Hello Everyone,
In an attempt to find ways to conserve water which is becoming a huge issue in Southern California, I’ve decided to downsize the stock on my 280 and plant heavily to create a tank that can get by with fewer water changes. I’ve decided to go with a lightly stocked setup as well and have some fish on order along with some fish I’ve just received.
this is a far cry from being biotope correct but will feature fish that’ll go well with the smaller CA species.
the tank is 280 gallons with dimensions of 80x34x24” with a 100 gallon sump. The sump is setup to create a refugium which I’ll end up planting with a soil based substrate and will be heavily planted. I plan to add some Gammarus scuds to this refugium and the main tank to help with organic plant based detritus removal as well as a source of tasty live food. My hope is that a colony establishes itself in the sump and provides a source of live food for the main tank. The plan is also to use the sump to help with nitrate control and will likely be something I get going later this year.
the tank is planted with large Kleiner Bar swords, some anubias, water sprite, and Pygmy swords. Lighting is provided by pendent style LED’s on a moderate-high setting for a 12 hour photo period with a 3.5 hr sunrise and sunset so that the light is at its most intense setting for only 5 hours out of the 12.
Livestock:
- Thorichthys Aureus
- Amatitlania Nanoluteus
- Xiphophorus Alvarezi
- wild greeen Sailfin molly: Poecilia Latippina (impossible to find Velifera or Petensis)
- Pseudochalceus Kyburzi. These are from Choco state Columbia but figured they’d be a great substitute for the local characins in Central America.
- Two leftover Pseudanos Vari which are SA Anastomids that do a great job of keeping the wood and rocks clean with their grazing.
The two livebearer species will not only fill the middle and top of the water column but will provide additional algae control and their offspring will serve as a rare treat for their tankmates. The Pseudochalceus Kyburzi will mimic the medium sized characins while adding a nice splash of color.
this thread will be used to chronicle this setup as it matures.
In an attempt to find ways to conserve water which is becoming a huge issue in Southern California, I’ve decided to downsize the stock on my 280 and plant heavily to create a tank that can get by with fewer water changes. I’ve decided to go with a lightly stocked setup as well and have some fish on order along with some fish I’ve just received.
this is a far cry from being biotope correct but will feature fish that’ll go well with the smaller CA species.
the tank is 280 gallons with dimensions of 80x34x24” with a 100 gallon sump. The sump is setup to create a refugium which I’ll end up planting with a soil based substrate and will be heavily planted. I plan to add some Gammarus scuds to this refugium and the main tank to help with organic plant based detritus removal as well as a source of tasty live food. My hope is that a colony establishes itself in the sump and provides a source of live food for the main tank. The plan is also to use the sump to help with nitrate control and will likely be something I get going later this year.
the tank is planted with large Kleiner Bar swords, some anubias, water sprite, and Pygmy swords. Lighting is provided by pendent style LED’s on a moderate-high setting for a 12 hour photo period with a 3.5 hr sunrise and sunset so that the light is at its most intense setting for only 5 hours out of the 12.
Livestock:
- Thorichthys Aureus
- Amatitlania Nanoluteus
- Xiphophorus Alvarezi
- wild greeen Sailfin molly: Poecilia Latippina (impossible to find Velifera or Petensis)
- Pseudochalceus Kyburzi. These are from Choco state Columbia but figured they’d be a great substitute for the local characins in Central America.
- Two leftover Pseudanos Vari which are SA Anastomids that do a great job of keeping the wood and rocks clean with their grazing.
The two livebearer species will not only fill the middle and top of the water column but will provide additional algae control and their offspring will serve as a rare treat for their tankmates. The Pseudochalceus Kyburzi will mimic the medium sized characins while adding a nice splash of color.
this thread will be used to chronicle this setup as it matures.
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