Lo-tech Or Natural Aquariums
#1 Guest_TurtleLover_*
Posted 20 August 2007 - 03:39 PM
#2 Guest_nativeplanter_*
Posted 20 August 2007 - 04:35 PM
What have done is essentially:
- 3 inches of potting soil
- 1/2 inch pea gravel or finer
- LOTS of plants
- full sun (outdoors), sunny window, or lots of fluorescents, depending on the plant species
- not too many fish, no sensitive fish (e.g. those that need high O2 or cool water), no fish that eat too much (like game fish). For this setup it's probably best to pick fish that naturally occur in still waters.
- Occasional tiny bit of fertilizer stick jammed near the roots of heavy feeders (plants)
- Occasional dose of peroxide for occasional algae breakout (1 oz per 10 gallon of 3% peroxide)
- I have in the past dumped blackworms in at night with the hopes that they establish in the soil.
- I have also used Malaysian trumpet snails (in INDOOR tanks) to carry debris back down into the soil.
#3 Guest_fuzzyletters_*
Posted 20 August 2007 - 09:07 PM
#4 Guest_TurtleLover_*
Posted 20 August 2007 - 11:25 PM
#5 Guest_rumblefische_*
Posted 21 August 2007 - 05:12 AM
Sounds like an interesting project, good luck,
r
#6 Guest_TurtleLover_*
Posted 21 August 2007 - 12:43 PM
#7 Guest_fuzzyletters_*
Posted 21 August 2007 - 08:11 PM
I think the book I recommended says that ordinary potting or garden soil may actually be better than those enhanced substrates because they can skew algae growth, but Diana Walstad, the author, is active on other forums, and I think she'd be the first to admit that her observations and suspicions are not necessarily the rule, and that even if they were there would always be exceptions.
Anyway, good luck and congratulations on choosing to go this route; it can be really natural-looking and really low-maintenance... perfect for native fish tanks.
#8 Guest_farmertodd_*
Posted 21 August 2007 - 10:27 PM
http://www.farmertod...e_fish_tank.pdf (1.1 mb)
You can look at some film I've posted here, about half way down the page:
http://www.farmertodd.com/aquaria.asp
Mind you, my website is under heavy construction right now I've got a lot of new video to move up and in other formats. So I appologize for any inconveniences.
I've done this with natives and exotics. Doesn't matter. And I've run quarantine tanks like what you're describing without all the filters with a very suprising number of fish and plants. My approach has also been based of the Walstad book, although I've modified it some.
Todd
#9 Guest_ckraft_*
Posted 21 August 2007 - 10:41 PM
It's a fun book to read even if you're not building a system like they do. they discuss problems and solutions to aquaria systems where there is no input other than makeup water.
Lots of technical info that makes me feel all warm inside.
#10 Guest_TurtleLover_*
Posted 22 August 2007 - 09:52 AM
#11 Guest_joia2181_*
Posted 22 August 2007 - 10:42 AM
#12 Guest_TurtleLover_*
Posted 22 August 2007 - 11:10 AM
#13 Guest_arnoldi_*
Posted 22 August 2007 - 04:28 PM
#14 Guest_nativeplanter_*
Posted 22 August 2007 - 04:50 PM
I think there is a fan in the hood and we cut the amount of time the lights are on (we use timers for all our aquariums) down, but it's still pretty warm in there. We may be using it without the hood or with the hood propped open part of the day with this project. We'll have to play around with it. Right now we have something called eco-substrate (we got it off the Dr. Foster and Smith), it's designed to help waste break down and feed plants. Would this work as the substrate in this type of setup and do you all think I'll still need to add a layer of gravel on top. Any input is helpful. Thanks all.
The substrate you have will probably work just fine. I use the layer of gravel just to keep the soil from getting mixed up in the water. So long as there are no sensitive fish in there, I'd just turn off the filter. Keep an eye on the fish; if they start to look stressed you can always turn the filter back on. But I do think your setup will be OK without a filter running.
#15 Guest_TurtleLover_*
Posted 23 August 2007 - 12:19 PM
UV Sterilizer
Should I leave this in or take it out for the new setup. Since we won't be using the filter built in the back and you can adjust the flow on this UV sterlizer, it might just add a little turbidity for surface gas exchange. Any thoughts on this?
#16 Guest_fuzzyletters_*
Posted 24 August 2007 - 02:22 PM
#17 Guest_TurtleLover_*
Posted 24 August 2007 - 07:15 PM
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