Ralph
02-09-2003, 05:45 PM
This is my 29 gal at a halfway point to becoming my biotope tank.
The plants are temporary, they are all going to be pulled except the little bit of hairgrass to the right (it's been a painful experience for me and I am doing it gradually). I will keep some floating plants in the tank, you don't really notice them when you look at the tank but you get some of the benefits of a planted tank with them (ammonia removal, etc.). And that is a houseplant in front of the tank that you can see some of the leaves.
The substrate is large-grained, white, silica sand that I am completely sold on at this point. It's easy to clean (it's about 1/2" deep) and I don't have to worry about anchoring plants.
The root is an aerial root from a tropical cissus (jungle grape), in humid conditions, the vine sends down aerial roots 10' (I've got a greenhouse) until it reaches water or soil. It's floating right now, probably due to gas absorbtion, which I don't like. No solution yet how to anchor it.
The tree stump I bought from Ted (tjudy) and the branch is out of the back yard (trimmed off several years ago) and is attached to a small acrylic strip spanning the top of the tank. I like the look of the hanging driftwood, there will be a smaller piece added soon.
There are two heckels, nine rummies, two marble hatchets, and a very small dwarf pleco.
You can't tell by this picture but I'm actually getting better with the photos, it's been a learning experience.
I really like the look of this tank (though I understand that I may be alone on this). This is my best shot (so far) at recreating how they live in the wild. Most of my tanks will be heading this way eventually I imagine. I still like planted tanks and this is certainly not for everyone, but it is another option.
The plants are temporary, they are all going to be pulled except the little bit of hairgrass to the right (it's been a painful experience for me and I am doing it gradually). I will keep some floating plants in the tank, you don't really notice them when you look at the tank but you get some of the benefits of a planted tank with them (ammonia removal, etc.). And that is a houseplant in front of the tank that you can see some of the leaves.
The substrate is large-grained, white, silica sand that I am completely sold on at this point. It's easy to clean (it's about 1/2" deep) and I don't have to worry about anchoring plants.
The root is an aerial root from a tropical cissus (jungle grape), in humid conditions, the vine sends down aerial roots 10' (I've got a greenhouse) until it reaches water or soil. It's floating right now, probably due to gas absorbtion, which I don't like. No solution yet how to anchor it.
The tree stump I bought from Ted (tjudy) and the branch is out of the back yard (trimmed off several years ago) and is attached to a small acrylic strip spanning the top of the tank. I like the look of the hanging driftwood, there will be a smaller piece added soon.
There are two heckels, nine rummies, two marble hatchets, and a very small dwarf pleco.
You can't tell by this picture but I'm actually getting better with the photos, it's been a learning experience.
I really like the look of this tank (though I understand that I may be alone on this). This is my best shot (so far) at recreating how they live in the wild. Most of my tanks will be heading this way eventually I imagine. I still like planted tanks and this is certainly not for everyone, but it is another option.