The tank above looks good to the eye but contains a few non-aquatic plant species. Beginner’s guide to avoiding nonaquatic plants at shops Introduction Planted aquariums are becoming increasingly popular, and aquarium shops can stock a bewildering number of plant species. The biggest pitfall for beginners is that aquarium shops often stock nonaquatic plant species that […]
Lighting For a thriving planted tank, strength and spread matters. A low light tank is easier to maintain, but is more suited to shade-plants that generally have less color. The majority of vibrantly colored plants require strong lighting, and the right color spectrum to reveal their best form. Read more here. Water Fish and plants […]
A vibrant, enduring, algae-free tank starts with the right plant choice. Plants in 2Hr Tanks are chosen according to 5 key attributes: water parameters (hardness, pH etc.), lighting (primarily strength), nutrition (which includes CO2), space and upkeep- the skills / effort required for maintenance. The technology behind 2Hr Tanks centres on (a) lighting, (b) water […]
grow anything It is surprisingly easy to ‘grow anything’ and by this we mean 99% of commercially available aquatic plants. This does require a solid foundation (read more about in Knowledge base) and a good understanding of the needs of the plants we look to grow- covered in this section. growing carpets In nature, carpeting […]
5 popular styles Aquascaping styles have become more blended over the years, with digital media allowing international artists to learn more quickly from each other. Some styles such as Dutch aquascapes are formalised by competition rules. Others are characterised by their popularity in certain regions / countries, and do not have precise definitions in terms […]
It is possible to have a healthy, low maintenance and visually stunning low tech planted tank without the use of injected CO2, in the same vein that one can make a good cup of coffee without an espresso machine. The coffee will be different, but can be just as good. If you are setting up […]
10 Best Low Tech Plants Crypts or Cryptocoryne Microsorum pteropus (java fern) Anubias barteri ‘nana’ Ceratopteris thalictroides Hygrophila difformis Rotala rotundifolia Hemianthus glomeratus (Pearlweed) Vallisneria & Sagittaria species Nymphaea species (N. zenkeri, N. stellata, N. rubra) Mosses (java, flame, christmas, weeping, anchor) Click here to read the full article
fish tank lighting planted tank lighting ‘Brightness’ matters to see fish / colours. Strength and colour spectrum critical for plant growth and coloration. Applicable measure: Lumens / Watt. Relevant measure: Umols of PAR. Stock lighting that came with the tank works, fishes will not complain about light quality. Much larger range of products to choose […]
Everyone loves carpets. However, as smaller plants that grow on the substrate they have less access to light and are more delicate than larger, robust plants. With a little specialized attention, various carpets can be grown with high success rates in a low tech tank. 3 challenges to overcome Growing a carpet without the help […]