Low Tech Aquariums Are 1 Magic 2 Blissful

Once starting or joining the hobby you will find many terms that don’t make sense at first. It’s only natural terms like water buffing and scaping or should I say aquascaping? There are a plethora to choose from.

In this post Id like to explain one such weird term Low tech aquariums. Low tech usually implies planted tanks. That run with no added filtration or any added co2 and only low-end natural lighting. No added tech. Making them extremely low maintenance.

So What Are Low Tech Aquariums 

Low tech aquariums usually have no filtration or extra co2 also once established very few water changes and almost no maintenance

How This Works

In Layman’s terms, a low-tech aquarium works by first having a good substrate. A good aqua soil will do. Something organic without those pesky additives.

The substrate needs to be good as it will be providing nutrients to our plants. These plants are what’s going to be giving the tank its filtration.

The fish once the tank has cycled are going to add the water movement or agitation needed to move the good bacteria around. As well as the nutrients and co2 that are normally moved around via a filter.

Waste Control

The poop from the fish will help feed the plants and the leftovers will be taken care of by other organisms in the substrate.

Last but not least the lights will help the plants grow big and strong. Now we have an understanding let’s dive in a bit deeper. Starting with the substrate.

All Substrates Are Not Equal 

This is true we need organic soil or peat moss with no pesticides. We want good healthy fish and not to poison them. We ideally want a deep substrate too as we want enough nutrients for plant life.

Capping The Substrate

Adding an extra layer on top of the soil such as sand and or some gravel. This allows the soil to stay in place and not enter the water column. Capping also gives you somewhere to plant your plants without putting them directly into the soil.

Why Not Plant Into The Soil

If we plant straight into the soil there is a good chance of burning the roots. There may be too many nutrients for the plants to receive all in one go we need the roots to feel out and find the soil nice and slowly.

Adding Root Tabs

Adding root tabs is safer and will feed the plants while the roots get settled in and become strong enough to receive nutrients from the soil.

Once you have the substrate and the extra layer to cap the soil in place. You can add some root tabs. Root tabs will provide food for the plants while the plant’s roots are still reaching out to find the soil.

Planting

Now it’s time to plant some plants. Ideally, some fast-growing flora may be some floating plant life too. As we need to make sure the whole tank is oxygenized for when the fish arrive. It’s also a good idea to plant heavy as we need to keep ammonia under control.

Why Plant Heavy 

This is a low-tech approach so things will move and grow slowly. We are not adding any filtration or boosting with co2 or modern led lighting. So if we don’t get things off to a head start we may have to wait a few months to see any real growth.

Lighting

Lighting is important but doesn’t need to be full strength and there’s no need to have them on for more than 8 hours a day. We don’t want algae growing, do we? (.)

Adding Fish

So finally we can add some fish. Not too many as we don’t want to cause a major bioload on the tank. Remember the plants and flora are just getting started and we need to build up that good bacteria. We don’t need too much fish waste until we have cultured enough organisms to break the waste down.

Are There Any Benefits For A Low Tech Approach

 

Yes, I feel there are some benefits to a truly low-tech approach. Saving time and money on finding the right filtration system. Of course the cleaning and maintenance of the said filter. The same can be said for co2 boosters. The extra water changes that seem to be needed with all this modern equipment.

Killing Off Beneficial Organisms  

The extra work the filters do these days cleaning the water to such a point there is no good minerals left in the water. And the killing off of organisms that the tank could use.

Algae

What’s more, there are our friend’s algae with all the extra agitation of the water by the filter there’s way more chance of algae growth and we don’t want that.

Balance

Probably the best benefit is what a low-tech option teaches you the hobbyist. Keeping an almost self-sustaining ecosystem that has lots of little variables is going to make you better prepared for any issues.

So What Are Low Tech Aquariums Conclusion

 Let us sum things up what’s meant by a low-tech aquarium? A stand-alone tank that relies on its own ecosystem. Utilizing plants instead of a filer and no added co2. Capping the substrate allows slower delivery of nutrients to plants/flora and allows microorganisms to grow to take care of waste. While the fish themselves agitate the water moving nutrients through the water column and giving co2 to plants and flora.

All in balance with each other with very little maintenance cleaning and saving on some of those water changes.

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Thanks for reading hope you enjoyed and please feel free to read the extra articles on neon tetra. I love neon tetra and don’t forget to look around the site thanks again.