Low Tech Tank

Kdizzle · 06-28-2012, 09:47 AM

i was looking into doing a 10 or 15 gallon low tech planted tank. This will not only be my first planted tank but my first tank in a while. I was wondering if this tank would be to hard for a first tank and even just looking for a few pointers.(lights, substrates, filters, etc) i would like to add fish so info on cycling as well would be awesome.

**lohachata** · 06-28-2012, 10:24 AM

keep it as simple as possible....the more you mess with things ; the more problems you create for yourself....and failure drives so many out of this fantastic hobby...
i would do at least a 1520 long or 29 or bigger would be nice..check craigs list for great deals on bigger tanks..

lights....try for about 2 watts per gallon.. www.aquatraders.com has good deals on T5-HO strips for all size tanks..

substrate.....i would use a natural fine gravel(about 1/8" diameter).....sand may look cool but it can be deadly for a novice..gas pockets form and kiil the fish..

good filtration is important...try to achieve a 10x turnover rate..20 gallon tank needs a 200 GPH filter....not a filter rated for a 20 gallon tank..i like the aquaclear filters...in the long run they are easier and far less expensive to maintain..

plants.........low light plants are great...java ferns...anubias...cryptocoryne...and many others are good...and if you get a deeper tank like a 29 or 55 some aponogetons will knock your socks off...for great deals on all kinds of plants try www.aquabid.com ...

cycling....this gets a little touchy with some folks but i have cycled tanks every way you can think of...and some you can't think of...i set up my tank..the only conditioner i use is "DECHLOR" made by "WECO".....inexpensive and effective...i have been using it for almost 40 years..
once the tank has been running a bit i will add a few fish.....let them be for a few weeks and then add a couple more...
just make sure you do plenty of research on what you want..adult size and compatibility are major factors.....

this is all from my experiences and veiwpoints....what i do may not work for everybody..i am by no means an expert....the world is full of them ; i am still in the learning stages of this hobby...

Kdizzle · 06-28-2012, 10:43 AM

I would love to do a bigger tank but my school only allows 10 gallon but i am pretty sure I could get away with a 15.

As for a substrate I was looking into Eco-Complete. I am not opposed to other methods but it seems like a good purchase.

As for cycling I have read about silent cycling, fishless, and with fish. Fish wise I would like to Have guppies but I have read conflicting stories about guppies as beginner fish. i would like to add some invertebrates as well, or do a multi species tank which is hard in a small tank since most of these fish like to school.

**lohachata** · 06-28-2012, 11:28 AM

i wouldn't think guppies very hard for a beginner...i now keep about 10 varieties of them...
some dwarf cories would be great too...

Kdizzle · 06-28-2012, 11:47 AM

ok thanks so much for your help.

BettaGuy · 06-28-2012, 12:06 PM

As for the gas pockets forming in sand, I just added some Malaysian trumpet snails who dig through the sand in the search of food. By doing this they make sure no gas pockets are able to build up because the sand is moved so often. On the other hand they reproduce like crazy

Kdizzle · 06-28-2012, 12:21 PM

Thats good to hear because I really like the look of sand and I did want to add some invertebrates

BettaGuy · 06-28-2012, 12:34 PM

The thing with sand is that while it looks pretty, it is not great for plants to grow in. Carpeting plants like it because it is easier to spread in (my theory, correct me if I'm wrong), but almost all carpeting plants require high lighting, CO2, and fertilization. The low light plants that lohachata talked about prefer gravel like he said, so I would go with gravel and anubias, java fern, and any other low light plant you like.

Kdizzle · 06-28-2012, 12:44 PM

when you say use the gravel do you mean just gravel with nothing under it? like fluorite or eco-complete?

BettaGuy · 06-28-2012, 02:27 PM

I'm really not a pro at all with plants, I just have one planted tank. But if you put gravel ontop of a substrate that has a smaller grain size than the gravel it should be fine. I don't know how big of a grain size flourite, or eco complete are because I have never used them. I think the low light plants that you will be putting in the tank don't require you to have special plantig soils but I don't know. My anubias grew fine in just gravel, but it really took of after i took it out of the substrate 2 weeks ago. Have you ever thought of putting in a few pieces of driftwood or decoration and attaching anubias, java fern, or any kind of moss to it? that way you don't have a substrate problem.

If you want to plant something in substrate though, I would say go for a one inch layer of smooth rounded fine gravel and some low light plants. Anubias and java fern look really cool on driftwood, but the driftwood takes away a lot of swimming space. Just go to jour lfs and look at the plants. Do some research about the ones you like and decide which ones to buy based on that.

Kdizzle · 06-28-2012, 02:36 PM

I have thought about putting some driftwood in this tank I think it looks really nice as well. I will have to look into it. Thanks for all your help!

**Cory1990** · 06-28-2012, 03:54 PM

My low tech tank is my 10g community tank. I rarely ever have water problems and my fish all get along great,

Fish in there is
3 guppies
4 plattys
6 mix fruit tetras (white skirt)
1 pleco
2 goldfish (a lot of people say no to that but they have been fine for months)

I clean it once every month and a half. I don't have real plants but it looks pretty good with my fake ones. This was also my first community tank and from here I progressed. I want to add java fern but I can't find any at lfs or Petco

Kdizzle · 06-28-2012, 04:26 PM

Wow you have put a lot of fish in there! Have you had any problems with platties or do you add salt?

**Cory1990** · 06-28-2012, 04:30 PM

Never added salt to any of my tanks a day in my life. It's not over stocked because all the fish stay vary small. Like I said I don't have to do anything with it at all. I add food 2-3 times a day and that's it. It has been running for 6 months almost 7 with all them fish in there and they all seem happy.