JackBinimbul
Aquarium Advice Freak
I have a lot of specifics worked out for my first tank now and I'm learning so much. I want to do this right for the animals and plants that will be in my care, but I also want to do it affordably since this is my first build. I'd hate to dump hundreds into a project and decide this just isn't for me.
A recap for anyone who somehow hasn't seen me spamming all over the forums; I'm doing a 20 gallon long, only half filled with water, the back of the top portion will be land on stilts, planted. I will have a couple of surface water plants and some submerged. Java moss, anubias, some sort of ground cover, etc.
I also know I want to have a water feature that is basically a little waterfall plunging down from the land portion. I like this for both aesthetics and oxygenation.
Originally, I had planned on drilling the tank low on one side, having the intake from there and have the water feature be the outflow. That's not practical for a number of reasons.
1. The gallons per hour rate will be too great for the plants.
2. The outflow will be too great for the water feature.
3. I can't find someone local to drill the tank and I have none of the equipment or confidence to do so myself.
So, on to plan B.
It seems that a small, submerged pump for the water feature is a good idea. I can tuck it in a back corner behind a PVC pipe, covered in sculpted pond foam to be one of the pillars for the land. Then, I need a main filter solution.
I know that I'll be using a sponge filter on the intake and hiding it with Java moss and driftwood. I know not to use activated carbon for the good of the plants. I know that I shouldn't have too great of a current for both the plants and the animals. I like the idea of something outside of the tank to keep things uncluttered, but beyond that, I'm really not sure what I'm looking at. My water level is quite below the top of the tank and some of what I'm seeing doesn't seem suitable. Also, since my land portion will be a completely planted background, a back mounted filter isn't going to work unless it can go on the side. I know I don't want under gravel.
Low maintenance and affordability are main concerns. Thoughts?
A recap for anyone who somehow hasn't seen me spamming all over the forums; I'm doing a 20 gallon long, only half filled with water, the back of the top portion will be land on stilts, planted. I will have a couple of surface water plants and some submerged. Java moss, anubias, some sort of ground cover, etc.
I also know I want to have a water feature that is basically a little waterfall plunging down from the land portion. I like this for both aesthetics and oxygenation.
Originally, I had planned on drilling the tank low on one side, having the intake from there and have the water feature be the outflow. That's not practical for a number of reasons.
1. The gallons per hour rate will be too great for the plants.
2. The outflow will be too great for the water feature.
3. I can't find someone local to drill the tank and I have none of the equipment or confidence to do so myself.
So, on to plan B.
It seems that a small, submerged pump for the water feature is a good idea. I can tuck it in a back corner behind a PVC pipe, covered in sculpted pond foam to be one of the pillars for the land. Then, I need a main filter solution.
I know that I'll be using a sponge filter on the intake and hiding it with Java moss and driftwood. I know not to use activated carbon for the good of the plants. I know that I shouldn't have too great of a current for both the plants and the animals. I like the idea of something outside of the tank to keep things uncluttered, but beyond that, I'm really not sure what I'm looking at. My water level is quite below the top of the tank and some of what I'm seeing doesn't seem suitable. Also, since my land portion will be a completely planted background, a back mounted filter isn't going to work unless it can go on the side. I know I don't want under gravel.
Low maintenance and affordability are main concerns. Thoughts?