How do you keep your tanks neat?
- Thread starter rainbowcharmer
- Start date
All my tanks are low-tech. Low lights, no ferts, low light plants, no co2, etc.
The 75 gal is filtered with an eheim 2217 w/ a spraybar (this is the one that shoots plants around), as well as a Whisper 3 HOB (turned way down low). Plants here include crypts, java moss, java fern, hornwort, and water wisteria. In this tank, water wisteria has basically taken over - the top of my tank is about 50% covered in it, and I did root a few of them, but my severum tends to up-end those so they end up back on the surface anyhow.
The 10 gal is filtered w/ a Whisper HOB (can't remember which one), and that one is completely full of Java Moss. There were a few other plants in there, but I think the java moss choked them all off.
The 46 gal is filtered w/ an HOB, which at the moment I'm drawing a blank on the brand/size... Java moss in this one as well as crypts, anubias, and an amazon sword. This tank gets a small amount of filtered sunlight mid-morning, which I think is the only reason the amazon sword is doing as well as it is. One end of this tank is overwhelmed with java moss - this is the one I kept trying to root on the bottom so it looked more carpety, but it keeps returning to a giant blob of moss instead.
Anyhow - I am always browsing the pics of the planted tanks on here, and am always super jealous of how beautiful they are. Just hoping to pick up tricks and tips.
The 75 gal is filtered with an eheim 2217 w/ a spraybar (this is the one that shoots plants around), as well as a Whisper 3 HOB (turned way down low). Plants here include crypts, java moss, java fern, hornwort, and water wisteria. In this tank, water wisteria has basically taken over - the top of my tank is about 50% covered in it, and I did root a few of them, but my severum tends to up-end those so they end up back on the surface anyhow.
The 10 gal is filtered w/ a Whisper HOB (can't remember which one), and that one is completely full of Java Moss. There were a few other plants in there, but I think the java moss choked them all off.
The 46 gal is filtered w/ an HOB, which at the moment I'm drawing a blank on the brand/size... Java moss in this one as well as crypts, anubias, and an amazon sword. This tank gets a small amount of filtered sunlight mid-morning, which I think is the only reason the amazon sword is doing as well as it is. One end of this tank is overwhelmed with java moss - this is the one I kept trying to root on the bottom so it looked more carpety, but it keeps returning to a giant blob of moss instead.
Anyhow - I am always browsing the pics of the planted tanks on here, and am always super jealous of how beautiful they are. Just hoping to pick up tricks and tips.
hmm...adjust your spraybar, IMO they are there sot hat you dont have plants flying all over the place. I have a marineland C-360 that doesnt really throw my plants around too much after i fine tuned the location of the output.
Also, take out all of the plants that grow like weeds and replace them with slower growing plants.
When i trim, i trim back about 1" farther that I need. this allows everything to grow in a little nicer
Also, take out all of the plants that grow like weeds and replace them with slower growing plants.
When i trim, i trim back about 1" farther that I need. this allows everything to grow in a little nicer
Tell ya what to do... MAIL ME SOME of it. What does a brotha have to do to get him some Java
Is your spray bar at the bottom of your tank? Really odd because I never have that problem with my canister.
Me too!
In tanks with big plant bothering fish you can use some small to biggish rocks to hold down the plants until they root enough not to be moved. In tanks with java moss I like the filter return to go onto the rock or wood it's on. This helps wash out debris from the moss & slows the filter flow but does nothing for all the trimming needed LOL.
All my tanks are low-tech. Low lights, no ferts, low light plants, no co2, etc.
The 75 gal is filtered with an eheim 2217 w/ a spraybar (this is the one that shoots plants around), as well as a Whisper 3 HOB (turned way down low). Plants here include crypts, java moss, java fern, hornwort, and water wisteria. In this tank, water wisteria has basically taken over - the top of my tank is about 50% covered in it, and I did root a few of them, but my severum tends to up-end those so they end up back on the surface anyhow.
The 10 gal is filtered w/ a Whisper HOB (can't remember which one), and that one is completely full of Java Moss. There were a few other plants in there, but I think the java moss choked them all off.
The 46 gal is filtered w/ an HOB, which at the moment I'm drawing a blank on the brand/size... Java moss in this one as well as crypts, anubias, and an amazon sword. This tank gets a small amount of filtered sunlight mid-morning, which I think is the only reason the amazon sword is doing as well as it is. One end of this tank is overwhelmed with java moss - this is the one I kept trying to root on the bottom so it looked more carpety, but it keeps returning to a giant blob of moss instead.
Anyhow - I am always browsing the pics of the planted tanks on here, and am always super jealous of how beautiful they are. Just hoping to pick up tricks and tips.
Well, the nice scaped tanks are well gardened, if you leave the garden outside to the weeds and do little work, it'll get ratty.
Same with a landscape.
But....if you chose a more sustainable natural approach to gardening, landscaping, then you can get away with much less work, it can still look quite nice also.
This is a low light, no CO2 tank, but is well balanced and no water changes for about 2 years.
Open foreground allows feeding area, and provides some space for the fish, and gives a border for the scape, simple idea.
A larger version using more LESS light, but CO2 and slower growing plant species:
At 350 Gallons, it would take a lot of trimming and work and the scape would change a lot week to week.
So less light was used and slower growing, but much easier plants to sell, where chosen, rather than the stems and weeds that few want anyway.
Still, with CO2 or not............you can use many of the concepts from either method to achieve a desired management goal that looks nice and is easy to care for over time. I think you need to consider what it is you want looks wise and scape wise first, spend time at it.
Look around at what others have done etc.
Sediment based ferts will help and take little effort once added also.
Fish and stocking selection also plays a role.
Pick fish based on the overall look, and what will work within the scape.
Folks do not buy a Great Dane that live in a small apartment(hopefully), a yipe yipe dog might be a better choice there(Neighbors might disagree), but if you have a great dane, then a county farm would be ideal to let them run.
Same sort of deal with aquariums, give the fish the ideal home that you have the space for. This looks and works better over time for all involved.
My goals, which may be/will be different from anyone else's, involves:
1. Nice home for fish
2. Nice home for plants
3. Aesthetically pleasing to me(not anyone else)
4. Productive, meaning I make some $$ of selling plants/livestock
5. Relatively easy to care for, maintenance no more than 1 hour or less per week.
I want it all.
Regards,
Tom Barr
