| Aquascaping Discuss aquascaping designs and techniques as well as get critiques on your aquascaping pictures. Find out how to use aquatic plants, reefs, and wood to design a planted aquarium. |
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03-11-2008, 03:02 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SoCal Idyllwild CA
Posts: 52
Plant Points: 3100 |  Aquascaping in the dark ages, 1980s
As old folks like me are so fond of saying, I remember back in the day. Back when there were no internet sites or even books to read on planted tanks. The Optimum Aquarium was still two years into the future and Amano's landmark book was still 6 years away.
Back then plants were hard to find at the LFS and there wasn't any high tech equipment to buy. Normal Output Flourescent bulbs were pretty much the standard and no one ever thought about CO2 or even fertilizers for aquatic plants.
The tank is a 60 gallon with 3 40watt NO bulbs (see the shoplight fixture in the second photo). The substrate was 2mm gravel and the filter a large Bio-wheel. The tank and stand are both homemade.
The first pic was taken in 1985-6 and the second set was a couple of years later.
Bruce
P.S. sorry the photos are so bad but I only had a cheapo camera back then also. | 
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03-11-2008, 03:30 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Island
Posts: 221
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 19815 | Re: Aquascaping in the dark ages, 1980s
That tank looked amazing. Algae free...how the hell did you do it?! Even today it would be a great looking tank. I remember my grandfather having a tank in the early 80's in his basement like that. He had fewer plants though...I don't even remeber/know what he had. Oh, and the tank was an ancient meta-frame tank. | |
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03-11-2008, 03:32 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Valby, Denmark
Posts: 171
Plant Points: 17955 | Re: Aquascaping in the dark ages, 1980s
My dad used CO2 from DIY back in 1985. He used garden soil and sand as bottom and grew various crypts. He did not make nice tanks like that thougth 
Good tank on #2 | |
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03-11-2008, 03:44 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NC
Posts: 46
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 4200 | Re: Aquascaping in the dark ages, 1980s
Wow, very nice.
I guess this makes you a pioneer. | |
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03-11-2008, 04:25 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: South Central Idaho, USA
Posts: 4,262
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 178534 | Re: Aquascaping in the dark ages, 1980s
Very nice. It's good to have some historical perspective once in a while. I think people forget sometimes that the Dutch have been keeping some very nice planted tanks for several decades now. | |
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03-11-2008, 07:00 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: North Carolina
Posts: 7,463
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 179973 | Re: Aquascaping in the dark ages, 1980s
Bruce... For no C02/ferts & only regular flourescents those tanks look great. All the plants look very healthy & no algae I can see. Thanks for sharing! | |
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03-11-2008, 07:14 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Atlanta Suburbs.
Posts: 189
Plant Points: 6235 | Re: Aquascaping in the dark ages, 1980s
1985....Holy smokes. I think I was trying to moonwalk on my parents dresser in my socks then. Awesome that you still have the photos. | |
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03-12-2008, 12:06 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 221
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 16250 | Re: Aquascaping in the dark ages, 1980s
very nice back then my tanks had plastic plants and rainbow gravel with a skeleton guarding a treasure chest.  | |
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03-12-2008, 12:24 AM
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#9 (permalink)
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Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 146
Plant Points: 13900 |  Re: Aquascaping in the dark ages, 1980s
Nice tank!
I can still picture my local fish store back then which is long gone now. Going into the dark fish room, all tanks bubbling with undergravel filters, one tank filled with cabomba and anacharis. My best friend's greatest pride with his aquarium was an air submarine ornament that bobbed up and down. | |
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03-12-2008, 02:03 AM
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#10 (permalink)
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Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 433
iTrader Positive Rating: 100% Plant Points: 25000 | Re: Aquascaping in the dark ages, 1980s
Quote:
Originally Posted by skinns  1985....Holy smokes. I think I was trying to moonwalk on my parents dresser in my socks then. Awesome that you still have the photos. | ahahaha damn i was only 1 year old!! thats crazy that you still have pictures! good job | |
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