small water feature

**chooz** · 1st Jun 2009, 13:39

Would like to gather some ideas..

I have a container that is 50cm x 30cm (base) with a height of 15cm. Volume is about 20 litre.

I am thinking of putting it at the balcony. Thinking of camouflaging the sides to make it look like a small water feature. Part of the balcony will be sun-lid but the "tank" will be located out of direct sunlight.

Flora in mind:
1. money-plant at the side with only some part of the roots in water.
2. Penny wort emerging from the tank
3. duckweed (restricted to a corner)

Fauna in mind:
1. a small pleco (for algae control)

The above are stuff that I have at home currently plus the equipment list below:
1. a small internal filter
2. lapis sand
3. a piece of branched driftwood

Any suggestion for suitable plants and fish? The balcony can be quite warm in the afternoon even though it only receive sun light in the morning.

**Xianghao** · 1st Jun 2009, 16:47

maybe goldfish or guppies? you would want to use fish that look nice from the top since you can't see their sides.

**chooz** · 1st Jun 2009, 18:14

yes, can't see from the sides. Can only see from top. But goldfish may be a bit too big for the shallow water.

**gcce** · 4th Jun 2009, 11:55

i think the container is a little too small for goldfishes & the water will get dirty easily. If possible, camouflage 3 sides only & leave 1 side still visible from the front. This way you can still see the fishes from the top & front.

**chooz** · 5th Jun 2009, 09:29

It is a non-transparent container, that's why I am thinking of converting it into a water feature by concealing the sides with bricks or stones. But the height is a bit limiting, at most 15 cm only, may have problem with bigger floating plants.

May be can put in those koi-like platties. Then it will look like I have a miniature koi pond...aka poor man's koi pond