Low Tech Aquarium with Low Requirements

A Low-tech Aquarium will allow you to enjoy an aquarium with plants without having to buy too expensive equipment. This is a guide to starting a low-requirement aquarium in a simple way.

WHAT IS A LOW TECH AQUARIUM?

Low-tech aquariums are those that have plants that need low requirements both in terms of light and in terms of the amount of fertilizer. They are options that can be maintained with simple technology and with the CO2 itself that can come from the fish that are inside, as long as you have enough.
The amount of light that is required in a low-tech aquarium is in fluorescent: 30 to 40 lumens per liter and for LED screens of about 20 lumens per liter.
In this type of options you can keep plants such as anubias, echinodorus, mosses, ferns, etc.

It differs precisely because of the low requirement that this type of aquarium needs in counterpoint to what high tech aquariums do need in which an active supply of carbon dioxide is required, with the need that this implies that they have all the equipment necessary for the production of CO2.

HOW TO CHOOSE A LOW REQUIREMENTS AQUARIUM?

When selecting an aquarium there are a number of aspects that must be taken into account. The first of these is the size of the tank. Tanks or aquariums under 40 l / 10 gal are perfect options if you are looking to have your first aquarium. Just get a kit that includes everything you need to get started, you will have an option that will not take up too much space and at a reasonable price.

And is that, precisely due to the small volume it occupies, its requirements are lower than if you opt for larger options. You will also find a large number of fish and plants perfect precisely for these low tech aquariums. Smaller options are around 10-25 l / 2.2-5-5 gal in volume.

Low tech aquariums are perfect if you are looking to opt for plants that do not require much light, and that do not need a contribution of CO2 or extra fertilizer.

Why choose an aquarium with low requirements
If you wonder why you should select an aquarium with low requirements, the best thing first of all is that you know a little more about both the pros and cons that selecting an aquarium of one type or another may entail.

ADVANTAGES OF A LOW TECH AQUARIUM

With an aquarium of this type you will not have to do tests of the pH of the water or changes it as common as in other types of aquariums.

You will not see the need to prune the plants as often, since they have a low growth rate.

You will need fertilizers but occasionally and in very small doses.
You will not run any risk of administering an excessive amount of carbon dioxide and, therefore, harming your fish.

If there is something that you are not doing well in your aquarium with low requirements, you will see this clearly through the growth of the algae in it, being much lower than what you can observe in other types of aquariums, in this way you will have a longer to correct this problem and restore balance to your aquarium in question.

DISADVANTAGES OF A LOW TECH AQUARIUM

If what you are looking for is an aquarium in which the growth of the plants is spectacular because above all you want it to decorate, this may not be your format.

Not all plants are suitable for this type of aquarium, since many of them require high levels of carbon dioxide. Although there are really many that can be in this environment, the most suitable are those that can pass perfectly with a lower concentration of carbon dioxide, as we will detail later.

What you should know before betting on a low tech aquarium with low requirements. When betting on having an aquarium of these characteristics it is important that you know some details.

Growth is less

Due to the lack of variation in the concentration of carbon dioxide in aquariums of this type, the percentage of growth will be much lower when compared to aquariums with high requirements.

Lower consumption

Precisely because there is a lower growth rate, the consumption of nutrients by the plants in this type of aquarium is also lower and hence their need to receive nutrients externally is practically non-existent.

Hence, the plants that are usually put in this type of aquarium may not need more sustenance than that provided by the fish themselves, with their remains, food or waste. But this has the disadvantage that the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium will be reduced and hence they need these so that imbalances do not occur.

LOW TECH AQUARIUM FILTERS

Regarding the type of most suitable filters for Low Tech aquariums, a series of aspects should be taken into account. In this sense, the most appropriate thing is that they are models that have a good quality. Having a low tech aquarium, with a low requirement, does not prevent having a filtration process that falls short for the aquarium.

In the case of aquariums in which the plants do not consume too many nutrients, as is the case of low tech with low requirements, it is especially important that a correct filtration process is carried out.

This is so because thanks to the filters it will be possible to reduce the possible excesses of organic matter that may be found in the aquarium in question and, with it, the remains of ammonium and nitrites that may be produced.

Regarding the type of filter to use, the first thing to consider is that its installation involves a good filtering system. For this, you can choose a filter that has twice the capacity of your aquarium because that way you will know that you are not falling short, although it may seem somewhat excessive, which is not recommended at all, is to go very fair with the type of filter .

Keep in mind that, beyond filtering the water, these devices contribute to the dispersion of nutrients evenly between plants, avoiding that there are points where the nutrients do not reach and that can cause the plants in that part of the plant to die. your aquarium and, with it, that algae appear.

The most recommended filters in low-tech aquariums are those that provide greater circulation and filtering capacity, while avoiding clogging problems. This is the case, for example, with Canister type filters.

It is also not recommended to use activated carbon in the filter, this is because they consume many nutrients that will rob your aquarium. Whenever you can use the filter of another aquarium that you already have active, it will be recommended that you do so because this way you will be able to make use of a pre-cycled filter, ideal for starting a low tech aquarium.

