Ideas for TALL (30") 6' tank?

[RAUDIE]

Hello friends,

I have a custom made 180cm long x 70cm (30") high x 35cm deep tank, holding approx 400 litres.

Do you have any ideas how I can aquascape it? I'm particularly concerned about the tall height and short depth (Back to front distance).

Hardware:
- Lights are 2x 55W and 3x40W Osram Dulux daylight (total 230W) mounted 30cm above the water surface.
- Filtration is 1x Eheim 2215 and 1x Eheim 2217
- CO2 has been set up
- A chiller will most likely be set up shortly

I'm looking for a tank that is not very high maintenance (not too fast growth). I am having problems finding ideas on the internet for such a tall tank. Many thanks for your ideas!

[JadeIceGreen]

Hello friends,

I have a custom made 180cm long x 70cm (30") high x 35cm deep tank, holding approx 400 litres.

Do you have any ideas how I can aquascape it? I'm particularly concerned about the tall height and short depth (Back to front distance).

Hardware:
- Lights are 2x 55W and 3x40W Osram Dulux daylight (total 230W) mounted 30cm above the water surface.
- Filtration is 1x Eheim 2215 and 1x Eheim 2217
- CO2 has been set up
- A chiller will most likely be set up shortly

I'm looking for a tank that is not very high maintenance (not too fast growth). I am having problems finding ideas on the internet for such a tall tank. Many thanks for your ideas!

Sorry, my post is not about plants for your tank but your filters.

I run two 2028s on my 300l tank so I suggest that you change the 2215 to another 2217. In such a big tank, investing in "over filtration" will prevent a lot of potential problems from surfacing. And, as yours is a low maintenance tank, with two 2217s, you dun have to service them that often too.

Just my 2 cents.

[TKS7011]

For low maintenance, maybe you may want to consider a low tech setup. Since you are likely to install a chiller, a scape with moss, ferns and nana should go well.

My tanks is 150x60x60cm, I always find it tough to plant the opposite bottom (maybe my hands are short ). Slope the sand so that the back is more reachable, also to create more depth.

[RAUDIE]

My ambient temp seems to be about 29deg. Perhaps with 2 bigger fans I will manage to bring down by 2-3deg and then I won't need a chiller. What do you think?

JadeIceGreen, thanks for the suggestion, I will keep that in mind.

I do have a 1000l/h powerhead running my CO2 reactor. That should provide more current as well, and not reduce flow through the filters that much.

[vinz]

I would suggest low light plants for the foreground and mid-height plants. Probably Cryptocoryne, Anubias and Java fern and family.

For such a large tank, Go for large plants... especially as the main focus.... like larger Echinodorus or lotus/lily family. If you want low maintenance, avoid stemmed plants as they will really stretch up for the light unless you ramp up the light.

Given the short front to back space, the rest of your tall plants should be moderate light rosettes with skinny leaves... like Cryptocoryne balansae, Criniums, etc.

Actually, Sagittaria subulata would make a fairly decent mid-ground to background plant.

[Petia]

maybe go for a fallen tree in river bank effect.

lower the water level a bit, put in some tall driftwood so it sticks out of water. grow some emmerse semi aquatic plants on the top. or some maybe can have some floating plants beside the driftwood.

ferns, moss, crypts and rasboras for SEA river biotope?

[RAUDIE]

Thanks for the ideas! I will post pics of the setup soon. Thanks Vinz and Petia. Any other thoughts?

[TKS7011]

2 ac fans should be able to bring down 2 degree. I am using one Mr tornado fan and a 12v DC fan (place near filter's outlet) for my 5ft. Manage to reduce temperature by 2-3 degree. Also, I have a 50l container below to keep aged water and a pump with output hose link to main tank. As and when the water level is low due to evapouration, just on the pump to do the topping, save trouble

[Shadow]

I suggest DC instead of AC fan, in case accidentally drop it into the water

[RAUDIE]

I added 1x 54W T5 today, brings my lighting up to 285W. My lights are on 6hours/day to start with. I already see some hair algae

My water temp went up to 29.5 with the additional lights. Fan is the next priority.

Over past few days have been busy planting:
Anubias barteri var. barteri ‘Broad Leaf’
Anubias barteri var. nana
Anubias barteri var. nana ‘Petite’
Aponogaton crispus
Bacopa caroliniana
Barclaya longifolia ‘Red Form’
Bolbitis heudelotii
Cryptocoryne becketti
Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Green Gecko’
Echidnodorus bleheri
Echidnodorus ‘Rubin Narrow Leaf’
Echidnodorus tenellus
Eleocharis acicularis
Ludwigia brevipes
Microsorium pteropus ‘Tropica’
Taxiphyllum barbieri (Java moss)
Vallisneria Americana var. natans
Vallisneria spiralis
Vesicularia montagnei (Christmas Moss)

[Petia]

the best place to get inspiration is from nature. or even from the man made "nature features".

at the bird park theres the stream at the fake waterfall. moss and ferns on fallen logs across the stream.
at the zoo theres the pygmy hippo habitat with lots of rocky habitats for african cichlids and giant catfish, turtles.
at the sg buloh theres are huge freshwater ponds with lots of floating plants, monitor lizards, red ear sliders, perch, gourami and barbs.


currently i have been poisoned by the vivarium bug. aiming to setup a paludarium once aprroval is given by co

[RAUDIE]

You are right bro... somehow the most natural setups are the most satisfying and uplifting. And they are sometimes the simplest too.

After 1 week of planting and setup, I realise I have quite a few different plants...