Beginnings of a new tank

It is time to get started on a new tank. For this one, I can clearly imagine a low light, low tech tank filled with crypts and epiphytes for sort of a "fantasy forest" feel. Unfortunately the tank currently looks like this:



Clearly I have a long way to go!
First step, this tank needs a new stand. I'm not fond of any of the readily available stands, so I'm building my own. Unfortunately, I don't have the proper tools to do the sort of job I would like, but it should look halfway decent in the end.

To start I have created a basic skeleton using 2x4s.




The next step will be to add a plywood skin.

What is a planted tank?

Everyone knows what a fish tank is, but what is a planted fish tank? Plenty of aquarium owners have at one time or another added a live plant or two as decoration into their tank, but a handful of plant inside a fish tank does not make a planted tank. A planted tank is a fish tank where plants occupy a significant portion of the tank, ofter the entire surface of the substrate. It is an important distinction, as a planted tank requires different maintenance and upkeep than a fish only tank, or a tank with a plant or two.

Why a planted tank?

The first reason is easy, tanks filled with plants look cool. A garden like arrangement has much more visual interest than a tank with few decorations. Many fish interact with their environments, and different behaviors can be observed in planted tank. Fish health is another benefit. Plants process fish waste and remove harmful chemicals from the water. Healthy plants equal healthy fish!

Is it difficult?

While any planted tank is going to require a bit of planning to be successful, there are ways to create planted tanks that actually require less maintenance than fish only tanks.
For those that enjoy more complexity, there are plenty of ways to make tanks that are time consuming and challenging as well.

Previous tanks

I'll start off by showing my previous tanks.

This tank was done in a low tech, low light, zero water change style. It had the barest minimum of lighting for the plants health, needed very little in added nutrients beyond fish waste, and only required water changes when the substrate was disturbed.

The equipment was removed for this photo, but only consisted of a hang on the back filter and a heater.

Although the plants lived and grew under the low lighting, they were never able to thrive to the point that I could shape them as I wanted.

At the time of this picture, the inhabitants were a male Betta splendens (siamese fighting fish), a Corydoras pygmaeus (pygmy cory), and a Parotocinclus sp. (pitbull pleco) along with numerous snails.



This tank was done in a high tech, high light style. It featured compact fluorescent lighting, injected CO2, and a canister filter. I used what is called the EI method, which basically means relatively large additions of nutrients are added daily, along with a weekly water change of %50 to disallow the levels of those nutrients to reach levels toxic to the fish.

At the time of this picture, the inhabitants were 11 Trigonostigma heteromorpha (harlequin rasbora), 5 Otocinclus sp. (Oto catfish), 5 Corydoras reticulatus (network cories), 3 Crossocheilus
siamensis (siamese algae eater) and a Cardina japonica (amano shrimp) as well as countless tiny snails.

Look out for this tank in the upcoming Aquatic Gardeners Association and Aqua Design Amano competions!