Another tank setup – another long 2ft story

[ranmasatome]

i think its.. just using filter... period.

[Rupert]

yes, just a filter. I do have a light but that is only put on if I want to look at the tank at night or when I having a few beers while sitting in front of the tank in the weekend.

[Rupert]

One should not underestimate the strength of direct sunlight, even though this tank can only get direct light between 4 and 5.30 pm the strength of the sunlight on a clear day is much more powerful than MH’s.

Probably the only really special equipment that I am using is a Chiller otherwise everything would cook

[ranmasatome]

comparing MH to the sun?? tsk tsk tsk..lol..

a chiller is a good way to go..

[Wackytpt]

Rupert,

Any fishes in it ?

Really like your new concept of the sunlight tank

[Rupert]

No fish planned for this tank, however looking for something interesting, like diving beetles, water boatmen.

Since I am using a eheim 2028 the water flow is a lot, so if I did get something they would need to like current. The cherry shrimp don’t mind at all. With Aquarama just around the corner might see something that I have to try.

[Jungle-mania]

With cherry shrimps, I don't think anything with carnivorous appetite is a good idea to introduce.

[Rupert]

It has been a long time since I have taken a picture, but with low tech tank the growth is very slow, it must almost be 9 months since I got the needle Java Fern.

The needle Java Fern has got too bushy and needs to be thinned out, which I might do over Chinese New Year, otherwise very happy with set up. Still no fish, just a few shrimp.

[Rupert]

Thinned out the java fern which has improved the visibility of the wood. With the bit of java fern left over tied them to thin sticks and placed them at both ends

[|squee|]

Very unique tank. If you get a school of rasboras I could sit there and watch them swim in and out all over for hours.

[Rupert]

Thanks Squee, I have been thinking about some fish for quite a while, but not sure what would suit. The tank is kept at 24c and only get ambient light [except when I am sitting in front of it, but more importantly I am using a Eheim 2028 on it and the water flow is strong. I could imagine that most fish would find the water flow too much.

I also have shrimp in the tank, and do not want something that eat them, so have gone without fish. Every now and then I see a nice otto or pleco and wonder if they would enjoy the tank or would they just hide or grow too large?

[aquarius]

Wow NICE tank!! If you're thinking of keeping fishes, you could keep some boraras brigetae or maculatas. I have them together with my other small fishes like furgatas, gallaxy, ruby tetras etc in my planted tank and i've never seen them go and harass or eat the shrimp. I've seen occasions where my other supposedly small fishes eat shrimps when they are halfway through their moulting. They don't swallow the whole shrimp though, just nibble slowly at the shrimp until no more.
As for ottos you can go for the more exotic zebra ottos and leave out the plecs.

BTW you can slow down the flowrate by pointing the outflow bar towards the glass - play around with where to point the outflow.