Maintaining Hi-tech nature aquariums - long term?

[Lee Sweeting]

Hi all, i've read quite a lot of articles regarding long term maintenance of high energy nature aquariums, some being very conflicting. I'm a bit of a newbie, just starting to explore the planted aquarium hobby. I know some people like to aquascape a tank, create their vision and then start over again, which is fine. I'm just about to start a high tech planted tank but would like to maintain the aquarium into the coming years. Is this possible? Has anyone got experience of long term maintenance with a high energy tank?

Thanks,

Lee.

 

[Michael W]

I don't have first hand experience with high tech tanks as I keep low tech but here is what I make of it. High tech tanks are hard to maintain long term and certainly have more room for error compared to low tech tanks in maintenance is not up to scratch in my opinion. This is because high tech tanks aim to speed plant growth to create the picture envisioned as quick as possible. This involves using CO2, dosing nutrients and high lights. If either of the 3 changes due to lack of maintenance then it could cause problems such as algae for example, if find your CO2 depleted then you must lower your photo period until you find and replenish the CO2 in your tank.

You can also expect to trim a lot of plants and carry out large amount of water changes. As plants grow they will produce wastes too as do any other living things so water changes are important. Also, people will do large water changes in a high tech tank to re-set nutrient levels <--- I need confirmation on this as I'm not too sure. you'll also have to convert to a 'lower tech' setup whilst your away on say holiday to stop any problems from occurring due to the tack of maintenance.

Again I have no first hand experience so I maybe absolutely wrong but I'm sure someone will experience with High Tech setups can correct me.

Michael.

 

[Henry]

High tech tanks do require constant maintenance due to being highly strung environments. I think of it like cars. High techs are like very highly tuned track cars, parts requiring rebuilds and maintenance all the time. Low techs are like daily runarounds; they do the same thing, but more slowly, and require maintenance much less frequently. Both will keep going forever, if maintained well.

Has anyone got experience of long term maintenance with a high energy tank

I don't have long term experience, but do keep 2 high tech tanks. As long as the "high energy" is maintained, and plant growth is fuelled appropriately you won't run into problems. The only possible issue that might arise is substrate. A lot of materials used in high tech substrates tend to be clay based, and will break down over time, creating mess when plants are moved.

 

[Lee Sweeting]

That all seems to make sense to me Michael. I am well aware of, and committed to the additional maintenance a high energy tank requires. I'm wanting to grow some of the more demanding carpeting plants (glossostigma elatinoides) which i believe you can't do with a low light, non co2 tanks. I'm really just wanting to know if there would be any thing preventing me from maintaining a high energy tank for a year or two as opposed to six months.

 

[Guest]

It's entirely possible to maintain a high-energy nature aquarium indefinitely. In short it's just about achieving a balance between various parameters and maintaining it long-term, which can often involve a lot of work, although not necessarily.

Takashi Amano has reputedly maintained many high-energy tanks for several years, but 'being somewhat of a slacker by nature' often tends to use slower growing plants like crypts, ferns and anunbias to avoid the continual trimming that most stems require.

So it doesn't necessarily have to be labour intensive or time consuming. I spend about an hour per week maintaining my 70 litre high-energy naturescape and its been going for a number of months now without any problems.

 

[Lee Sweeting]

High tech tanks do require constant maintenance due to being highly strung environments. I think of it like cars. High techs are like very highly tuned track cars, parts requiring rebuilds and maintenance all the time. Low techs are like daily runarounds; they do the same thing, but more slowly, and require maintenance much less frequently. Both will keep going forever, if maintained well.



I don't have long term experience, but do keep 2 high tech tanks. As long as the "high energy" is maintained, and plant growth is fuelled appropriately you won't run into problems. The only possible issue that might arise is substrate. A lot of materials used in high tech substrates tend to be clay based, and will break down over time, creating mess when plants are moved.

Thanks Henry! I'm going to be using power sand and flora-base as a substrate, so i'm guessing these won't break down!? I'm also intending to use the EI dosing method so the substrate should not be a problem!?

 

[Lee Sweeting]

It's entirely possible to maintain a high-energy nature aquarium indefinitely. In short it's just about achieving a balance between various parameters and maintaining it long-term, which can often involve a lot of work, although not necessarily.

Takashi Amano has reputedly maintained many high-energy tanks for several years, but 'being somewhat of a slacker by nature' often tends to use slower growing plants like crypts, ferns and anunbias to avoid the continual trimming that most stems require.

So it doesn't necessarily have to be labour intensive or time consuming. I spend about an hour per week maintaining my 70 litre high-energy naturescape and its been going for a number of months now without any problems.

Thats great troi, just what i was wanting to hear. I'm more that prepared to commit to the high maintenance required to sustain the tank. Your tank is looking awesome by the way, very nice!!! Just hope i can achieve something of that standard 🙂