Call for Photos of Natural Tanks

Post by **Shane** » 02 Jul 2005, 19:12

As many of you may have noticed, I have finally finished the second article in the "Natural Catfish Aquarium" series
which can be viewed here:
http://www.planetcatfish.com/shanesworld/s_c_288.php

I am already at work on the third part which will cover the creative use of stones, driftwood, twigs, leaves and other materials.
If you have any photos of "natural" aquariums please post them here. We would like to use some of them to illustrate points made in the articles. The photos will be integrated with the articles. I look forward to seeing your tanks!
-Shane

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 02 Jul 2005, 19:42

Not Biotope (or all that accurate by any means), but an attempt at a blackwater habitat.

obviously there would be much less plant growth in real blackwater and more leaf litter, but it shows methods of reducing light levels in order to make catfish feel more secure.

Post by **Shane** » 02 Jul 2005, 23:28

Actually it is pretty close. Just imagine a section of blackwater bank flooded over the terrestrial plants after a heavy rain.
-Shane

catfishcrazy · Post by **catfishcrazy** » 03 Jul 2005, 08:33

Any good?

my photography sucks almost as much as my camera but someone might be able to clean it up well enough to be used if its suitable.

also there's this one

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 03 Jul 2005, 13:50

catfishcrazy, i really like what you've done with the bogwood branches to simulate tree stumps.

reminds me of lake kariba.

bronzefry · Post by **bronzefry** » 03 Jul 2005, 18:03

I know I've mixed plants from different areas of the world. But, I don't do well with sword plants.

Or CO2 in the tank.

This is a 75 gallon tank with 6 Callistus Tetras, 5 Pristellas, 10 Otos, 8 Paleatus Cories and 1 Pekoltia sp., possibly L-147.

mallemalle · Post by **mallemalle** » 03 Jul 2005, 18:58

this is a picture of my tank when i build it ive used some back to nature background pieces and bogwood. the plan was that it should look like some kind of fallen trea in the river, the bogwood on the leftside was never used in the finished product.
<a href="http://www.imageshack.us"><img src="http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/8231/7 ... ing0ko.jpg" border="0" width="500" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

this is how the tank looked after a few days with fish in it

<a href="http://www.imageshack.us"><img src="http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1951/7201ei.jpg" border="0" width="500" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

its not exactly how i wanted it to be, so im up for a rebuild quite soon

Malle

Post by **Shane** » 04 Jul 2005, 04:48

Please keep them coming! It is nice to see different people's ideas and styles.
-Shane

biohish · Post by **biohish** » 04 Jul 2005, 05:08

29 gallon: 6 angels, 12 white clouds, 1 spotted green pleco L200, 1 king tiger pleco L066, driftwood, anubias, rocks, etc.

thanks, let me know if you use them, or if you need a better pic.

biohish

Fish Soup · Post by **Fish Soup** » 04 Jul 2005, 06:49

Just starting my first blackwater tank. I have used the natural curves of the wood to hide the caves. Also tried to create a few different clear areas for feeding. Hate the background, will be changing it. Will add leaf litter when I see the pH settle after adding the wood. Currently housing six Cardinal Tetras and four L183. The only plant is the java fern growing on one piece of wood.

Can you spot the male in the third picture?

Full front view

Right side close up

Side view right side

Side view left side

Don

retro_gk · Post by **retro_gk** » 05 Jul 2005, 05:23

Here is a pic of my SE Asian river tank... currently housing a mix of loaches and catfish. Tank is a 40 breeder.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 05 Jul 2005, 08:23

I really wonder why I see so many tanks without a background.....or why heaters, pumps and other technical stuff isn't properly hiding behind a rock, plant or rootpiece?

Here's my 132G/500L Tanganyikan tank;

I'll take a pic of my riverine tank asap

btw fish in this one:
2 Lophiobagrus cyclurus (pair)
5 Synodontis polli
7 Synodontis petricola 'Burundi'
2 Neolamprologus tretocephalus (pair)
2 Julidochromis regani 'Malagarasi' (pair)
2 Telmatochromis dhonti (pair)
2 Reganochromis calliurus (pair)
10 Cyathopharynx foai 'Kagobo "green"'

plants:
Vallisneria spiralis (in the sand)
Hydrilla verticillata (in the sand)
Anubias var 'barteri'on back and sidepanels (rooted on the PUR)
lemna minor, Pistia stratoides and Limnobium spp are all floating on the surface (pruned down in that pic, but more visible now again)
I use floaters for shading and nitrate-vacuuming.

the granny's are in a breeding tank nowadays

taksan · Post by **taksan** » 05 Jul 2005, 09:19

Not biotope (really only because I prefer Anubias over swords for their lower light and more hardy nature) but fully planted tanks nevertheless with plenty of driftwood and deadicated to catfish with a few exceptions.

7 footer

4 footer

3 1/2 footer (pic taken while cycling)

Iwona · Post by **Iwona** » 05 Jul 2005, 18:48

My 450 l tank with 5xHeteropneustes fossilis, 3xAgamyxis pectinifrons, 1xPlatydoras costatus, 1xAncistrus sp., 2x Megalechis sp. and billion of snails Melanoides tuberculata

. Plants are recovering after being eaten by Synodontis nigrita

90 l tank, no fish yet

all the best
iwona

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 05 Jul 2005, 19:14

Iwona. that 450 tank is AMAZING!!!

I really like the style. slightly amano-esque.

why does my java moss ever grow like that?

