Planted tank forums

[rickztahone]

Sorry, just getting into planted. Can you explain?

Inert simply means that the substrate does not alter ANY water parameters.

 

[dodgerblew]

But, Africans need to be kept in alkaline water, hence crushed coral substrates, or so I thought

 

[Fishmommy]

Planted tank forums

I kept the water parameters akin to Rift
Lakes using additives, instead of using active substrate. It is a more reliable way to go. My well runs hard to begin with so it didn't take much effort. I bred haps for a decade....great fish.

 

[rickztahone]

But, Africans need to be kept in alkaline water, hence crushed coral substrates, or so I thought

Africans is actually the one thing I do not know anything about. I actually thought they couldn't be kept in planted tanks, so there you go! lol

 

[Fishmommy]

Most African cichlids nibble and uproot plants, but haps less so. I had success partially through fish selection, partially from choosing less palatable plants.

 

[dodgerblew]

I kept the water parameters akin to Rift
Lakes using additives, instead of using active substrate. It is a more reliable way to go. My well runs hard to begin with so it didn't take much effort. I bred haps for a decade....great fish.

I was going to ask you that. The thought of rift lake salts did cross my mind.

 

[OllieNZ]

2ft low tech

4ft low tech

Same tank, previous scape also low tech.
I converted the 4ft to Malawi cichlids a while back keeping a mix of mbuna and haps. I've also kept and breed tanganykian shell dwellers.

 

[Fishmommy]

Gorgeous!

 

[OllieNZ]

Gorgeous!

Thanks
I haven't taken any pictures recently but once my baby red empresses grow on enough the 4ft will be going marine

 

[hersheyb]

question regarding using waste from RODI, does the water need to be treated for chlorine?

 

[dodgerblew]

I use my waste water for my African Cichlid top off and I do treat it with Dr. Tims, not so much for chlorine but chloromines. It certainly can't hurt

 

[BeachBum2012]

Low tech CRS tank. CFL bulbs for light, ADA substrate, no CO2, ferts, work. Just did water changes and everything worked perfectly. I had a translucent white background for it, but never got around to installing it.

 

[BeachBum2012]

Low tech RCS tank. T5 lights, inert black sand substrate with root tabs for ferts, no CO2.

 

[BeachBum2012]

Moderate tech Pumpkin Shrimp tank. LED lighting, CO2, dry ferts using EI dosing, ADA substrate, etc.

 

[s2k]

What kind of driftwood would u recommend? I don't like the Malaysian and mopani seems too thick.

 

[BeachBum2012]

What kind of driftwood would u recommend? I don't like the Malaysian and mopani seems too thick.

Manzanita. Branches work great for smaller tanks. Burls look amazing in big tanks.

this is Tom Barr's 180 with Manzanita driftwood.

 

[dodgerblew]

Gorgeous tanks beach bum. I really like your use of driftwood and Blyxa will be a must for me.

 

[BeachBum2012]

Gorgeous tanks beach bum. I really like your use of driftwood and Blyxa will be a must for me.

Thanks. I love Blyxa, it's one of my favorites.

I was in the process of designing a 180 tank with Tom's tank (the one I posted above) as inspiration when my daughter decided she wants Nemo. That's how I ended up here researching reef tanks.

 

[CaboKent]

That last tank is exactly what I am looking to achieve in my tank. I love large schools of Tetras and lots of driftwood.

 

[BeachBum2012]

That last tank is exactly what I am looking to achieve in my tank. I love large schools of Tetras and lots of driftwood.

If that's what you're looking for, Tom has a great thread about that tank on TPT, and has his own website called The Barr Report. The guy really knows his stuff and is your best bet for the finest pieces of driftwood you can find.