Low Tech Sumatra Biotope

[greenbliss]

I've been wondering why more people don't make tanks like this. More original than CO2 and mass bred fish that are delicate and inbred and die quickly. This is the sort of thing that inspires me to keep fish. Biotope tanks can lend themselves to endangered species and learning more about nature. Quite a nice thought really.

Wild fish don't have to be bad either... It can help the people that live in the countries where they are harvested from. Better life in a tank too no? Better than being eaten by birds or god knows what.

 

[PARAGUAY]

My neighbours fish house had Discus with every colour of the rainbow,they looked so good,but nothing was better than his huge Wild Discus tank, guessing it was 5 or 6 feet with the natural subdued colouration

 

[Ratvan]

Loving the Tank Janitors, especially these guy's






The Gobies especially loved the Blackworms and Water Louse, hopefully some made it

 

[Onoma1]

scenic delights of Burnley, Accrington, Blackburn and Preston on the way?

...hmm I am not convinced...

Alternatively, have a chat with Tony in the Fishshop in Waterfoot. He used to own and run a much larger shop elsewhere before selling it (the shop is still operating) and downsizing to Waterfoot. He kept hos contacts and he tends to import every second Friday. His stock levels are very low and tend to be the same fish you would pick up elsewhere. Most of the interesting fish seem to be bought in for orders or for customers he knows. He orders in what's available on the lists so it could take some time. Phone him before you go.

 

[Ratvan]

...hmm I am not convinced...

Alternatively, have a chat with Tony in the Fishshop in Waterfoot. He used to own and run a much larger shop elsewhere before selling it (the shop is still operating) and downsizing to Waterfoot. He kept hos contacts and he tends to import every second Friday. His stock levels are very low and tend to be the same fish you would pick up elsewhere. Most of the interesting fish seem to be bought in for orders or for customers he knows. He orders in what's available on the lists so it could take some time. Phone him before you go.

Thanks if i get around to creating and stocking another tank i shall bear them in mind along with the others that have been recommended

 

[Ratvan]

So I have noticed that since adding the Tank janitors and Gobies as well as increasing my fertilizing regime with TNC Complete (the one with phosphates and nitrates) as per directions on the tank that I have had a serious reduction in the growth of "Green Hair Algae's". My Amazon Frogbit and the Java Fern Growth as well seems to have really taken off. I am not really noticing that much growth from the Hygrophila Polysperma, the small offcuts that I made while tidying up the plants are settling in well but the growth seems to be more horizontal branching than vertical growth.

The Lagenandra Meeboldii is definitely still my favourite plant, I think that I am also starting to notice some rhizome growth or potentially a runner as there seems to be a secondary small clump at the front of the plant. I may have underestimated the growth rate of this plant and may need replanting towards the rear of the tank (far corner under the return nozzle)

The Cryptocoryne are also doing well but as they are slower growers I notice this less and less until it gets to a point where I compare the growth within the tank from my first planting photograph.

In other news I have persuaded the other half that the Current Stand is not really suitable for the tank (she doesn't like to see all the plugs and cables - so I have left them in a deliberate Rats Nest Appearance) so I am currently shopping for a stand or cabinet that has the potential to house another tank under this current one.... lets see if she picks up on the plan when I start asking questions about the load bearing capacity of furniture.....

@greenbliss I would like to take you up on that offer if i may? Move to PM whenever you are ready

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

The Gobies especially loved the Blackworms and Water Louse, hopefully some made it

That was always likely to be an issue once you had the Gobies.

Water Louse (Asellus aquaticus) <"are great survivors">, but Crangonyx and Blackworms (Lumbriculus variegatus) are both highly palatable and <"cat-nip for most fish">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Ratvan]

Hi all,

That was always likely to be an issue once you had the Gobies.

Water Louse (Asellus aquaticus) <"are great survivors">, but Crangonyx and Blackworms (Lumbriculus variegatus) are both highly palatable and <"cat-nip for most fish">.

cheers Darrel

Indeed it was, thankfully I added a lot of Moss to both of these small containers

Worms in one and "Shrimpy Things" as the kids call them in the other

 

[Ratvan]

Things are looking good in the tank, the Gobies I am noticing out more and more. Two of them seem to always stay together with the 3rd often keeping its distance towards the front glass.

I have noticed a massive reduction in the algae within the tank so I have taken the decision to increase the lighting from 40% to 50% as well as increasing the duration from 8 hours to 9.

I have also noticed what I believe to be courting behaviour from the Harlequin Rasbora's, and have seen a couple of the fish swimming upside down in amongst the Java Fern and Lagenandra Meeboldii but have not as yet seen any eggs (that aren't snail eggs anyway)

I think that soon I may have to move the aforementioned Meeboldii to underneath the Duck Bills as it is growing at a fairly rapid rate and I think it is putting out a "pup" at the front

Also may have found a new stand that I quite like

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

I have also noticed what I believe to be courting behaviour from the Harlequin Rasbora's, and have seen a couple of the fish swimming upside down in amongst the Java Fern and Lagenandra Meeboldii but have not as yet seen any eggs

That is spawning behaviour and they definitely look in condition in your photo.

cheers Darrel

 

[Ratvan]

Not in a couple of weeks, mainly because there really isn't that much change going on within the tank as it stands.

I've yet to see any eggs from the Rasbora, there is always the chance that they may have laid these out of sight at the rear of the tank as I view it.

