Shallow,Rimless,Planted

[Jeremy0322]

im kind of interested in doing a small one now, it wont happen for a few months. If you had to suggest 1 book to teach me how this differs from a reef tank what would it be. Think of me as a NOOB to freshwater, i kind of skipped that part and went straight to saltwater (atleast the planted tanks)

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by PaulR

Here's the biggest trick I learned, which is probably obvious to most reefers and not at all obvious to some freshwater guys - the plants need to go into a cycled tank! Ammonia and Nitrite, in quantity, are not healthy for plants.

-Paul

Very important. Unless you like brown leaves
CO2 consumption will be totally dependent on the amount of plants and type of plants you want to grow. Saying you don't need a CO2 setup is kind of like saying you don't need a Ca reactor in a reef. Most don't need it, some will find it useful, others require it It really depends on the type of plants you are growing, and what type of growth rates you desire.

Jeremy,
There is an abundance of material regarding both freshwater and planted tanks. I can't think of a good general FW book. I think just reading a good website like wetwebmedia will give you the basics. I would suggest deciding what type of FW tank you'd like to keep and then purchasing books after deciding what route you would go. I started out interested in nature aquariums and eventually got into breeding angels, Apistogrammas, and Mikrogeophagus before I got sucked into reef aquariums. There probably is as much printed material just on breeding cichlids, or growing freshwater plants individually as topics as there is on the reef hobby in general. Narrow it down and maybe we can recommend some good books.

[PEMfish]

Have you considered an iwagumi style scape like this;
http://www.hemmy.net/images/arts/aquariumart11.jpg

[PaulR]

Wow- that is gorgeous. Like something out of a Miyazaki movie.

What the heck kind of filtering are they using to keep freshwater so crystalline with any kind of flow at all? My freshwater tanks usually are pretty slow to get that kind of limpid clarity.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by PEMfish

Have you considered an iwagumi style scape like this;
http://www.hemmy.net/images/arts/aquariumart11.jpg

Yes, it will be something of 3 different styles Paul. I love that picture. I have a lot of his books from over the years and that is one of the pictures I have open here on my desk.

PaulR, most of those aquariums have nothing but plants, CO2 and strong lighting. (Also, cleaning with a diatom filter before the picture shoot helps )

[PaulR]

Ah- the old diatom filter trick! Clever!

[PEMfish]

You don't need to filter it well if theres nothing to filter out.

[Frankie]

Haven't forgotten this thread. Yet
Work has been busy.
I have been planning the tanks stand idea. I am still stuck on the floating aquarium idea just having trouble designing it. So far I have decided to use Truss ( 167: Truss, Triangle 8.5" ) material for the structure support. I will need to weld a sheet of aluminum to two of these. Also I will need to make a square for the light support and possible plants that can climb up and out of the water onto.
I plan on suspending the whole thing from the ceiling.
The wife is not to happy with this idea yet though. I will need to build it and give her an example first before I start to drill. Worst comes to worse I can make it a standard on the floor stand made the same way. I like the open structure idea of the Trusses.

[BigAl07]

I'm LOVING this idea

That's

from the Peanut Gallery here in NC!!

[PEMfish]

I cant wait to see this happen.
I was talking about how cool a 180g would look hung in a 3 story lobby with steve a few months ago.
This will probably be the closest thing.

[Frankie]

Sorry for the lack of update everyone. I have been too busy to start. My mother is visiting so I have put all projects on hold until she go's home. I will resume this one in a week or so. I have been taking the time to study up though.
Hang in there! It will be worth it

[Basile]

I'm gona follow this since its from FW site that i got my interest in a macro algae tank. Maybe i'll convert too lol. here's to you

[juanell]

Shalome my friends my name is Juanell i'm in Central Fl, i'm rediculosly new to reefing since i still don't have a reef tank, i am a FW guy, i'll say more in another tread, i won't clog this one up with babble

Dude planted tank are so low matenance "depending on the Flora" you need little to no care, my 20gal long 12x12x30 stays as crystal as that picture with a simple Azoo 350gph filter, then again this tank has 10 Marmorkreb there very clean inverts, they ate most of my plants.

[Jeremy0322]

Originally Posted by Basile

I'm gona follow this since its from FW site that i got my interest in a macro algae tank. Maybe i'll convert too lol. here's to you

Whats all this "converting" nonsense I hear of, you guys know you are allowed to have MULTIPLE tanks, right.

[Basile]

Originally Posted by Jeremy0322

Whats all this "converting" nonsense I hear of, you guys know you are allowed to have MULTIPLE tanks, right.

Oh i'm not coverting yet. I'm saying i'm looking at the possibility to have a fw planted tank for sure. But one tank at a time. Still got my big one to finish. Well big for me.