AverageWhiteBloke
Member
If you like getting into a journal from day dot then this is the place to be Be prepared for a very slow burner, I'm in no rush with this one so will just potter about as and when I'm in the mood. You've actually just caught me in the thinking out loud phase, just dug out whatever I have sitting around, still wants a proper clean, just looking for inspiration at the minute. It's my first intentional low energy tank so there will be more questions than answers I guess.
Firstly the brief
The title "Ottoloen" is for low energy Otto tank. I'm going to do this species only, the reasoning, sick of buying poor standard ottos with low survival rates so my intention is give them a tank of their own without being hassled or having to deal with co2. I'm hoping going forward I might be able to raise some and maybe even get a colony of them going. There's also a second part to the plan. I'm moving house somewhere in the next 4-6months, renting at the moment and recently had to move my high tech setup warts and all still running (Not for the faint hearted) One thing I do know is I won't be doing that again, where I'm moving to will be getting some work done so I could do without working round a tank so next time the high tech is getting stripped and this tank will be functioning as a holding pen until I set that up. Nothing in my current collection of fauna that would jeopardise any young Ottos I may have at the time other than one pair of Blue Rams but I'll have to jump off that bridge if I ever get there.
Anyone bred Ottos I'd love to hear from you, can't really find much and those with success don't seem to know why they spawned when they did regarding parameters. Also don't know which plants are best suited yet so looking for advice there. I suppose I best start what what I do know so far.
Tank 600x350x300 about 60 ltrs after scape I guess
Lighting Some generic LED I had kicking around with option of Blue and White LED's switched separately
Substrate Going to be cat litter just becasue I have tons of it from previous projects, still undecided whether to dirty this or just Osmocote under the gravel initially.
Filtration Air driven sponge although now looking at it in the tank I suspect I should get a double one instead, I put an APS surface skimmer in there before thinking it will do for more water movement, it does have a grill but if fry are the game I don't want them hoovered up so I may use initially and switch to a koralia I have kicking around although I suspect this may be too powerful. Hmmm
CO2 No chance but I do have a setup ready as well as LC diy if needs be but that defeats the purpose.
Fertiliser See above and maybe making up some kind of all-in-one solution
Hardscape Some lumps of wood I also had, had more but the scape was already looking cluttered, the three bits in there had the far most interesting features. I'm also thinking it may need a stone of some kind for contrast, plenty of rivers near me so I'll have a look see what's out there.
Plants The million dollar question, hoping to use as many cuttings from my high energy as possible to see how they fair. I have a decent MC carpet in there and S.Repens, not sure how they would fair in here.
Water I have natuarlly soft tapwater of about 2gh and 1kh with TDS of 85 (I know southerners you hate me ) So should be fine just using the tap
I think that's all I have for now, the tank sits on my office desk but I'm not always there, more often on site so the Ottos should be find when Dad's away if I get some vegetable matter in. Ideally looking for the least interaction from me as possible. If the day comes when I have to move my high energy inhabitants in there I will also be using my existing canister to keep that running but for now filtration wise I will just be catering for 6 to 8 Ottos.
Thanks for taking the time to read.....Here we go.
Firstly the brief
The title "Ottoloen" is for low energy Otto tank. I'm going to do this species only, the reasoning, sick of buying poor standard ottos with low survival rates so my intention is give them a tank of their own without being hassled or having to deal with co2. I'm hoping going forward I might be able to raise some and maybe even get a colony of them going. There's also a second part to the plan. I'm moving house somewhere in the next 4-6months, renting at the moment and recently had to move my high tech setup warts and all still running (Not for the faint hearted) One thing I do know is I won't be doing that again, where I'm moving to will be getting some work done so I could do without working round a tank so next time the high tech is getting stripped and this tank will be functioning as a holding pen until I set that up. Nothing in my current collection of fauna that would jeopardise any young Ottos I may have at the time other than one pair of Blue Rams but I'll have to jump off that bridge if I ever get there.
Anyone bred Ottos I'd love to hear from you, can't really find much and those with success don't seem to know why they spawned when they did regarding parameters. Also don't know which plants are best suited yet so looking for advice there. I suppose I best start what what I do know so far.
Tank 600x350x300 about 60 ltrs after scape I guess
Lighting Some generic LED I had kicking around with option of Blue and White LED's switched separately
Substrate Going to be cat litter just becasue I have tons of it from previous projects, still undecided whether to dirty this or just Osmocote under the gravel initially.
Filtration Air driven sponge although now looking at it in the tank I suspect I should get a double one instead, I put an APS surface skimmer in there before thinking it will do for more water movement, it does have a grill but if fry are the game I don't want them hoovered up so I may use initially and switch to a koralia I have kicking around although I suspect this may be too powerful. Hmmm
CO2 No chance but I do have a setup ready as well as LC diy if needs be but that defeats the purpose.
Fertiliser See above and maybe making up some kind of all-in-one solution
Hardscape Some lumps of wood I also had, had more but the scape was already looking cluttered, the three bits in there had the far most interesting features. I'm also thinking it may need a stone of some kind for contrast, plenty of rivers near me so I'll have a look see what's out there.
Plants The million dollar question, hoping to use as many cuttings from my high energy as possible to see how they fair. I have a decent MC carpet in there and S.Repens, not sure how they would fair in here.
Water I have natuarlly soft tapwater of about 2gh and 1kh with TDS of 85 (I know southerners you hate me ) So should be fine just using the tap
I think that's all I have for now, the tank sits on my office desk but I'm not always there, more often on site so the Ottos should be find when Dad's away if I get some vegetable matter in. Ideally looking for the least interaction from me as possible. If the day comes when I have to move my high energy inhabitants in there I will also be using my existing canister to keep that running but for now filtration wise I will just be catering for 6 to 8 Ottos.
Thanks for taking the time to read.....Here we go.