Se Asian Biotope

[coldcazzie]

Thought I'd better start a new journal for the new tank. This may be a bit premature, as 1) I have nothing for the tank whatsoever and 2) I don't even have anywhere to put it! I have an idea, but it will take some thought, furniture jiggling etc. Will detail that later. Anyway, first things first.

Random 24x12x15 tank I happen to have lying about:

As you can see, it mings! Several years in a cellar followed by a few months outside will do that to a tank. However, it's watertight, which is the first step, any everything else can be fixed. It will be cleaned, and possibly re-sealed, depending on what the sealant is like when/after I clean it. (I may powerhose it, in which case re-sealing might be prudent!)

It also has no lights/lid, and I don't have a heater big enough for it (well, I do, but it's my spare for my QT).

Considering the type of biotope I am aiming for, plant mass will be high, flow will be low to none existant, no ferts, no CO2, undecided on lighting as yet. Mongabay says lighting should be high, but I am worried that this combined with no ferts/co2/flow will lead to algae issues? The solution may be high lighting, but lots of floating plants? I am still unsure about this

My shopping list/to do list (as it stands):

• clean tank, re-seal if neccessary and do week long watertightness test
• 100w heater
• make a hood using wood I have lying around in the garage, painted.
• condensation cover/tray

Substrate will be dark, am undecided about type as yet. I have JBL Aquabasis+ in my Rio 240, but I'd like to try something different. Am quite taken by Laterite, but don't know what to top it with yet. Some black sands (eg, seachem flourite) say they don't need anything like laterite underneath, anyone know if this is true or not?

Plants will be crypts of varying types (including the wendtii and becketti I have currently), nymphaea, some kind of hygrophilia, water lettuce on the surface (or something else if the water lattuce doesn't take off), hardscape will be mopani I think - I will have to search for the perfect branchy pieces.

To it there will be added my poor long suffering lace gourami, possibly some sparklers or honey gouramis too, khuli loaches and maybe some rasboras (very iffy about this - it's not a huge tank after all!)

Filtration I am unsure about. I do have sponge filters I can hook up to an air pump, but considering the amount of tannins I want to add to the water (probably going to use at least a little peat moss in the filter) I suspect it would be insufficient, so am considering one of those little resun 200l/h externals. I realise it's a little small, but the stocking will be fairly low and I am specifically not looking for a large amount of flow. AC, pretty sure you have one yes? What's the flow like on it?

Anyways, that's all for now I think thoughts, comments, suggestions?

 

[ian]

look forward to this...i love biotope tanks. As for the filter, i have one of those 200lph resuns and am quite happy with it. It would be fine on that. You could always get a HOB from APS http/www.allpondsolutions.co.uk/aquarium-filters/hang-on-filter-external.html

If you wanted to keep it low light (which most biotopes are) you could always keep it open topped and use one of these http/www.warehouse-aquatics.co.uk/index.php?p=product&products_id=4175&cid=1 you could grow thing really slowly with this light, you would be able to get away with no C02, Ferts etc etc.

good luck with it!

 

[coldcazzie]

Yeah I like that light, that might be the way to go.

I do have a tiny little HOB filter actually, but I'm pretty sure it's not big enough. The 400lph APS HOB might be alright - that would give me 5x turnover, which I know is probably a little low but I'm trying to keep it really low tec, and low flow. Not sure if it would be big enough to put some peat moss in it though...

 

[coldcazzie]

Shopping/to-do list:

• clean tank, re-seal if neccessary and do week long watertightness test
• 100w heater bought one off weezawoo
• make a hood, condensation cover/tray, lighting have decided, on balance, that it would be more sensible to use the 24x12 hood that I already have, that I currently use for my QT, with lights etc, instead of buying all new stuff. As the QT is rarely used, and then only for new fish, I will instead buy a condensation tray for that, thus saving myself effort, time and money. Still need to investigate how much light this will give me. Pretty sure it's 2 T5s, but will check to be sure
• filter: going to get either one of these or one of these although I'm unsure which yet
• substrate: black sand, mixed with laterite, small and large gravels and possibly play sand too

 

[JenCliBee]

Sounds an interesting project.. look forward to seeing the progress

 

[lljdma06]

I am looking forward to this as well. I enjoy biotopes. Keep us posted on your progress.

