dukydaf

I want to set up an aquarium in my yard(garden).It will contain mainly slow growers: Microsorium pteropus and winledov; two species of moss; Anubias nana, Anubias afzelii; Cryptocorine ponterdifolia;cryptocoryne petchii;Cryptocoryne crispatula,Echinodorus martii.

I think i'm going with potting soil and fine sand.
I need help on how to arange them. I would also like to use a lot of wood and stone.
I would like to use the triangle and concave design.
If you can't explain then make a scheme of it.
HELP
The dimensions of my aquarium are 20*10*16 inches(L*l*h)
Here are some pics with the aquarium and were i'm going to set it.

hoppycalif

I suggest that you not plant any echinodorus in that size tank. Those plants grow awfully big and fast. Why stick to slow growing, lower light plants? Even indirect sunlight is bright compared to our lights.

DubSack

do you plan on running a extention coard out of your house to power the filter? If not, what do you plan to use for water circulation? I've heard of solar powerd watter pumps, but they would only work during the day.

jeff63851

It sounds like a great project. However, I think there might be a few minor problems having an outdoor tank. I have a 10 gallon plant grow out tank outside, and one of the major problems I have come through is green water. What types of fish are you going to put in there? If there is a huge bioload with slow growing plants, it's a recipe for disaster. Another problem you might face is power. Are you planning to use a filter or any aquarium appliances that need electricity? In my 10 gallon plant grow out, I never use any filter...I have fast growing plants that consume the nutrients that the fishes produce. One big problem that I have here in Socal, is dragonfly larvae and mosquito. (I use mosquito fish for that problem) I'm not sure if that would be a problem in Romania though.

With an aquarium in the garden, I would like to suggest an jungle biotype aquascape. Maybe some tall grassy vals or sags on the left and right side of the aquarium would look nice. A nice big hunk o' driftwood with some Java ferns would look great in the middle, and some Glosso in the foreground would look great.

Good luck! Keep us posted on how it goes...

dukydaf

First of all I have my set up done but it is a littel hazy so scroll down.

I do not plan to use any sort of filter or electrical energy (at least this is the plan).
Hoppycalif you are right but i can always move him. The main reason i put him in is that i want to use a havy root feader for my potting soil.Yes I will add cryptocorynes too.

Jeff you are right with he green water but I like to be at God's mercy here.Mosquito larvae could be a problem but only if I don't add soem fish.I was thinking of giant danio or Brachydanio rerio and of course snails.
I have bought Vallisneria it is now in the left corner.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a1...-38PM_0002.jpg

hoppycalif

Looks very interesting! I hope you can keep us up to date on how well this is doing. Will you leave this outside during the winter?

dukydaf

Ya interesting as : OMG how can this man destroy the aquascape and why do people post images of their blury aquarium. -Joke

No i don't plan to leave it outside in winter.If all goes well and my aquarium is so beautifull that i can't destroy it i'll move it inside and provide some low light to it.

I will try to get better pics after the water clears.

neonfish3

I like your idea!
From my experience with my outdoor tank, you need a lot more plants. It's very important to pack it full of plants from the begining. You might be able to remove some of the plants later. Does this tank receive any direct sun? Do you have a cover for it? It will get a lot of tree leaves, seeds, twigs, bugs, birds, and their droppings. You will also want a hose around to change some of the water, probably everyday, or your water will get stagnant with out a filter or any water movement.
I set up a tank outside last year, and I'm preparing to do it again(3 tanks this year). It was one of my best, but it does have many challenges.


Have fun,

dukydaf

The aquarium faces north( and the south is behind the plant) so it does get a little sunlight from south now but in the summer it won't.I have my sing right next to it. Here's a picture so you better understand it


Althou I really like your aquarium,neonfish, I look for a more old forest look from this aquarium.

dukydaf

Since I don't wnat to make a number of posts but with no quality i'll update this thread once a month or if anything dramatic happens. (not that you were interested in this) Here is aquarium with clearwater
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/g...&imageuser=973