New tank!

[big a little a]

Hello!

It's been a very long time since I posted, but I'm excited re Petrie's new tank!

His old one sprang a leak, so I decided to splash out on a custom built one, so it will a)fit my monster-chiller in the cabinet and b)perfectly fit in the space in the room. It's also cool because I get to do a complete redesign of it and make it hopefully look beautiful!

I've decided against having lights as Petrie really isn't keen on them, even though he has plenty of hides that will be put in his new tank - so am debating whether to just have silk plants or maybe put some Java ferns in there and hope for the best? Do you think they'll grow without aquarium lights? Or any other plants?

My other option is to maybe get one of those LED bubble stone things, so there would be some light from that (and a bubbly area in the corner of the tank, as randomly, he does quite like that!)....but I'm unsure how effective one of those would be for growing plants!

I'd really appreciate your thoughts! And here's a pic of Petrie :happy:

 

[AxolotlChris]

Custom tanks sounds nice, perhaps look at a lower watt bulb? Purchase floating plants to create cover, think of some creative ways to build caves and ledges to create shade on the tank floor perhaps out of slate or other flat solid rocks?

I really like planted tanks, some have such a natural look to them. I like the idea of a mini ecosystem for my Axolotl to thrive in.

I think if you provide the correct coverage through aqua scaping, you could still keep plants using a light. Just be very specific on the type of plants you pick to make sure they can survive.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwjO3ydoZRo#t=277

 

[NaterPotater]

My live plants (mostly Anubias) do perfectly fine with just the overhead light in the room. I don't have any kind of hood light for my tank.

 

[AxolotlChris]

I find that tank hoods really limit the light, so depending on where your tank is situated and where about the plants are placed, it could easily be not enough natural light coming through the sides of the tank.

 

[NaterPotater]

I've got a screen lid on my tank. Works great.

 

[big a little a]

Tank location is next to a window, but would only catch sunlight in half of it, because it will have a wall directly behind it...

I really like planted tanks too, but I have to be honest, I am the least green-fingered person in the world...

Floating plants sound a great way to provide coverage - but would the plants below still receive enough light to survive?

And would coloured lights work as well as white lights as purple lights always look a lot less harsh to me?

Thanks for your advice guys! :happy:

 

[big a little a]

Re hoods, mine will have a wooden one, fairly high to hide all the pumps and tubes and whatnot from the chiller - with a clear screen underneath - so wouldn't get any overhead lighting.

So, not much natural light....and have the chiller set to 18C...so pretty cold...not ideal for plants I guess...maybe I need to get lights put in too after all...

 

[AxolotlChris]

It depends what kind of floating plants you use, and how many. You'll want to read up on light spectrum's for more info on light colors.

There are many plants that can tolerate the cold temperature:
Axolotl Sanctuary