Rattail, what a beauty your tanks are. That must be the luck in living in South Africa, you get to put tanks on your garden, an instant water garden, and must be nice to see the plants growing as they are supposed to do, a mini habitat. I am sure that your fish are happy as well, as they will get natural conditions, or as close to what they would get if they were swimming on the rivers..
Yup! we might not be able to walk into a shop and be mind boggled for choice, but hey, we can set up near instant water gardens! (and the weather is good ) Thanks for the complement.
We got lots of choice, but the weather is not nice, not nice at all.. And I have to say that the large majority of users on this forum are doing very well without the choices we have in the UK.. very well indeed. I have seen some amazing tanks here, your included.
Indeed - Africa is not for sissies I would not handle your weather. I get S.A.D. (google it) cheers, Bud!
Yeah the weather is not nice.. My wife is from Cape Town, and after 12 years here she is not able to deal with it any longer, hence why we are thinking about relocating to Cape Town. As I work in IT there won't be hard for me to find work, and the weather will for sure make up for any other shortfall. The only condition I had for agreeing to the move is that I must have three large dogs, Boerboels, and that I must be able to have two large tanks at home, and a garden with a pond. From seeing your post I think that I will change the pond for tanks on the garden, would be great to have a wall of tanks with water flowing from one to the other, going into a small pond, passing a filter and then pumped back to the first tank, cycling the water thought the plants.
Woaaah! Richard, your valisneria tank looks awesome! How do you manage, if any, algae? Whenever I try to have something sitting outside, it does not take long to become a slimy green mess. The pond looks pretty lush too. Well done dood!
well, you know how I operate - I simply just don't mess with the ponds/tanks! If there is enough plant matter to sort out the ntrients, algae cannot grow. Simple.
You sure have a nack for the El Natural Richard. Tell me, is the valisneria tank under a roof? Does it get any direct sunlight? Please do divulge some of your secrets as to how you made your "special sand mix" substrate!! Please sir...
Nope - no shade. Direct sunlight. No roof. Afternoon sun. As for my substrate mix.... please go look at both my Brazil stream Biotope, and my Southeast Asian Community setup. I have detailed it well there.