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06-13-2008, 11:21 PM
| #1 (permalink) |
| MFT Staff  Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hamilton, ON.
Posts: 1,098
|  Ishar's Native Tank Well I decided to go for it. I am going to make a stream type aquarium I think. I don't have a powerhead for this tank or anything- nothing will be bought for it. will use my air pump for water circulation, I will have native plants powered by maybe low ferts and once I get pressurized CO2 for my main tank I might switch the DIY to this tank- but I doubt it. This is going to be uber low-tech. I will not likely filter it. I have a think clay bed with rocks on top- small and large. I am hoping that because I took the clay and rocks from the ecosystem from which I plan to take my plants and crayfish and possibly fish, it should be good for cycling a very low bioload supported by plants. Stocking plans include live plants- emersed and submerged types. I am only going to keep it filled about halfway- that way I don't think I will have to worry about my cray(s) getting out, and I can grow emersed plants, which I thought would be neat  . So here is my tank so far  hahahaha obviously cloudy. It is so bloody cloudy the light is only penetrating about 1.5cm into the water... and that is my 24W dual T5 strip. The cover I have for it is very dirty and is limiting the light that will get to the tank once it does clear up... if anyone has any really cheap or homemade type ideas for a tank cover that will be clean for me I would appreciate the input. If it covers the whole top then even better- then it will stay good and humid for the emersed plants.
__________________ 20G tank: 3.25WPG, Pres. CO2, Flourite Daily Ferts [mL]: Trying to find the balance Flora: Hairgrass, Java Moss, Java Fern, Java Fern 'Windelov', Stargrass, Jungle Val, Leopard Val, Rotala indica, Onion Bulb, Giant Bacopa, Red Ludwigia, Needle Leaf Ludwigia Fauna: 1 Amano Shrimp, 5 Neon Tetras, Guppies, 3 Ottos |
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06-13-2008, 11:54 PM
| #2 (permalink) |
| Super Fish  Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Homewood, Illinois
Posts: 1,508
| It seems to be off to a good start. For a tank cover you could try egg crate, well I think thats what it's called.
__________________ My deviantART account. |
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06-13-2008, 11:58 PM
| #3 (permalink) | |
| MFT Staff  Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Columbia, SC
Posts: 8,354
| Looks like a real natural native tank to me! The lake here is just as muddy! 
__________________ Matt  I AM, Mr. DIY. Quote:
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06-13-2008, 11:59 PM
| #4 (permalink) |
| MFT Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hamilton, ON.
Posts: 1,098
| hm. Not a bad idea. Thing is not for support though- I should have clarified, the light strip has like 1 inch or more on each side hanging off  . The problem is the irt on the glass, and these lights are not rated for an uncovered tank. They need a barrier between it and the water due to condensation... but I started thinking- if I am keeping the water level and like half or so... maybe evaporation won't be a big deal? Not sure.hahaha Matt! I would like to see my inhabitants once in a while though lol!!
__________________ 20G tank: 3.25WPG, Pres. CO2, Flourite Daily Ferts [mL]: Trying to find the balance Flora: Hairgrass, Java Moss, Java Fern, Java Fern 'Windelov', Stargrass, Jungle Val, Leopard Val, Rotala indica, Onion Bulb, Giant Bacopa, Red Ludwigia, Needle Leaf Ludwigia Fauna: 1 Amano Shrimp, 5 Neon Tetras, Guppies, 3 Ottos |
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06-14-2008, 12:13 AM
| #5 (permalink) |
| Super Fish Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Homewood, Illinois
Posts: 1,508
| I forgot to ask, is this the 20g that you have listed in your sig?
__________________ My deviantART account. |
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06-14-2008, 09:28 AM
| #6 (permalink) |
| MFT Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hamilton, ON.
Posts: 1,098
| oh no. This is my spare tank that has been sitting around since I was a kid. It is either 12 or 10 gallons. Just a little one :P. So no sunfish in this one unfortunately, but it is a perfect tank for a stream type I think. Some tiny minnows, a crayfish or two, some plants, some rocks :P.
