How to make a tank like this?

[yampeck]

Hi,

I managed to dig out this pic of a tank posted somewhere long time ago which i felt was a beautiful looking tank. Need to hear from the experts here how to create such a look and the challenges.

Some qns i have are:
1. Assuming i use an external canister filter, how does the filter works... as in, will the decaying plants might clog it up easily?
2. If using ketapang leaves to create the leaf litter effect, will it result in extreme water parameters?

Thanks!

[Robert]

Hi,
the tank on the picture is filtered by an Aquaclear filter which hangs on the back wall of the tank. It's easy to clean them because you can open it on the top and take out the filter material.

The leaves used in this tanks are oak leaves. They decay slowly (it takes weeks). Together with the driftwood they cause this tannin-rich brown water. Ketapang leaves should have the same effect.

The tank seems to be great fro South-American dwarf cichlids, tetras and corys or for bettas and choclate gouramis from Asian black water habitats.

[k3nlim]

Ketapang leaves should produce similar effects....peat balls or moss have the same effects too

[yampeck]

hi, thanks for the info.

But how to handle the decayed plants in such an aquascape? Need to clear out the decayed matter every month or less?

I would assume it'll not require any CO2 if there's no plants in it. In that case, will the tank be filled with algae?

Or what other possible issues can arise from maintaining such a setup?

Thanks!!

[wasabi8888]

Just use lots of ketapang leaves. No problem with decayed plants since these leaves are dried. No co2 is needed in such a set up. If you are using red light, then chances of algae is slim unless lighting period is very long. I use red light on one of tanks for 1 year and not a single sign of algae.
Run the cannister filter and maintain the filter regularly ie 3 mths to 6 months.

I think its a simple set up that should not give too much problems. The only issue that can arise is the stability of PH. Such leaves and driftwood will lower PH after a while, so may need some limestones to stablilze PH. As time goes by, PH will get lower and lower and will get a PH crash if you do not monitor it and couter it with limestones.

My 2 cents worth. Gurus here, please correct me if i am wrong

[WiNd08]

done this before, when i was keeping arowana. had less wood though.

use fine river sand as substrate, throw in a lot of ketapang leaves, water will become very tannic in a few days. I threw in a whole school of tiger barbs as feeders very beautiful sight