Iwona · Post by **Iwona** » 05 Jul 2005, 19:25

Thanks racoll, I'm glad that you like it. You should buy some synodontis, they will cut your java moss into the propper shape

iwona

retro_gk · Post by **retro_gk** » 05 Jul 2005, 21:06

sidguppy wrote:I really wonder why I see so many tanks without a background.....or why heaters, pumps and other technical stuff isn't properly hiding behind a rock, plant or rootpiece?

In my case, because it is not a show tank...most of my tanks are for me and my fish alone

Post by **Shane** » 05 Jul 2005, 21:14

I was wondering the same thing as Sid. The lack of a background has got to really bother the fish. Great tanks Iwona!
-Shane

bronzefry · Post by **bronzefry** » 05 Jul 2005, 21:16

In my case, it's ease of access and cleaning. When I had things hidden, I had a difficult time getting to them. They aren't in a living room or guest area. I don't mind the sight of a heater or filter intakes.

Everybody has such FANTASTIC tanks!!!!!

Post by **Shane** » 05 Jul 2005, 21:26

Thought I would throw in some of mine.

-Shane

racoll · Post by **racoll** » 05 Jul 2005, 22:05

my powerhead is at the front of the tank so it blows it's current along the front glass. the plecs then like sitting in the current- just where i can see them.

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 05 Jul 2005, 23:53

Shane, I like the "wild growth look" in your tanks; I have the same philosophy;
let it grow
let it grow
let it grow

And also; a healthy tank should have all kinds of algae (except blue greens of course); hairy, green, filamentous, brown you name it.
Loricariids of course can graze faster than the algae grow, but a well settled fishtank shouldn't be too clean, except for the frontwindow.

In my case, because it is not a show tank...most of my tanks are for me and my fish alone

So are mine; I NEVER set up any tank to show off on others, all my tanks are solely for me to watch. everyone else's just lucky if they walk in, it's my hobby (mine mine mine!*)
but I DO make a difference between the tanks in the living room wich I want to look "natural", and my breeders wich are more "functional" and hence have technical stuff visible, simple black backgrounds (instead of sculped PUR panels), pottery and PVCpipes etc.

*I've been watching Nemo again......remember the gulls?

retro_gk · Post by **retro_gk** » 06 Jul 2005, 01:07

it's my hobby (mine mine mine!*)

LOL, how true

I don't think the lack of a background really affects the fish as I tend to place tanks in corners up against the wall... if they are stressed, they sure aren't showing it...I've invariably had more fry than I can handle, and a lot of my fish are wild caught (anabantids, cichlids and livebearers).

Post by **Birger** » 06 Jul 2005, 04:41

This is my favourite.
The background is black paper(looks different than the picture shows).
Of course the malawi cichlids should and will be replaced,any suggestions.
Needs more driftwood and some plants need to grow out more.
Stones are cut flat at the back.
Need to work on my photograpy skills.

[img][img]http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/1209 ... 0031gh.jpg[/img][/img]

[img][img]http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/3040 ... 0100hf.jpg[/img][/img]

bronzefry · Post by **bronzefry** » 06 Jul 2005, 15:13

I tried a suggestion from one of Shane's articles. I found a black plastic bag.
Before:

After:

The Tetras noticed it right off. I had already used some stick-on black background on the right side of the tank, since there's a window close by. The Otos love to hide in this corner in the plants. I'll see how this works out.

I've also thought about putting houseplants on the shelves behind the tank. I saw Whitepine's tank like that and it looked really nice.

I imagine that would look nicer than the plastic bag.

How do you disguise the equipment so that it is also accessible for cleaning? This has been a problem for me.

What kind of Crypts are those, Birger?

Post by **Shane** » 06 Jul 2005, 17:05

Looks much better Amanda. Plants, logs, stones, just about anything can be used to hide equipment.
-Shane

Post by **Birger** » 07 Jul 2005, 02:20

What kind of Crypts are those, Birger?

I am not that knowledgeable with plants so to be honest, I don't know, maybe someone can enlighten us, I just know it will grow anywhere.(for me)
I am a big fan of easy to grow low light plants, they do not need high intensity lights which keep my catfish more comfortable, I also like the darker leaf coloration.

Birger

bronzefry · Post by **bronzefry** » 07 Jul 2005, 14:35

Thanks, Shane.

I'm going to order more of the stick on background. It's easier to care for. It's also time to order more driftwood. I've gotten so many good ideas from the tanks I've seen here.
Amanda

sidguppy · Post by **sidguppy** » 07 Jul 2005, 17:06

My Rivertank! it's 208 liters (Gals??)

It's quite dark, because of the colored water (the color of tea, due to peat and bogwood) and a massive floating plants population in the back and both ends.

fish:
7 Corydoras robinae
2 Sturisoma festivum (pair)
2 Platystacus cotylephorus (pair)
4 Hoplosternum punctatum (2 pairs)
5 Doras punctatus
3 Amphilius rheophilus
3 Mochokiella paynee
3 Akysis prashadi
7 Danio/Devario pathirana
1 Crenicichla nothophthalmus

plants:
Echinodorus amazonicus
Crinum calamistratum
Anubias sp 'nana'
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Limnobium spongeae
Lemna minor
wads of green filamentous algae

zenyfish · Post by **zenyfish** » 07 Jul 2005, 21:09

Sid,

208 l. = 55 US gal.

That's really a great tank. And all those cool catfish, I've never seen of some of those!