Ideas for a 20gallon high

[Cloud-9]

Hi,

I need some ideas. I've got an empty 20 gallon tank. I do want to put plants in there, but I live in an area with moderately hard water. I don't want to go the CO2 route.

Anyway, I'm thinking of a tank that is perhaps half-filled with water, with drift wood and lava rocks, with Java Ferns attached. The tops of the ferns will probably stick out of the water. I have excellent lighting. I do want to minimize the amount of substrate material, hence the idea to grow the plants on rocks and wood. Actually, I may do without gravel altogether. Wil anubias work in this set up?

What kind of fish can I keep in such a set up? Any interesting fish that can do well in such a set up? Can I keep a pair of Kribensis in something like that? Perhaps a nice pair of Niger Red Kribensis?

Rainbows?

 

[snakeskinner]

not much help on the plant situation but kribs would probably be good as well as rainbows such as celebes, threadfin and dwarf neons. tetras, barbs and live bearers would also be an obvious choice. You might look at some of the s/a dwarf cichlids as well. I know some are more tolerant of water than others depending on how hard your water is and what the fish you buy were raised in. KYle

 

[bennubird]

I have a 20G high tank that's densely planted, but I went the opposite route that you did. I have CO2 injection via Nutrafin's cheap ($30) system, soft water, and deep substrate. I have not had much success with plants in hard or even moderately hard water, especially without CO2. I've grown java ferns under such conditions, again with moderate success. It was more of a hassel then my current configuration - not saying it can't be done. I just didn't get good results.

I've never kept Kribensis, so won't comment there, but depending on your long-term plans you could do juveniles of any variety of fish if the water is not too hard - Angels or maybe even Discus.

 

[Blinky]

I recently set up a 20g high as a South East Asian inspired environment (not quite finished yet). Our water is of medium to low hardness, with a pH of 7.4.
I used a piece of slate and some inert mesh to make a small wall, sectioning off the back left corner (mesh at top and bottom). I then covered the back, corner and both side walls with cork tiles (using silicone).
I've hidden the Aquaclear power filter tube and the heater in the corner behind the small wall, so no equipment is visible when viewing the tank from the front. The filter outflow is at the water surface, so little surface disturbance is created, but there is enough circulation in the water to prevent it from stratifying.
I've attached some Java moss to the cork walls, I'm hoping it will completely cover the walls when it takes hold and begins to grow. The tank has some driftwood, a natural coloured gravel in a fairly thin layer, and I will eventually have Java fern attached to the wood.
I like your idea of Java fern, I've read that it's often found with Java moss in nature which is why I want to put them together.
My tank will eventually house a pair of Honey Gouramis, several Kuhli loaches and 1-2 pairs of Cherry barbs.
I think the idea of a paludarium is also worth exploring, I almost went that way myself.
Don't know if that provides any inspiration, I look forward to hearing what you decide

 

[johnnyxxl]

I am working on producing a nice asain biotope myself kulhi's, tiger barbs, java fers and java moss, I have a fake piece of driftwood hoping my moss may attach its got some holes here and there in it, false rock until I decide on a natual form for the tank, or if I am going to put the contents in a larger tank never know. Plants are doing good and this tank is the first and is only 20 gallon long that I have successfully grown plants in.