NPT's who's got em?

[WhiteDevil]

Ive been away awhile, I apologize, christmas time gave me no computer lost two HD's in two months.

Im back kinda, still catching up.

In my absense the 210g discus tank was stripped and a 25w UV was added as well as 3 big blue sediment filters. Its since been replanted and I will update you all with the pics as soon as I get all settled in the new house and get the new fish rooms set up.


Anyways, I bought a 75g on ebay local from a fellow club member, I want to go NPT but I am about as nervous as a deer on a barren knoll.

If anyone on here has an NPT please post up so I can get further info from a legitimate honest Canadian rather then a stubborn american who for some reason we always think our doo dont stink.

I appreciate any and all help on this.

Inhabitants will be emperor tetras, dwarf plecos,corydoras, P. Scalares and Rams(bolivian and german blue)
This is the tank that the 75g is replacing, everything but the gravel is going into the new tank.
http://i51.tinypic.com/2r5s1ll.jpg

[GaryofMontreal]

What's an NPT? That's a new acronym for me.

[Wingin' It]

What's an NPT? That's a new acronym for me.

i'm going to guess it's Natural Planted Tank??

[bae3]

Why not buy Diana Walstad's book and get the info straight from the source? It's not very expensive, about $25 IIRC. "Ecology of the Planted Aquarium" Lots of good info about what goes on in a tank biologically, and it's all based on science instead of speculation and hearsay. Even if you don't use her method, it's a very good read for people with planted aquaria.

[susankat]

You can usually find one at your local library. I've done a 75 gal npt, kept it running for about 2 years.

[sunshine]

Im seriously thinking of starting one as well. Lots of info on the web. I also like the idea of emerged plants. Let me know when you start we can share idea and progress.
:Smile:
sunshine

[CACAdmin]

Welcome back, WhiteDevil. Sorry to hear of your computer troubles. Glad things are starting to get back on track for you.

Looking forward to seeing the revamped 210 and your new 75 when all is transferred.

It would be great if you do decide to go NPT, that you take us along on the journey (you could start a tank journal of it in the
Tank Talk (http://www.canadianaquariumconnection.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=79) section).:yes:

[OldMan]

I have this NPT but resent the implication that Americans can't have one.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll251/Oldman1947/Plants/XenotaeniaCrop.jpg

I am a Canadian living in the US and rely heavily on my local club for information that I can build on. I also have Diana's book and found it quite useful when I set up the tank. I set the tank up using the cheapest potting soil I could find, to avoid any artificial fertilizer additives. After that I capped the soil with a coarse sand/fine gravel about 1/2 inch deep. The thing runs in a 40 breeder with 110W of light over it. That means the lighting falls into the typical moderate light regime with no ferts except what comes from decomposing fish waste and traces of excess food. The plants not opnly thrive but when my local club decided to run a plant growth competition, I brought home the starter plant and cleared a spot in that tank for the new experimental plant. If someone reminds me next fall, I will let you know how my plant fared when compared with the ones other people are growing using intense artificial fertilizer methods. Mine may not win but, from what I have seen in that tank, it will be in the running.

[CACAdmin]

Beautiful tank, OldMan. Amazing plant growth. I'll bet the fish love to play hide-and-seek in there. Trying to net any would be virtually impossible I would think (knowing how difficult it is in my tanks and none are that thick with vegetation).

[Laura]

I set one up and had a **very** rocky start, but it's lovely now.

It is a 5 gallon and houses one betta. I ended up giving it to a friend after I babysat her betta for a few weeks in the tank. It has great growth.

I wouldn't underestimate how wonky the water can be in the initial stages, and would recommend lots of testing and water changes, lightly stocking if possible.

I found the following to be a great resource, and Diana Walstad is on this forum.
http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/el-natural/

[OldMan]

I had a severe BGA outbreak in that tank until the plants became well established. I almost gave up and went back to conventional plantings except that the BGA finally went away on its own.
That experimental planting from the club caused me to remove over 20 val plants just to make enough space for a single new crypt to be planted and still get some light. They are floating now in another NPT tank that contains an unidentifiable Anubias and a few dozen vals. It is unidentifiable in the sense that someone wild collected it and could not identify it. They subsequently had it examined by a water plant specialist at the local university who also could not identify it. I bought it at a club auction with an "unidentified" label on it on the bag. It is growing like a weed and a true plant expert might now be able to give it a positive ID.