 

[coldcazzie]

Having removed the soup of stuff that the kids have accumulated in the tank (grass, mud, plastic plates, a large amount of sand from the sandpit) etc

I cleaned the tank out (looks much better!):

Then examined it and found a chip which I am unsure about (see thread here):

Doing a watertightness test anyway:

Left that for 3 days, no leakage, so filled it up to 2/3rds full yesterday, will give it another 3 days, then fill it to the top and give it a week plus. Am being extra cautious with that chip. I think, even if it proves itself, I will still be putting sealant on the outside, just for added security. I may even reseal the whole thing, I'm not sure.

Hubby reckons we should build a lid for it, even though I had decided not to. I think he wants to flex his electrical muscles: if we build our own hood he'll be able to build a custom lighting setup for it

 

[BigTom]

If you're not going to have a hood and wanted to be properly low tech then you could always use emergent/riparian plants to do the filtering for you, or in addition to a small sponge filter.

 

[coldcazzie]

I could. And I do really like that idea. I'm just not sure if I'm brave enough!

I guess I could mix the peat in with the substrate instead of having it in the filter, do you think that would have the same effect, or would it not be as effective as having the water actually passing through it?

 

[ChilliPepper]

Sounds interesting! I love Khuli loaches. I find the brown ones are more active than the stripey ones for some reason.

I'd reseal it all to be on the safe side

 

[coldcazzie]

I'd reseal it all to be on the safe side

Having been out today and had a proper look at the sealant under the water, while it's not leaking, it's not in great condition so I am going to reseal it all. I'm also going to seal each of the joints externally as well. Reckon that will have to wait until the weekend though.

 

[StandbySetting]

Looks like an interesting project, I'd put the peat in the filter personally, and with regards to lighting I'd recommend a 15 Watt T8 with reflector, it should be fine with no CO2/Ferts etc, have you seen one of the set ups George Farmer did for the biotope series in PFK, that was a black water set up? If you haven't there are some good tips and tricks that may help you.

I'd reseal it too, make sure all silicone is removed prior to applying new sealant though

 

[BigTom]

I could. And I do really like that idea. I'm just not sure if I'm brave enough!

I guess I could mix the peat in with the substrate instead of having it in the filter, do you think that would have the same effect, or would it not be as effective as having the water actually passing through it?

Not sure on the peat, haven't used it myself (I get my tannins from soil, leaves and branches).

Some more reading on filtering using plants if you're interested -

http/www.tuncalik.com/2010/01/indoor-plants-for-water-purification-in-aquariums/
http/www.tuncalik.com/2009/09/biotope-in-my-study/
http/hydrophytesblog.com/

And searching for "el natural" or "walstead" will throw up lots of stuff on other forums (which I can never remember if we're allowed to link to!).

Oh, and the tank in my sig is also run this way and is working nicely so far

 

[coldcazzie]

Looks like an interesting project, I'd put the peat in the filter personally, and with regards to lighting I'd recommend a 15 Watt T8 with reflector, it should be fine with no CO2/Ferts etc, have you seen one of the set ups George Farmer did for the biotope series in PFK, that was a black water set up? If you haven't there are some good tips and tricks that may help you.

I'd reseal it too, make sure all silicone is removed prior to applying new sealant though

I don't read PFK, so no I haven't seen it. Is there a link to it online?

Not sure on the peat, haven't used it myself (I get my tannins from soil, leaves and branches).

Some more reading on filtering using plants if you're interested -

http/www.tuncalik.com/2010/01/indoor-plants-for-water-purification-in-aquariums/
http/www.tuncalik.com/2009/09/biotope-in-my-study/
http/hydrophytesblog.com/

And searching for "el natural" or "walstead" will throw up lots of stuff on other forums (which I can never remember if we're allowed to link to!).

Oh, and the tank in my sig is also run this way and is working nicely so far

Yes I've been watching it - it's fascinating!

At least part of the potential problem with an open topped tank comes from 2 cats (one of whom really likes the fish and tries to catch them through the tank glass) and my youngest child, who is only 18 months old. I'm not sure if an open topped tank would be feasible with all the risks of things being plopped into it, and possibly the cat trying to go fishing....

What soil did you use?

ps. thanks for the links, will have a read of those tonight when my head is not full of phenomenology!

 

[BigTom]

We've managed to train the cats in my flat to keep away from the tank by flicking water at them whenever they go near it, but I'm not sure if that works for toddlers

The soil was one of the John Innes mixes, afraid I can't remember exactly which number (maybe 5?), from Dobbies. I cut it about 50:50 with sand, and then capped it with 100% sand. Was quite messy to begin with but is fine now all the floaty bits have gone.