__________________ 20G tank: 3.25WPG, Pres. CO2, Flourite Daily Ferts [mL]: Trying to find the balance Flora: Hairgrass, Java Moss, Java Fern, Java Fern 'Windelov', Stargrass, Jungle Val, Leopard Val, Rotala indica, Onion Bulb, Giant Bacopa, Red Ludwigia, Needle Leaf Ludwigia Fauna: 1 Amano Shrimp, 5 Neon Tetras, Guppies, 3 Ottos |
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06-14-2008, 10:23 AM
| #7 (permalink) |
| MFT Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hamilton, ON.
Posts: 1,098
| I measured it out, and it is a 10G tank. A 10G tank that needs a new top cover
__________________ 20G tank: 3.25WPG, Pres. CO2, Flourite Daily Ferts [mL]: Trying to find the balance Flora: Hairgrass, Java Moss, Java Fern, Java Fern 'Windelov', Stargrass, Jungle Val, Leopard Val, Rotala indica, Onion Bulb, Giant Bacopa, Red Ludwigia, Needle Leaf Ludwigia Fauna: 1 Amano Shrimp, 5 Neon Tetras, Guppies, 3 Ottos |
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06-14-2008, 03:35 PM
| #8 (permalink) |
| MFT Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hamilton, ON.
Posts: 1,098
| Well I am sort of altering my idea. This was going to be a stream type native tank. But I went to the pond where I got the substrate, but in a different location... and I found some awesome looking plants!! So I am going to stick with a pond type. However, I have a few snags first. 1) What inhabitants should I have? Minnows and crayfish like fast moving water with high oxygen levels, I am not sure how a Salamander would like to be in a tank like this, and anything else I can think of would be too big for this 1/4 filled 10G tank. 2) All of the plants I grabbed were found to be emersed- that is the roots and stems were under water, but the leaves and more stem was above the surface. Well, no problem! I built my very own DIY ballast! haha It is simple and looks bad, but I am so proud of it!! haha. Here is my tank now- and any advice on growing emersed plants is MORE than welcome.   
__________________ 20G tank: 3.25WPG, Pres. CO2, Flourite Daily Ferts [mL]: Trying to find the balance Flora: Hairgrass, Java Moss, Java Fern, Java Fern 'Windelov', Stargrass, Jungle Val, Leopard Val, Rotala indica, Onion Bulb, Giant Bacopa, Red Ludwigia, Needle Leaf Ludwigia Fauna: 1 Amano Shrimp, 5 Neon Tetras, Guppies, 3 Ottos |
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06-14-2008, 04:58 PM
| #9 (permalink) |
| Super Fish Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Homewood, Illinois
Posts: 1,508
| You could always try finding a small powerhead, and then you could still have crays and minnows. Although, the plants may be eaten by the crays.
__________________ My deviantART account. |
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06-14-2008, 05:37 PM
| #10 (permalink) |
| MFT Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hamilton, ON.
Posts: 1,098
| Well I put a small cray in there... and I think it might have been a bad idea now. I think he would prefer some rocks and pebbles on top of the clay, as he doesn't seem to like the muck. Also, I am sure he would rather have waited for the water to clear up- it was looking pretty good, but then he stirred it all up again. Not sure what I'll do... And crays eat plants?! Oh man, I didn't know that...
__________________ 20G tank: 3.25WPG, Pres. CO2, Flourite Daily Ferts [mL]: Trying to find the balance Flora: Hairgrass, Java Moss, Java Fern, Java Fern 'Windelov', Stargrass, Jungle Val, Leopard Val, Rotala indica, Onion Bulb, Giant Bacopa, Red Ludwigia, Needle Leaf Ludwigia Fauna: 1 Amano Shrimp, 5 Neon Tetras, Guppies, 3 Ottos |
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| Tags |
| bog, emersed, native, plants, swamp |
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