My Low Tech 90G Planted Tank

[ltgoof]

I got bored with my 90G bare bottom tank so I decided to go to the greener side. Here is my 4 month old Low Tech (Non CO2) 90G Planted tank:

Tank: 90G Hagen Tank (48"x18"x24")
Filter: 2217 Eheim Classic Filter; Rena XP2
Heater: Hydor Inline Heater 300W
Temperature: 82 deg Celsius
Lighting: 2 Coralife 56W T5 48" x 2 (6700K x 2; Colormax Full Spectrum x2)
Substrate: Silica Sand over Eco-complete
Plants: Amazon Sword, Anubias barteri v. coffeefolia, red lotus, bacopa, l. aromatica, limnophila rotundifolia, java fern, hygro
Carbon Source: Flourish Excel (Non-CO2)
Inhabitants: 15 Cardinals, 8 Rummy nose, 8 Ottos, 2 Brittlenose Plecos, 10 Amano Shrimps, 1 RSG, 2 Red Rose, 1 staunted BD, 1 staunted Golden, 5 Amano Shrimps

[B]NowB]


Before got bored (Nov 2008)

[ltgoof]

a closer look:

[ltgoof]

another shot:

[ltgoof]

Other inhabitants:

Cardinals and Rummies

[ltgoof]

Ottos:

[ltgoof]

BN pleco:

[Mello]

Pare! whats your temp? are the discus not eating your shrimps?

[Eddie]

Nice tank.

Good luck with everything
Eddie

[FLGirl1977]

Beautiful! Wish I had a green thumb for aquatic plants... do you use co2? How much effort goes into your maintenance for the plants? Love your red lotus!

[ltgoof]

Pare! whats your temp? are the discus not eating your shrimps?

Pare, 82 deg Celsius. I think they are, as I only see 1 shrimp now.. not really sure if they were only hiding.

[ltgoof]

Thaks for the kind comments Eddie.

Hi Renee, this is my first planted tank and I have been through ups and downs for more than 3 months now. The worst that I have experience is BGA (cyano) which is still evident, it is much worst a week ago but they are under control now. Thanks to the help of forum members. The sad thing is, this is the only discus left to my first batch, I lost half of them.

I don't have CO2, I just dose Excel.

About the maintenance, I say it is almost the same as I was spending on the BB tank. 50% WC every Week and a little bit of trimming... that's it. The daily water change of the BB tank is the hardest.

[Eddie]

I also just picked up the Coralife T5 fixture and I find it to be an amazing difference! I love that fixture, it really brings out the colors of the fish X100!

Eddie

[TankWatcher]

Beautiful tank. Like tgoof, I get bored when looking at a BB tank.

You've done a nice job, thanks for sharing.

[TankWatcher]

Meant to ask, do you have any issue with the eco complete coming up through the silica sand, eg when you pull out a stem plant etc?

[ltgoof]

Thanks for the kind comments guys.

Hi Edie, inspite of bad reviews of that 48" 56W T5 Coralife, I'm still amaze by it's intensity. I only have 56W x2, or 112W/90 so about 1.25 W/g but it is more than enough for my plants. I got my first test a week ago, after I got a BGA outbreak.

After cutting on the photo period, adding a power head to provide more flow, and dosing some ferts... BGA is now under control.

Back to that Coralife fixture, I don't like much the color as it is a bit yellowish. I'm thinking of replacing the 6700K bulb to a 10000K. As I am on the tight budget now, maybe I should just replace it later.

Cheers!