Norbert's Apistogramma biotope setup

[Justikanz]

Nick, check out this guy's apisto palace: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...6434#post76434

[benny]

Nick, check out this guy's apisto palace: http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/f...6434#post76434

Are you refering to these pictures?




Full tank setup - running on hang on filter


Looks like something I can live with. Quite easy to maintain right? I think it's a beautiful setup.

I recall seeing more of Norbert's works at Aquatic Photography Forum. Have to go find the link. Original site is www.aquadesign.pl. Very inspirational.

Cheers,

p.s. Found the link I saw it from...http://www.aquatic-photography.com/f...0&page=1&pp=10

And the permission for us to link the pictures here too!!

[Justikanz]

Gorgeous... Shows that plantless tanks can look just as good... But I still dun think it is maintenance free or low maintenance... Probably need to clear and replace the decaying leaves often... And decaying leaves are quite difficult to remove... Esp when the apistos spawn! Keke...

[andrewtyr]

How to retrieve the fishlets in such a complex setup?

[Justikanz]

Vacuum them out?

[benny]

Have you guys noticed that the tank is braceless...

Beautiful!

Cheers,

[Justikanz]

Maybe bottom braced... But think the tank is 3ft x 1ft... Should be ok, risky, but ok, to go braceless...

[Fei Miao]

Beautiful, would you consider this in the category of a biotope set-up?

[benny]

Maybe bottom braced... But think the tank is 3ft x 1ft... Should be ok, risky, but ok, to go braceless...

My 4 ft at home is braceless, no bottom brace too. No problems. It's been over a year already.

Cheers,

[Justikanz]

But your 4ft is not that tall, right? I wouldn't try that for a 4'x2'x2' tank!... My last 4'x2'x1.5' bowed after the center brace fell off, which must have fell off due to water pressure in the first place...

[benny]

But your 4ft is not that tall, right?

You are right. It's 4' X 1.5' X 1.5' only. Just 5 pieces of glass stuck together.

Cheers,

[yorky]

This is a very unique setup, a real biotope for South American Dwarfs or Wild Bettas.

[benetay]

very interesting setup, it's not ideal for people who wants to view them nicely in a planted aquaria but it's very good for the apisto. We can't really seem them and they can see us trying to take a peak here and there .

I think this setup needs to carry out quite a lot of waterchange due to the decaying of leaves, branches and driftwood.

A different setup i'll say.

[StanChung]

IMO braceless not recommended for our earthquake region... or tanks larger than 150L. asking for trouble unless you got special glass that's stronger. [tempered?]
i've successfully removed braces for my 150 L and no probs. touch wood.

met a guy with braced 6 footer tsunamiing his entire house. apparently neighbour was doing renovation next door.

anyway love this tank...
if you have to plant it you can use floating plants. apisto biotope has more floating plants than submerged. no need co2 as well. a truly low maintainace tank other than regular WC to keep the tannins in check.

[ranmasatome]

Braceless for 4x2x2 is okay...just need thicker glass.. and price will be exponential in increase... dont say never warn you.

As for this kind of tank..i used to have one quite long ago.. never bothered to scape the tank like norbert did..which i must say he did a good job...just dumped a whole bunch of ketapang and freshwater marsh branches in..maintenance is a breeze because technically you dont really want to.

[BFG]

I don't think tempered glass is good. If it's broke, every liquid in your tank will end up on the floor. Remember, it will break into million of pieces.

[StanChung]

maybe better than a big piece flying off and doing bodily damage?
the small pieces are painful to step on but better than getting slashed perhaps?

[Thirteen]

Very nice tank. Definitely, low tech. but i'm curious abt this kind of tank settings. Will there be any disadvantages/bad sides to this kinda tank? It seems to be a potential mosquito breeder.

[Justikanz]

Need to check the pH. If pH is low, then no mosquitos will breed (Need to check the lowest level they like also)... The black water of the Amazon has no air borne insects cos the larvae cannot survive in the low pH water. But then hor, the pH there is ~pH4 lor...

[ranmasatome]

Thomas thats not exactly true... certain species of mosquito have been known to survive in water of ph 4. Depending on the species, the lowest so far that i've read is 3.3ph.. but i dont think any larvae survives normally lower than that...meaning although not as many make it...technically, they still survive...sort of like a compromised survival.