January Meeting
GWAPA had a fantastic turnout of 36 people tuning in to hear George Farmer speak about long term aquarium set up and maintenance. Why would someone keep an aquascape long term? According to George, it allows you to have a deeper connection with the animals in the scape, and being able to see them through their entire life span. Furthermore, having a tank for long term allows you have a sense of delayed gratification of watching the plants grow over time.
How do you set up a long term aquascape? First consider the lighting. For a long term aquascape, perhaps strong lighting isn’t the best option. Moderate to low lighting will allow the plants slowly, preventing algae and decreasing the need for tank maintenance. The best combination is low light, good CO2 injection, and relatively easy plants. Some of the best plants are epiphyte plants (like anubias), mosses, or rosette plants (like crypts). George tends to avoid stem plants in long term nature aquariums.
George then took us on a tour of his breathtaking aquascapes in various stages of growth and explained how he maintains his tanks. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing the health and wellbeing of the fish and shrimp in the tank. Finally, he answered viewer’s questions and shared some of his favorite tips and tricks for maintenance.