Planted Low Light 400L

[André Alcantara]

Hi fellows, How I said this is my new low light tank.


SETUP:
Size: 130 x 60 x 50 cm
Lightning: 2 fluor arcadia 36W - 8h/day
Substrate: ADA Bacter 100, ADA Penac W, ADA Penac B, Tropica Aquacare 5L + sand river 2mm (Rio Grande do Sul)
CO2 injection: 1buble/sec
Filter: Fluval 404 + Eheim Ecco 2236
Plants: Anubias barteri var. nana, Bolbitis heudelotii, Cryptocoryne crispatula var. balansae, Cryptocoryne wendtii ''brown'', Cryptocoryne parva, Cryptocoryne x willisii, Cryptocoryne beckettii, Cryptocoyne wenditii tropica, Nymphaea Rubra, Ceratopteris thalictroides(only for the beginning)
Fishes: 5 Pterophyllum Altun 7 Otocinclus affinis, 26 Trigonostigma Espei, 2 SAS, 2 Neocaridinas japonicas, 3 Red Crystal Shrimp


The Tank Project


Initial Hardscape


First hour

[André Alcantara]

Almost two months later...

Finally the cryptocorines start growing, except the parvas
The anubias and bolbits are give me new leaves.

I don't have idea what fishes I can include.
Sugestions are welcome...

More driftwoods and little rocks to give a more nature look. What do you think?

Sorry about my poor english.

Regards.







Right side view


Crypto detail

[Jervis]

I find you use of wood and small stones perfectly natural... the tank looks really good and "real" Anymore plants to go in?

[André Alcantara]

Thank you Jervis.

I would like to my Crypto parvas growing more, but I don't know...
I wanna use a different anubbia like coffefolia, and 1 or 2 different cryptos like My Oya or undulata.

[zenscape]

I like this tank alot!

Very natural looking and the choice of stones and pebbles and its placement add in the effect of wilderness. I am sure you are frequently exposed to great nature in your country to come out with this layout.

The arrangement of Anubias barteri var. nana is nice and well balanced. Well done Andre

[André Alcantara]

Thank you Zenscape,

last week I put one a little shoal of Trigonostigma espei, but is very difficult to find this fish here.

Unfortunatly I live in a metropolis. The bigger city of South America.

[acc]

Nice aquascaping!

[dwgi32]

Nice arrangement of the driftwood, a very good and natural look!

[Cpark188]

Very impressive setup and nice layout of the DW. plants are well planted and especially the contrast of the gravels, so... matching. Well done.

[ballsmyberries]

very nice...have that natural feel.........

[Jervis]

The more I look at this tank... the more I love it! The sand is mesmerizing

[André Alcantara]

Thank you friends!

A new picture, just for sharing


I introduce a new schoal of 26 Trigonostigma espei and 5 Red Crystal Shrimps.

[Jervis]

Your Bolbitis grown quite a bit! Now where are your CRS?

[Verminator]

I can just invision Echinodorus Uruguayensis growing up to 60cm+ inbetween the two sections of wood. That would look stunning, unless you want to keep it separated ofcourse, inwhich it would look good growing over one side, or both!

Stunning tank. That's alot of Anubias nana! How on earth did you secure it all!?!?!

[André Alcantara]

Hehehe Jervis! This is my fun now. Find the CRS...

Thanks for the advice Verminator, but I like the open area.

[André Alcantara]

Last weekend I finally realized an old dream and buy 4 Pterophyllum altum from Orinoco river to my tank.
They are very young and small (around 6 cm) but they eating very well.




Probably I need to change some plants because the altums needs specific conditions like high temperature (around 30C) at least in the first mounth, so maybe the Bolbits felling sick.
I will need to do more greater water changes so probably I lost some cryptos.

The Trigonostigma shoal is very well and I like the mixing with the Altums, they are much smarter than the other tetras so I believe that they won't be eaten by the Altums.


That's all. I will update more pictures soon.

Regards

André

[k3nlim]

Will the crs be in any danger from the altum?

A really beautiful tank and scaping
Looks so natural

[Verminator]

Simply love the Altums. I hope you can keep them alive and healthy

One question. Your Anubias nana on the wood. It looks like it stretchs for about 30cm on one piece of wood. My question is how long did that take to grow and take a decent rooting for itself! Must take absolutely ages, mine has been in my tank 3 months and barely even moved an inch

[illumnae]

Congrats on realising your dream Altums are indeed a dream fish for many...I realised mine recently too

The crs will most probably be eaten by the altums. Mine just ate up the sakura shrimp i put in. Altums seem to love the shrimp body but leave the head alone. I found a number of shrimp heads when i got back from work yesterday

[Morgan01]

love your setup. natural and pleasant to the eyes