Tag

aquascape

September 23, 2021

Low-tech bookshelf nano planted aquariums

While sometimes more difficult to maintain than larger tanks, due to more volatile water parameters, I love how nano tanks look — especially on the bookshelf in my office. In late June 2021, I re-scaped two of my nano tanks. Here are some photos 3 months later.

Currently, the only livestock these tank house is snails. I’ll most likely keep it that way.

Nano low-tech planted aquariums on a bookshelf
Nano low-tech planted aquariums on a bookshelf

Top tank: Low-tech molten glass over wood (<1 gallon)

Nano low-tech planted shaped glass aquarium on a bookshelf
Nano low-tech planted shaped glass aquarium on a bookshelf

Details

  • Tank — Hand blown molten glass on wood. This is a higher quality one from West Elm that was a gift. It has very thick glass (over 1cm thick!) I would NOT recommend using the cheaper versions of this for holding water, like those found on Amazon
  • Light — Nicrew clamp light. Perfect brightness for nano tanks
  • Hardscape — Locally sourced granite. What a pain to get into this bowl!
  • Plants — Anubias nana petite & microcarpaea minima (carpet)
  • Livestock — Bladder snails
  • Other — Walstad method with an air pump for circulation (black tube is not co2). Weekly 90% water change
Nano low-tech planted shaped glass aquarium on a bookshelf
Nano low-tech planted shaped glass aquarium on a bookshelf

Bottom tank: Low-tech 3.5 gallon long

Nano low-tech aquarium on a bookshelf
Nano low-tech aquarium on a bookshelf

Details

  • Tank — 3.5 gallon Seapora “Betta Breeder” (I would never put a betta in anything this small, but it’s perfect for snails and shrimp)
  • Light — Fluval Aquasky Nano light
  • Hardscape — Seiryu stone
  • Plants — Dwarf hair grass (carpet), Anubias nana, Anubias nana petite, some stray riccia fluitans keep showing up
  • Livestock — Bladder snails!
  • Other — Low-tech: Small aqueon hang filter and an air pump for extra surface disruption (black tube is not co2). Liquid ferts once a week. Weekly 90% water change

Here’s an outline of the light settings for the Fluval above the 3.5 gallon tank. With the snails, it’s nearly algae free with this light intensity

Fluval Aquasky Nano settings

September 19, 2021

Shallow desktop planted tank

I constructed a really fun shallow freshwater planted aquascape that sits on my desk next to my work station. Details after the photo.

Monte Carlo carpet in an ADA cube garden 60-F

Hardware:

  • ADA cube garden 60-F tank
  • basic co2 system
  • UNS canister filter system
  • Nicrew light

Plants & livestock:

  • Monte carlo (carpet)
  • Anubias nana
  • Mini coin Bucephalandra
  • bucephalandra purple blue
  • 5x purple rasbora fish
  • 6x hastatus corydoras (the cutest fish in the world)

November 30, 2015

Explosion – 20L Freshwater Planted Aquarium

Explosion – 20L Freshwater Planted Aquarium

 

About this Aquascape

Flora (plants): hydrocotyle s. japan, glossostigma elatinoides

Fauna (animals): wild green neon tetra, cardinal tetra, ember tetra, ruby tetra, pygmy cory, fire shrimp, amano shrimp

Equipment: 20oz paintball c02 tank, UPaqua simple regulator,glass ceramic c02 diffuser w/ internal bubble counter , coralife T5HO( 6500k/10000k bulbs), eheim 2232, play sand, EI fertilizer dosing

“Exploson” aquascape created by Aquatics AF

November 30, 2015

Eruption – 20L Freshwater Planted Aquarium

About this Aquascape

Flora (plants): glossostigma elatinoides, hydrocotyle s. japan, Vesicularia dubyana, fissidens fontanus, anubia nana ‘petite’, rottalla wallichii, rottalla colorata, echinodorus tenellus,

