Universal802
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- Joined
- Jun 17, 2016
- Messages
- 6
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- Location
- Groningen, The Netherlands
- Country
- Netherlands
Hi There!
Soo... just like the title says... I'd like to show you people my first attempt on a sort "nature aquarium" style tank for my 2 axolotls. As this is not my first experience with aquariums it is my first experience with Axolotls so this is both an experiment and a learning curve for me.
I tried to design the tank on creating a natural look, providing a lot of hiding places (which they have a lot on the back side btw) and creating something suitable for plants and axolotls alike. Within the design I even tried to make it big enough for them to grow big in.
The rocks and wood was all checked on rinsed properly before placement and I even polished and sanded down some of them to clear the sharp edges and such. Pesky job but hey... the things you do for the lil' buggers
Also mentioned in the title is that it's kept "low cost", which I'll explain later on.
But first... let me show you some pictures first. (apologies for the quality, made them with my phone... once the tank is more complete I'll try and take a few with a good camera and lighting)
1. Overall view of the tank
2. DIY moving bed filter
3. Pancho (Gold Axolotl) who's a bit camera shy and more busy staring at the glass
4. Bob (Wild Colored Axolotl)
Tank specs:
Width: 120cm
Depth:40cm
Height:50cm
Good for 240 liters I think.
Substrate:
Regular Aquariumsand, (some leftover) Dennerle Deponitmix 9in1 and 1-2mm grey gravel.
Plants:
Java Ferns (Microsorum Pteropus), Javamoss, Anubias Nana, Cabomba Aquatica and some waterweed (Egeria densa)
Decoration:
Regular driftwood, Azalea / Spiderwood, Mopani Wood and about 20-25kg of dark basalt stones
Filter:
DIY Moving Bed Filter Made of:
Lighting:
72cm LED RGB lamp which is submerseble and gives bubbles.. but I just stuck it on the glass lid instead and a 10w Ultra Sun 6500k daylight lamp, currently fitted in an ikea desklamp.
LED is not that bright and during the evening / night I put on blue light.
The daylight lamp is on for about 7hrs a day.
Now the lost cost bit is easily explained!
The tank I bought through the dutch version of ebay for only € 50,00 including a homemade cabinet, the moving bed filter cost me about € 12,00, the plants were € 25,00, the sand (25kg bag) was € 9,50 and both axolotl's were € 15,00 each. The rocks I got for free at a local paving shop who sells that stuff in huge bags of 500kg mininum and the wood was something I still had left from previous tanks and designs.
In the near future though I want to try to adjust some things and add some items like, better lighting preferably with a day/night controller, a cooler (having a few difficulties keeping the tank at a regular temp. although lately it's on a constant temp. of 20 degrees celcius) and depending on weither the filter is capable of handling this tank... a bigger / better filter, which most likely will be another DIY moving bed filter since they work really well and are very cheap to build.
At this moment still feeding them bloodworms and tubifex but I was told they're already reaching the age / size on slowly switching towards earthworms... anyone has feedback for this bit?
Well that's for now... hope you all like it and appreciate any comments / feedback / critics etc.
Thanks
Cheers!
Soo... just like the title says... I'd like to show you people my first attempt on a sort "nature aquarium" style tank for my 2 axolotls. As this is not my first experience with aquariums it is my first experience with Axolotls so this is both an experiment and a learning curve for me.
I tried to design the tank on creating a natural look, providing a lot of hiding places (which they have a lot on the back side btw) and creating something suitable for plants and axolotls alike. Within the design I even tried to make it big enough for them to grow big in.
The rocks and wood was all checked on rinsed properly before placement and I even polished and sanded down some of them to clear the sharp edges and such. Pesky job but hey... the things you do for the lil' buggers
Also mentioned in the title is that it's kept "low cost", which I'll explain later on.
But first... let me show you some pictures first. (apologies for the quality, made them with my phone... once the tank is more complete I'll try and take a few with a good camera and lighting)
1. Overall view of the tank
2. DIY moving bed filter
3. Pancho (Gold Axolotl) who's a bit camera shy and more busy staring at the glass
4. Bob (Wild Colored Axolotl)
Tank specs:
Width: 120cm
Depth:40cm
Height:50cm
Good for 240 liters I think.
Substrate:
Regular Aquariumsand, (some leftover) Dennerle Deponitmix 9in1 and 1-2mm grey gravel.
Plants:
Java Ferns (Microsorum Pteropus), Javamoss, Anubias Nana, Cabomba Aquatica and some waterweed (Egeria densa)
Decoration:
Regular driftwood, Azalea / Spiderwood, Mopani Wood and about 20-25kg of dark basalt stones
Filter:
DIY Moving Bed Filter Made of:
Lighting:
72cm LED RGB lamp which is submerseble and gives bubbles.. but I just stuck it on the glass lid instead and a 10w Ultra Sun 6500k daylight lamp, currently fitted in an ikea desklamp.
LED is not that bright and during the evening / night I put on blue light.
The daylight lamp is on for about 7hrs a day.
Now the lost cost bit is easily explained!
The tank I bought through the dutch version of ebay for only € 50,00 including a homemade cabinet, the moving bed filter cost me about € 12,00, the plants were € 25,00, the sand (25kg bag) was € 9,50 and both axolotl's were € 15,00 each. The rocks I got for free at a local paving shop who sells that stuff in huge bags of 500kg mininum and the wood was something I still had left from previous tanks and designs.
In the near future though I want to try to adjust some things and add some items like, better lighting preferably with a day/night controller, a cooler (having a few difficulties keeping the tank at a regular temp. although lately it's on a constant temp. of 20 degrees celcius) and depending on weither the filter is capable of handling this tank... a bigger / better filter, which most likely will be another DIY moving bed filter since they work really well and are very cheap to build.
At this moment still feeding them bloodworms and tubifex but I was told they're already reaching the age / size on slowly switching towards earthworms... anyone has feedback for this bit?
Well that's for now... hope you all like it and appreciate any comments / feedback / critics etc.
Thanks
Cheers!
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