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Re: Plant filter etc
Walter & Jeanne Klockers wrote
>I'm a newbee. I've been following the list for a while now, trying to
>decide what I should do with my 80 gal fish only tank. Should I plant
>it, as per most of you folks, with the emphasis upon plants? Or....
>Unfortunately, I find that I can't part with some of my current wet
>pets. I have some nice 7 - 9" eels that I can't bear to part with
>(Mastacembelus circumcinctus and M. aculeatus). They love to burrow. I
>also have some other "sandslingers" in there -- I'm afraid they would
>make a real mess out of everything.
>
I have a tank full of loach spp. and they just never stop exploring and
digging at things. In the same tank I also have a bristlenose catfish and
two Hypostomus spp. All in all - a regular bunch of thugs. As you have
mentioned before Walter - these things not only "consume a lot" but "deposit
a lot too". Therefore a lot of substrate cleaning is required. I did have
them in a planted tank but the damage levels were such that it was bringing
tears to my eyes. Consequently they are now in a tank with java fern on
wood - and with plenty of it - it looks quite good. The wood also provides
plenty of shelter for the fish. Jave fern requires low - moderate light
levels. I find that I can have this tank as a "demi planted effort" no CO2
needed - low tech normal aquarium lights - and no need to fertilise the
substrate as everything is on wood. This also allows for convenient
frequent vacuuming that is required. The fish are happy - I am happy !!
However, I need to read up on this plant filter system - sorry - no advice.
Hope this is of some help.
BTW I have four gold nuggets in my main planted tank. It would apear that
one of them has decided to feed continually on a java fern. The browsing
is sufficient to abrade the old leaves to such and extent that the end
result is similar to the Dupla pictures of swords after a britlenoses has
been at work. It does not touch the new growth. Although expensive - these
catfish look fantastic in a planted tank. (mind you - they are still small
mmmmmm!!!)
Tony
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Tony Greer
Department of Geography
10 Kent Ridge Crescent Tel (65) 874 6135
National University of Singapore FAX (65) 777 3091
Republic of Singapore 119260 E-mail GEOAG at LEONIS_NUS.SG
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