The only real change (that I have mentioned in another thread) is that the long suffering other half has finally buckled and has agreed that December Pay Check can go towards a large tank for the living room so i have been looking at a multitude of tanks in the 3 foot range. I can just about squeeze 115cm in length but the 4 foot tanks are just not going to be able to be placed where we want it.

I'm currently looking at the Fluval Shaker 252L tank and Cabinet which would give me a nice scope to include some more interesting species of plants and fish, I am more then likely going to increase the Rasbora School Size, get some Glass Catfish and Some Kuhli Loaches and go for a South East Asian themed Tank.

I really do like the Gobies and think that I will most likely scape this tank into a Stream Type Aquarium set up, maybe even play with some Bucephalandra as well in this little tank that will be relegated to our bedroom

 

[Ratvan]

I do believe that I spoke too soon regarding the eggs

 

[Ratvan]

Well in between Flood Sirens I managed to Water Change the tank and also remove the majority of the floating plants

Tank is now in the bedroom until further notice

 

[Ratvan]

After a couple of posts from other members about the sale that Dennerle Plants had on I picked up a couple of small pots

They're currently cleaned up and floating in gentle flow to encourage a bit of rooting before I attach to hard scape and scatter around the tank

 

[Ratvan]

So I have had a look and all of the plants seem to have a great really good root systems, so last night I superglued (loosely) these onto rocks and added to the tank


However thinking about this today, how would it be best to Propagate these?

As I say I have loosely glued these onto rocks so that I can pull them off without much root/rhizome damage, can I gently pull off each plant and re attach them to other hardscape items?
I ask as I am perhaps setting up another small tank shortly and would like to feature these Bucephalandra's into this new Nano

 

[mort]

I think I'd be inclined to let them adapt and settle in the tank before thinking of propagation but it's as you describe, just cut pieces off with a good portion of rhizome. They seem to do best in tanks that are more mature so it would be an idea to set your new project up and let it cycle before splitting any.

This is very much my kind of tank.

 

[Ratvan]

I think I'd be inclined to let them adapt and settle in the tank before thinking of propagation but it's as you describe, just cut pieces off with a good portion of rhizome. They seem to do best in tanks that are more mature so it would be an idea to set your new project up and let it cycle before splitting any.

This is very much my kind of tank.

Thank you, a lot of people seem to like this tank which does make me very happy.

Yes I had read that these plants like a more mature and established tank, I was thinking a bit more long term. I plan on "maturing" the new tank with some of the Microsorum Pteropus that is growing like a weed at the moment in here.

I definitely used the wrong word though, I should have said so separate the mass of plants on the current rock rather than propagating as the entire cup was more or less thrown on glue then into the tank as I had multiple things going on at the time and now I am regretting slightly the lack of time and attention that I spent on getting them in the tank. I will see if I can tease off any of the plants to spread the plants around a little.

I have also a lot of Moss and possibly Subwassertang that's loosely floating around the tank so want to try and glue those down and see if I can grow and identify what exactly it is

The newer tank is going to be a lot different to this one in the fact that I want to carefully consider and calculate the overall look of the tank before making additions, I also want to play with CO2 as well so a lot of reading at the moment 😀

 

[Ratvan]

Wednesday night is my tank maintenance day, this week again I removed the majority of the Floating Plants as they rapidly overtake almost the entirety of the surface of the tank except where I have one of the duckbills pointed at the surface. I do this regularly so that the plants under them can get some further growth. The Gobies and Snails are also keeping the tank and glass really clean, I have a few small patches of "dust" algae on the glass and AOI section. The removed Floaters go into a container on my Kitchen window sill to grow Algae on the roots before I re add to the tank and then watch the Gobies Feast.


The Bucephalandra's are looking really good, I can see some new leaves (could have been from the In Vitro Cups and just unfurling?) and are colouring up beautifully. I also have a series of buckets that are currently soaking Driftwood (locally collected Oak) for this and other tanks (including the Larger tank that is expected in January 2025) eventually I want to rescape this tank with no rockwork and more branches, or go the alternative route and have this tank mainly Pebbles and Stones for the Gobies and remove the Rasbora to the larger tank when set up along with a lot of the plants.

The Lagenandra Meeboldi is getting nice and big now, has also send out a new small plant just infront of itself but behind the Bucephalandra. So what was 2 plants is now definitely 3. This is one of the main reasons that I am considering moving the fish and plants from this into my larger set up when it arrives as I love the leaves on this and have been reading and looking at Planted tanks with established clumps of this, so maybe a Ghats Region themed Large Tank in the future? Rasbora, Loaches and Glass Catfish....

Kedagang - Mini Portion, this will be for the 24 Litre Tank attached to the Balrog/Buffalo Skull. New leaves at the base that are light coloured?


Needle Leaf - Again a tiny portion for the other small tank


Pygmea - the main section that is showing a lot of the unfurling leaves

 

[chickennublet]

This tank really makes me want to set up a Southeast Asian biotope for myself.

 

[Ratvan]

This tank really makes me want to set up a Southeast Asian biotope for myself.

I say do it, especially since I love the layout you have in the 90x30x30. Something about that layout with a dense plant mass on one side and an open area on the other is something that I want to replicate when I get my first large tank (Looking at a Roma 240/Shaker 252).

I've found that I typically pick a fish and try and build the tank around that, currently I am loving the idea of a Shoal of Kryptopterus Minor (Glass Catfish) in a densely planted tank with Rasbora and Loaches