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El Natural Diana Walstad's low-maintenance, soil-based 'El Natural' method for keeping plants and fish.

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Old 11-21-2011, 02:46 AM   #11 (permalink)
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Default Re: 55G NPT "Scape" from Newcastle,Australia.

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A bit like Jonah and the whale mate. When I started, I only put in 12 RCS, and there was more hardscape to hide in. A short few months later there is easily 100, & the Angelfish pick them off easily. As a result, the Angelfish are extremely healthy looking. Their coat has a glisten to the scales and they look amazing. I also feed them flake, frozen bloodworm, brine shrimp, daphnia & cyclops. They do pretty well, just waiting on them pairing up so I can breed them.

Do you think you will be able to maintain a RCS population or will the Angelfish totally eliminate them? I am setting up a new 125 gallon planted tank next year and was planning on starting with RCS and some livebearers, then add some small Angelfish after the populations had grown. I wouldn't mind if one RCS got picked off every now and then but if the population will get eliminated fairly quickly I might want to go with tankmates that are too large to be eaten.
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Old 11-21-2011, 03:49 AM   #12 (permalink)
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Default Re: 55G NPT "Scape" from Newcastle,Australia.

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Do you think you will be able to maintain a RCS population or will the Angelfish totally eliminate them? I am setting up a new 125 gallon planted tank next year and was planning on starting with RCS and some livebearers, then add some small Angelfish after the populations had grown. I wouldn't mind if one RCS got picked off every now and then but if the population will get eliminated fairly quickly I might want to go with tankmates that are too large to be eaten.
No problem. I have 5 hungry adolescent Angels in there, & the cherrys are still multiplying.
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Old 12-25-2011, 07:08 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Want to bring this thread back. I had a few questions about the styrofoam you used. Did u add the inert gravel on top to weigh down the styrofoam? I want to use it but I'm very worried about it floating up through the substrate.
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Old 01-02-2012, 04:38 PM   #14 (permalink)
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Want to bring this thread back. I had a few questions about the styrofoam you used. Did u add the inert gravel on top to weigh down the styrofoam? I want to use it but I'm very worried about it floating up through the substrate.
Good question, cause the consequences would be disastrous. The styrofoam was glued together and to the base of the aquarium glass with aquarium-safe silicon. The gravel was to keep the dirt away from the corners of the 'steps' in the styrofoam to save it from possibly going anaerobic.
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Old 01-03-2012, 05:09 PM   #15 (permalink)
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Good question, cause the consequences would be disastrous. The styrofoam was glued together and to the base of the aquarium glass with aquarium-safe silicon. The gravel was to keep the dirt away from the corners of the 'steps' in the styrofoam to save it from possibly going anaerobic.
Great! Thank you for this info. I did some research and glued the styrofoam to the glass as well. I'm glad this was validated by your update. Here is the first step in my construction. I will post a thread on this tank soon. Taking my time in planning this scape. It's a very very beautiful tank in itself and I want to make sure I do it some justice. ADA MINI-M(apologies for the finger)
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Old 01-03-2012, 07:29 PM   #16 (permalink)
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Default Re: 55G NPT "Scape" from Newcastle,Australia.

I look forward to seeing a low tech set up in such high tech glassware. Will be gorgeous I'm sure. Do your research, learn from others efforts and expect mistakes and setbacks as part of the learning process. Mostly, start a thread so we can follow it and give advice & feedback where needed too
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Old 03-01-2012, 05:33 PM   #17 (permalink)
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Default Re: 55G NPT "Scape" from Newcastle,Australia.

Here is a bit of a timeline for this tank as it has changed with trims, scaping & rescaping......

Please note, the last shot is after the red lotus had 15 surface leaves trimmed, & it is growing in 1" of plain sand as opposed to a deep fertile substrate as recommended. Its nutrients must all be coming in through the water column.










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Old 06-09-2012, 03:08 PM   #18 (permalink)
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Default Re: 55G NPT "Scape" from Newcastle,Australia.

Here is the latest incarnation of the 55G. Gone a bit more minimalist this time. Enjoy.

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Old 06-09-2012, 09:29 PM   #19 (permalink)
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Hi Bardus71,

Nice job!
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Old 06-11-2012, 05:26 PM   #20 (permalink)
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Looks good I like the less is more look
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