SUBSTRATE FOR LOW TECH AQUARIUM

As for the most suitable substrates to use with Low Tech aquariums, you should know that the first thing you will have to take into account is whether you are going to set up an aquarium with plants that are located on logs and / or rocks or if you are going to do the same with plants that perch on the substrate.

In the first case, it is best to use any type of silica gravel, and if you are going to bet on the second case, it is best to opt for a substrate such as non-nutritive clays.

In an aquarium with low requirements, any type of porous substrate with a high CEC can be perfect. It is a type of substrate that has a high capacity to retain the necessary nutrients that the plants must absorb. Leonardite can be added to the bottom of the aquarium as a substrate. It is a stable option.

It should be noted in this section that there are those who use soil substrates in their low tech aquariums. Although this option is entirely possible, it can carry certain risks. One of them is that it is much more difficult to know what the precise composition that makes up the substrate in question is, being able to add toxins or parasites in the event that it is contaminated.

Another possibility would be that the aquarium has ammonia, which could end up leading to an algae problem and even be harmful to the fish.
It should also be remembered that, although soil substrates have a good amount of nutrients, the truth is that over time they lose them and you will have to resort to fertilizers.

In short, if you opt for this option, which is valid, it will be advisable for you to know exactly what its composition is and if it has any element that could carry risks.

LOW TECH AQUARIUM LIGHTING

As for the type of lighting you need in a Low Tech aquarium, you should know that this will depend on the amount of lumens that are required according to the types of plants

With low-requirement plants these are the options:
11 to 13 lumens / liter for 10h.
14 to 15 lumens / liter for 8h.
16 to 18 lumens / liter for 7h.

With medium requirement plants:
23 to 25 lumens / liter for 10h.
27 to 30 lumens / liter for 8h.
32 to 35 lumens / liter for 7h.

In the case of aquariums with high requirements:
34 to 37 lumens per liter for 10h.
41 to 46 lumens / liter for 8h.
48 to 53 lumens / liter for 7h.

Another aspect to bear in mind is that in Low Tech aquariums with low light requirements you will not have the need for more complex, powerful or colored screens. Another possibility is to opt for screens with adjustable intensity that you can adapt regardless of whether you have a low tech or high tech aquarium in the future.

In short, you should not forget that the lighting in these low-requirement planted aquariums is a crucial point, the most optimal lighting being the soft one, thus promoting the growth of the plants and controlling the spread of algae.

Keep in mind that if you exceed the amount of light because you think that this way the plants will grow faster, the only thing that is likely to end up achieving, as we say, is the proliferation of algae.

HOW TO PAY A LOW TECH AQUARIUM?

The subscriber of the aquariums of low requirements must be determined by the own consumption of the plants. In the event that you have an aquarium with a system that is producing more than it consumes, you will have to pay your aquarium yes or yes and always fix that said fertilizer contains, at least, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus.
If the opposite is the case in your aquarium, that more nutrients are produced than spent, then you should remove the excess with the help of water changes in your aquarium in question.

HOW TO MAINTAIN A LOW REQUIREMENTS AQUARIUM?

This is one of the most important issues in order to always keep your low-requirement aquarium in perfect condition. It is about responding to how you should carry out the maintenance process of your aquarium. Every aquarium needs to have a correct balance. In the case of low tech aquariums it is important that water changes of approximately 50% of the total volume are carried out and also use anti-chlorine products.

Through these water changes you will be able to introduce certain elements that are depleted in the water as the days go by. This process will also allow you to carry out a correct control of the excess fertilizers that may be inside the aquarium. With the water changes you will avoid possible imbalances, which is why it is the key point.

As for cleaning, what you will have to do is remove excess organic matter and sprouts that may have stuck to the glass.

Water changes
Keeping the water at its optimum point is essential in all types of aquariums and in the case of aquariums with low requirements, a number of aspects must be taken into account. When carrying out a water change, you change the amount of carbon dioxide that is dissolved in the aquarium water and this is something that must be taken care of so that algae do not appear, hence it must be done only when you see that the water is already evaporating. This point is especially important if you have a high level of plants in your aquarium.

In the event that you are going to have few plants, it is best to change a third of the water in the aquarium every two weeks.

Another factor to keep in mind is the amount of fish you have in your low tech aquarium. For a larger number of fish, it will also be advisable to have a higher number of plants in order to regulate the levels of ammonium and nitrites in the aquarium.

In the event that you remodel the landscape of your low-tech aquarium, pulling plants from the substrate and removing the bottom, you will have to change between 60% and 70% of the total water that your aquarium can contain. Keep in mind that when removing the bottom, the substrate will begin to spread through the water, being able to disperse traces of ammonium and nitrites.

In the same way, if you ask yourself how often it would be advisable to reshape the landscape of your aquarium, you should bear in mind that it should not be done more than once every 3 or 6 months to avoid also having to make unnecessary water changes with the consequences that have.

LOW REQUIREMENT AQUARIUM PLANTS

If now that you know what it consists of and the most basic care that a low requirement aquarium you wonder how and when to plant, we bring you the main keys that you should know.

