Fishtanks
I this section I'd like to give you a glance of some of my fishtanks.
Not all are posted but it's just to give you a certain impression.
Before I'll show you some tanks, I'd like to show you two pictures at our home back in 1973. These show in the back one of the fishtanks we had in our livingroom. Back then it was quite normal to have framed fishtanks. And the panes of glass were sealed by using fillers like putty. No silicon used back then...
And well, it was my parents idea to paint the frame blue. Who would do that nowadays?
What a flashback!
In some way. it's a shame that my parents never made specific pictures of all the fishtanks we've had.
I myself don't have to get annoyed while using the computer. I've got a double screen to watch; for beneath the computer screen, I do have a small tank with endlers in it.
Above: My swamp tank.
Above: Two tanks with no mechanical filtration in it. Just gravel and oxygen plants (photo right). They've run for 3 years like this. Both were self sufficient tanks. In there I've kept wild guppies and endlers. Both species were healthy and very prolific for the three years I've kept these tanks like this. But note to keep such tanks close to daylight to have a self sufficient system.
Of course, as every aquarist should be doing... is testing the water parameters on a frequent bases. I myself don't have to do this too often for in general my tanks are well balanced.
Above:: Simple methods are the best!
Left: An aquarist's ritual.
I use very simple methods to optimize the water parameters. I prefer not to use commercial meds or supplements for most of them are based on heavy metals. And every serious aquarist knows that those are really killing to fish...
At this point (date: January 2018), I do have over 75 tanks effectively running.
Besides these tanks I also have polyethylene outdoor tanks, glass outdoor tanks and paludaria.
Besides the self sufficient tanks, all other tanks are air filtered . Air filtration may result in a more noisy happening. For the air will cause real movement at the surface of the water. But air filtration is better for a lower electrical bill when you have multiple tanks than using mechanical filtration systems for each tank. I use a pump with sufficient power and a divider for all individual tanks.
Aerated filtration is also cheaper in electrical use than separate mechanical filter pumps. Specifically when one is dealing with the MTS (Multiple Tank Syndrome).
To reduce the noise of the aeration pump, a soft material can be put between the bottom of the aeration pump and the surface it's on.
There are several kinds of air filters that one can use. A bit old school but some plastic air filters like this corner air filter is still very practical to use.
Most available is the following type of sponge filter which one can stick to the glass. You can move the sponge part forward, sideways, downwards and upwards. The outlet is like most air filters adjustable.
One of the better things of a sponge filter is that fry won't get sucked into the filter, which could happen with a plastic air filter and an mechanical filter (inner or outer filter pump).
But I prefer most the sponge filters. There come in several sizes and is more practical than the those plastic air filters.
And in case you don't have that much space, there is also a very small sponge filter available.
Above: Spare sponges are also in different sizes available. And they don't cost that much.
Above: One of the most sold inner sponge filters. It also comes in a double sponge version.
Keeping multiple tanks, means also more space needed. There are many ways to be creative to offer the space to those tanks. And if the floor is already filled with those tanks, one can always use the walls to get tanks mounted. Most places don't get any bigger. So, one must become creative with the space present.
I love my wall tanks...