20 Gallon low tech project with teh PICTURES

[aclockworkorange]

Looks great so far J! If you can figure out how to make swords flourish in our local water I might hit you up for help with my 125g. It is all low tech/anubias currently. I cant keep anything that is planted in the substrate with my geos. only plants that can get tied to DW survive in my tanks.

Have you tried java ferns?

 

[aclockworkorange]

CONCLUSIONS after one month:

1. Polka dot loaches WILL DEFINITELY punch holes in your swords! My new leaves look like swiss cheese... they leave the old leaves alone.

2. Dwarf baby tears can be grown with this setup... they don't grow fast but they def aren't dying

3. Crypts are really easy to grow, to the point where they are huge

I took out all the crypts in the foreground of the tank and planted more dwarf baby tears... I also added some xmas tree moss to one of the pieces of wood.

I will take more pictures soon.

 

[JakeH]

You can't stop the loaches from eating the leaves completely, but feed them lots of cucumber & blanched zucchini to minimize that behavior. They need greenery in their diet, so if you don't provide veggies, they'll take your plants....

 

[aclockworkorange]

You can't stop the loaches from eating the leaves completely, but feed them lots of cucumber & blanched zucchini to minimize that behavior. They need greenery in their diet, so if you don't provide veggies, they'll take your plants....

They get plenty of fresh green veg and occasional algae wafers, I think they just like punching holes in my plant. They rest on the leaves all the time so I think it's like breakfast in bed.