Fauna (animals): sunset platie, wild green neon tetra, glass cats, ember tetra, pygmy cory, ruby tetra, scarlet badis, fire shrimp, amano shrimp

Aquarium Equipment: 20oz paintball c02 tank, UPaqua simple regulator, fluval c02 diffuser , coralife T5HO( 6500k/colormax bulbs), eheim 2232, play sand, EI fertilizer dosing

 

“Eruption” Aquascape created by Aquatics AF

November 30, 2015

29 Gallon Freshwater Planted Angelfish Aquarium

About this Aquascape

Flora (plants): cyrpt undulatus, crypt wenditii ‘bronze’, blyxa japonica, glossostigma elatinoides, hydrocotyle s. japan, fissidens fontanus, Microsorum pteropus, limnophila aquaticum, rottalla colorata

Fauna (animals): angelfish pair, panda cories

Aquarium Equipment: 20oz paintball c02 tank, UPaqua simple regulator, ebay drop checker, coralife T5HO( 6500k/colormax bulbs), ebay 400gph power head, eheim 2215, aquatop 200w heater, play sand, EI fertilizer dosing

 

29 Gallon Aquascape created by Aquatics AF

November 27, 2015

Grass Roots – 29 Gallon Freshwater Planted Aquarium

29 Gallon Freshwater Planted Aquarium – Grass Roots

About this Aquascape

Flora (plants): blyxa japonica, fissidens fontanus, echinodorus tenellus, Microsorum pteropus, crypt wenditii ‘bronze’, glossostigma elatinoides

Fauna (animals): rummy nose tetra, cardinal tetra, panda cory

Aquarium Equipment: 20oz paintball c02 tank, UPaqua simple regulator, ebay drop checker, coralife T5HO (6500k/colormax bulbs), ebay 400gph power head, eheim 2215, play sand, EI fertilizer dosing

“Grass Roots” aquascape created by Aquatics AF

November 27, 2015

Forests – 29 Gallon Freshwater Planted Aquarium

 

About this Aquascape

Flora (plants): blyxa japonica, fissidens fontanus, echinodorus tenellus, Microsorum pteropus

Fauna (animals): angel fish, rummy nose tetra, emerald rasbora,

Aquarium Equipment: 20oz paintball c02 tank, UPaqua simple regulator, ebay drop checker, coralife T5HO( 6500k/colormax bulbs), eheim 2215, play sand, EI fertilizer dosing

“Forests” aquascape created by AF Aquatics

November 25, 2015

20L Freshwater Planted Tank (2013)

About this Aquascape

A 20L Freshwater Planted Tank built in 2013.
Flora (Plants):

  • glossostigma elatinoides,
  • echinidorus tenellus,
  • limnophilia aquaticum,
  • crypt wenditti brown,
  • hydrocotyle s. japan,
  • Vesicularia dubyana

Fauna (Animals):

  • cardinal tetra,
  • sunset platie

Aquarium Equipment:

  • 12oz pesurized c02,
  • UPaqua simmple regulator,
  • fluval co2 diffuser,
  • coralife duel t5 (6500k/10,000k),
  • play sand,
  • marineland c130

20L Freshwater Planted Tank created by Aquatics AF

November 25, 2015

10 Gallon Rimless Freshwater Planted Tank

About this Aquascape

3 month progression of a 10 Gallon Rimless Freshwater Planted Tank.
Flora (Plants):
  • Limnophila Aromatica,
  • hydrocotyle S. japan,
  • eliocharis parluva,
  • blyxa japonica,
  • Hemianthus Callitrichoides
Fauna (animals):
  • Wild green neon tetra,
  • chilli rasbora,
  • pygmy cories,
  • amano shrimp
Aquarium Equipment:
  • 12oz pesurized c02,
  • UPaqua simmple regulator,
  • fluval co2 diffuser,
  • coralife duel t5 (6500k/10,000k),
  • fluval plant stratum,
  • eheim 2011
10 Gallon rimless aquarium created by Aquatics AF