water logged.
I threw in a piece of almond leaf to balance off the PH a bit
This is my PC light fixture modded a bit. awhile back the connection for the second light bulb burnt out and I never felt bothered enought to rewire it. recently I picked up and basically dismantled and modded one of these http://www.petco.com/assets/product_images/0/047431906105C.jpg for a reef tank. I had taken apart the stock led that came with that tank.
I found it mounted really nicely in this PC fixture. Basically it acts as a replacement for the second PC bulb, you can see it mounted next to the 1st PC bulb (my thumb is kinda over it). It snapped right into the brackets without needing to be glued in or anything, pretty nice if I need to make adjustments down the road.
The LED has a nice moonlight setting. Pretty bright for this tank lol:hihi:
My next goal is somehow to get a cover for this so that it can be somewhat closed system.
Joined
·
112 Posts
saltykisses,
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by porous base rock, unless your referring to lava rock or something.
Maybe some nice porous filter media would work IMO.
I suppose something like this might be what your thinking: [Ebay Link Removed]
I'm not entirely sure what you mean by porous base rock, unless your referring to lava rock or something.
Maybe some nice porous filter media would work IMO.
I suppose something like this might be what your thinking: [Ebay Link Removed]
Joined
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149 Posts
Yep that's what I meant !!!
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Joined
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149 Posts
What are you thinking for the cover acrylic lid or pelmet???
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Joined
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112 Posts
I actually have a glass lid that came with this tank, but with the filter on it doesn't fit.
So i might invest in a glass xutter. maybe take 1/2" off the side. The only problem is that ill still have evaporation issues but not as bad as it would be without a lid.
Thanks saltykisses, im glad i knew what your talking about. Im actually considering that option, i just need to not be so lazy about buying filter media haha!
So i might invest in a glass xutter. maybe take 1/2" off the side. The only problem is that ill still have evaporation issues but not as bad as it would be without a lid.
Thanks saltykisses, im glad i knew what your talking about. Im actually considering that option, i just need to not be so lazy about buying filter media haha!
Joined
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149 Posts
They use it in marine tanks y'know ... But that version is alfagrogo crushed live rock basically..
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Joined
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112 Posts
Tons of plants added!
So I added a bunch of Hydro sp. Jap from my 11 gallon display tank. I couldn't actually plant it completely (sand kept caving in) so I put some stones and pebbles on the bunches until they've rooted. to be honest I'm not sure if this approach will work, but we'll see.
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oh and I picked up this sassy little dude
! he thinks he's a model or something. poses every time I point a camera at him.
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Heres the tank with the daylight PC bulb on.
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This tank is now by no means a "no-tech tank" but still very much natural tank. the betta's (name still pending lol) been darting around protecting every corner of his new home.
So I added a bunch of Hydro sp. Jap from my 11 gallon display tank. I couldn't actually plant it completely (sand kept caving in) so I put some stones and pebbles on the bunches until they've rooted. to be honest I'm not sure if this approach will work, but we'll see.
oh and I picked up this sassy little dude
! he thinks he's a model or something. poses every time I point a camera at him. 
Heres the tank with the daylight PC bulb on.
This tank is now by no means a "no-tech tank" but still very much natural tank. the betta's (name still pending lol) been darting around protecting every corner of his new home.
Joined
·
112 Posts
tank update new decor and plants!
Hi all!
This week I put allot of little hide-holes for the betta and a some very fast growing hornwort.
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He really loves these, darting in and out, flaring at anything that comes too close to the entrances hahaha:hihi:
Basically I just broke apart two new terra cotta pots and stacked them onto each other.
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The hydro sp. jap is coming along nicely.
also these terrestrial plant trimmings i just sorta stuck in the filter, not sure the name, have really shot up!
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full shot from the bookshelf
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Hi all!
This week I put allot of little hide-holes for the betta and a some very fast growing hornwort.
He really loves these, darting in and out, flaring at anything that comes too close to the entrances hahaha:hihi:
Basically I just broke apart two new terra cotta pots and stacked them onto each other.
The hydro sp. jap is coming along nicely.
also these terrestrial plant trimmings i just sorta stuck in the filter, not sure the name, have really shot up!
full shot from the bookshelf
Joined
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112 Posts
a slightly different direction
I moved the male to my betta pond today (my male died the other day so their was a "spot" available) he didn't have any room to swim to because of how quick the plants grow in this tank.
Probably going to make it a shrimp only tank. Right now its a snails heaven lol
I have new equipment and pic updates coming soon.
I moved the male to my betta pond today (my male died the other day so their was a "spot" available) he didn't have any room to swim to because of how quick the plants grow in this tank.
Probably going to make it a shrimp only tank. Right now its a snails heaven lol
I have new equipment and pic updates coming soon.
Joined
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112 Posts
long time update for my lil' 2.5!
The betta has been removed and the tank only has ramshorn snails. pretty much a maintenance free tank...except for occasional top offs.
some new equipment added:
-zoomed canister filter 79GPH
-custom lid (a great ebay seller makes these poly acrylic lids for aquariums)
- replaced the ballast on my PC fixture, so no more LED bar but now its so much brighter
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[URL=http://s275.photobucket.com/user/greenmonkeyproductions/media/CAM00390.jpg.html]
[IMG][URL=http://s275.photobucket.com/user/greenmonkeyproductions/media/CAM00005-1.jpg.html][IMG]http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj309/greenmonkeyproductions/CAM00005-1.jpg[/URL][/IMG]
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Here it sits on my desk. Its looking pretty damn well grown in too!
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[/URL][/IMG]
The betta has been removed and the tank only has ramshorn snails. pretty much a maintenance free tank...except for occasional top offs.
some new equipment added:
-zoomed canister filter 79GPH
-custom lid (a great ebay seller makes these poly acrylic lids for aquariums)
- replaced the ballast on my PC fixture, so no more LED bar but now its so much brighter
[URL=http://s275.photobucket.com/user/greenmonkeyproductions/media/CAM00390.jpg.html]
[IMG][URL=http://s275.photobucket.com/user/greenmonkeyproductions/media/CAM00005-1.jpg.html][IMG]http://i275.photobucket.com/albums/jj309/greenmonkeyproductions/CAM00005-1.jpg[/URL][/IMG]
Here it sits on my desk. Its looking pretty damn well grown in too!
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
