Help me setup an ultra budget planted tank

[Navyblue]

I imagine if I were a mosquito, I would have problem floating stationary, although I don't see how it would stop me from laying egg, assuming it is like pooping. But then I am neither mosquito nor female.

Flourish is pretty much everything plants need, minus the macro nutrients. Well it actually has NPK but they are negligible, which is their major selling point. So I call it trace, although it's technically the mid and micro nutrient. As for the actual Flourish Trace, I think it has only micro nutrient, and I wouldn't waste my money on it.

Then there is the N, P, K, C (Excel) and Fe (which is a trace actually). I am also not a Seachem salesman. I am about to buy most of them, although most of them would be redundant once the tank is stocked and running.

From what I read, correct me if I am wrong, I need the system to be limited by N and P. Reasonable over abundance of the rest (K, C, Fe and trace) would be rather harmless. But over abundance of N and P would favor algae over plant growth. But this would be a challenge in a low tech tank as the tendency is that it would be C limited.

[felix_fx2]

uploadfromtaptalk1358315145517.jpg

Everyday train eye. Hands focus on another tank. (Good excuse to get a testing tank)

[Navyblue]

Thanks. That is a useful and easy to understand chart.

It also says that is a K deficiency.

[wongce]

Bro, you are setting up a low tech with minimal maintenance right? the normal Seachem flourish (general one) + Seachem flourish Excel is good enough already... i dose weekly according to manufacturer instruction in my low tech tank...but my low tech tank has more plants than yours... so i think you can half the dosage..

Seachem is very diluted compared to lushgro series... but for low tech, it is good enough....

haha, for mosquito... you just monitor as you are now. If no issue, then don't bother ...

once you tank is cycled with sufficient fish poo, you may even skip fertilizer... if there is no deficiency whatsoever with your plant the word balance is the key... but not easy to find the key...haha good luck bro...

[Shadow]

IMO, finding balance in low tank is much harder that high tech . I'm not good at low tech

[felix_fx2]

Lowtech with highlighting good

[wongce]

fully agreed!!!!!

[diazman]

IMO, finding balance in low tank is much harder that high tech . I'm not good at low tech

hahaha! im not good with high tech tank

Algae! Algae everywhere!

[felix_fx2]

hahaha! im not good with high tech tank

Algae! Algae everywhere!

LOL, algae is already everywhere in low tech. Just how fast they grow and how much the mass is...

[diazman]

Thanks.

I thought with less water height, the suspended particles has less distance to travel down. Also if the particles are more concentrated in less water it would take less time to filter.

I imagine cories can flatten a slope. When substrate particle is moved it always moved down and not up. Over time the gradient will become lesser and lesser, unless it is very gentle to begin with (which would mean a very large tank).

Apart from moss, I don't really know what to do with the slope. If I go with something like e. tenelus or dwarf sag, I imagine they will be too tall and would take forever to carpet.

LOL, algae is already everywhere in low tech. Just how fast they grow and how much the mass is...

haha. my last tank became all you can eat algae buffet when i forgot to set the timer off properly. visitor came to my house and replied "wah. nice tank very green. new kind of plant you growing ah??" *facepalm*

[horst]

I read the word "Ultra Budget" and quite a lot of "too much effort" and so on. So you wanna have a tank tat fits these characteristics? Sure you can:
1. Use plastic plants - Save on lighting and fertilizer = Save $$$$
2. Put in Plastic fish - Save on fish food = Save $$$$
All the above no algae problem = Zero effort.

What say you all?

[Fahmy]

I read the word "Ultra Budget" and quite a lot of "too much effort" and so on. So you wanna have a tank tat fits these characteristics? Sure you can:
1. Use plastic plants - Save on lighting and fertilizer = Save $$$$
2. Put in Plastic fish - Save on fish food = Save $$$$
All the above no algae problem = Zero effort.

What say you all?

I doubt so bro. Later got mosquitoes, get dengue, go hospital. So still high bill. This thread interesting though.

It can only be done for very small tanks is it? I was just wondering whether its possible, say a 4 feet tank, to go with such low maintenance? I'd say only a huge amount of planning can pull this off.

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[horst]

Possible. But you must start step by step and unfortunately cannot avoid "effort". Start with fast growing plants, like stem plants in large numbers Filling almost 70-80% of tank. Then when all is growing well introduce slow growing plants like anubias, javas, fern, mosses etc. This way, fast growing plants out compete algae for food. Fish is optional. No fish is better. Stem plants will naturally provide low light at the bottom conducive for slow growing plants. Notice from other forum posts, ppl suffering from algae all start with slow growing plants and lots of fishes. When your slow growing plants have grown alot more, you can slow start cutting away the stem plants. But very sayang because by now your tank looks very good.

[Fahmy]

I see.. which means I'll need a high AMOUNT of lights?

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[horst]

In the beginning only. When your slow growing plants begin to dominate, you can cut back lighting. You see, high light without fast growing plants only encourage algae. Slow growing plant cannot absorb all nutrients leading to algae growth. My experience: dosing seachem iron / flourish in the beginning with high light slow growing plants = hair algae, brown algae

[felix_fx2]

I read the word "Ultra Budget" and quite a lot of "too much effort" and so on. So you wanna have a tank tat fits these characteristics? Sure you can:
1. Use plastic plants - Save on lighting and fertilizer = Save $$$$
2. Put in Plastic fish - Save on fish food = Save $$$$
All the above no algae problem = Zero effort.

What say you all?

Plastic plans and fish does not mean necessarily no algae. Algae are all around, but as the ones we see but rather as spores.
Given condition, they will grow and flourish.

btw, plastic plants + Plastic fish = don't waste time. you still refer that as hobby?

[felix_fx2]

I read the word "Ultra Budget" and quite a lot of "too much effort" and so on. So you wanna have a tank tat fits these characteristics? Sure you can:
1. Use plastic plants - Save on lighting and fertilizer = Save $$$$
2. Put in Plastic fish - Save on fish food = Save $$$$
All the above no algae problem = Zero effort.

What say you all?

Plastic plans and fish does not mean necessarily no algae. Algae are all around, but as the ones we see but rather as spores.
Given condition, they will grow and flourish.

btw, plastic plants + Plastic fish = don't waste time. you still refer that as hobby?

[Fahmy]

btw, plastic plants + Plastic fish = don't waste time. you still refer that as hobby?

Probably called a plastiquarium. Or plasticscape.



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[Shadow]

why not just use screen saver

[eviltrain]

why not just use screen saver

haha this will confirm save alot of trouble!

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