This is, without a doubt, one of the most important points, since knowing how to plant well is essential for the aquarium to have all its points in order. It is advisable that you plant a considerable amount that allows you, once they have grown enough, not more than 10-15% of the bottom is visible.

If you want to see results in the shortest possible time, it is best that you opt for plants that are fast growing, so you will also be contributing to the correct cycling of water, controlling the amount of ammonia and other waste.

When you see that the plants you have have acclimatized to your aquarium in question, you can add others if you wish. So what you will guarantee yourself is that you have an aquarium with a high density of healthy plants, which will be positive to guarantee the biomass of our aquarium and avoid the appearance of algae.

If you have never owned an aquarium, you can choose to place "beginner" aquarium plants. They are characterized by being able to adapt to most aquariums, including low tech, beyond chemical and light conditions, as long as minimum maintenance conditions are met.

They are characterized because they do not necessarily require fertilizer, and can even grow in hard water and are perfectly adapted to very basic lighting.

Among the plants that you can find in this sense are those of the genus Anubias and, specifically, the species Anubias barteri, Anubias congensis or Anubias angustifolia.
Anubias require little light, are very inexpensive and can withstand some instability in the aquarium.

Plants of the aponogeton type can also be a good option. They are simple spices to keep. Here we find some like the Aponogeton crispus or the Aponogeton undulatus. They require a greater amount of light than anubias and also a little more investment but they can give good results.

Other suitable species for low-requirement aquariums are Azolla caroliniana, Azolla filiculoides, Ceratophyllum submersum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Ceratopteris cornuta, Bacopa caroliniana, Cabomba caroliniana, Cardamine lyrata, Crinum natans or Crinum thaianum, among others.

You should also keep in mind that options of the genus Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus, Hydrocotyle and Hygrophila can be ideal for aquariums with low requirements.

If you are looking for moss for aquariums, you should opt for options such as java moss, Christmas moss or weeping moss, among others that are very easy to keep in aquariums planted with low light and generate an ideal habitat for small fish.

DEFICIENCIES IN LOW REQUIREMENTS AQUARIUM PLANTS

Every aquarium, even with a low requirement, will offer signals through its plants if we are not providing the minimum nutrients to them. We detail them below.

If nitrogen is missing
If nitrogen is lacking, it will be something that you will see more easily in fast-growing stem plants. You will see that the hue of the leaves will change from green to yellow, due to chlorosis. It is a process that begins in the oldest leaves and ends up also passing to the new shoots. You will see that even if the plant continues to grow it will have a sickly and weakened appearance. This is rare in aquariums where there are a lot of fish.

Lack of phosphorus
You will see if your aquarium does not have enough phosphorus because the leaves of your plants will begin to darken. They can even have a reddish hue. In the absence of phosphorus, you will see that the plants slow down their development and that those that root will not have the capacity to do so. If the phosphorus deficiency worsens it can cause the leaves to end up suffering necrosis at the apex and they will come off.

Potassium deficiency
If you see that your plants begin to yellow at the edges of the leaves, even leading to necrosis, this may be because your aquarium requires potassium. It can be differentiated because here you will see that the spots that appear on the leaves make little spots. You will also see that growth stops and that the distance between the internodes is less, seeing that the plant has a more compact appearance than usual.

calcium deficiency
If your aquarium has a low level of calcium, you will see that the symptom will be the deformation of the edges of the leaves, in such a way that they will curve downwards. In addition, its development will stop to give way to thinner and weaker stems. Also if you have just planted cuttings you will see that they will not root properly.

Lack of magnesium
If what is missing is magnesium in your aquarium, you will see that chlorosis appears between the nerves of the leaves. At first this will be visible through a small mottling to finally see that the edges of the leaves curve upwards.

Insufficient zinc
In the event that the deficiency is zinc, you will see that the plant develops in a much slower way. The distance between internodes will be shortened and the size of the leaves will become smaller.
In addition, you will see that small samples of chlorosis begin to appear that will increase to occupy the edge and progress towards the interior of the leaf. In certain species it will also be shown because white spots appear on the leaves and this will end in a period of necrosis.

If copper is missing
In the event that copper is lacking, which is necessary in very very low amounts, if we go over it it can be toxic, you should know that its absence can cause necrosis. In this case we would observe that it goes from the end of the leaves towards the inside, to end up falling the leaf. What happens is that growth stops causing the stems to weaken and leading to an unhealthy plant appearance.

Molybdenum deficiency
In the event that molybdenum is lacking, the symptoms on the plant will be practically identical to when a nitrogen deficit occurs, since without its presence it cannot be assimilated. Thus, the lack of the first prevents the second from being assimilated. Normally this problem does not occur in aquariums that have fish inside.

After this extensive guide, you already know what a low tech aquarium is, all the care in terms of filters, substrates, lighting, type of fertilizer, type of plant and how to detect possible deficiencies in it. Now you just have to get down to work and start with this aquarium for beginners that will give you great satisfaction.

Other articles of interest may be:
How to Eliminate Aquarium Algae - Causes and Most Effective Treatments
Caridines and Neocaridines - File and Care Aquarium Prawns

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