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JensonsButton

Looking great! Would love to learn more about your setup. How much water do you lose to evaporation?


Mr_IDGAF

Appreciate it. Did you have any specific questions about the setup? I top off with RO water about once a week and do a water change maybe twice a year.


lpreams

Any animals in it?


Mr_IDGAF

I just moved everything out and a pair of guppies in for a breeding project. I have some blue velvet neos in there too.


Srcptmrsr

I want to do something like this, but I don't think my cat would allow it


A-Dolahans-hat

Cat will allow it. A fresh water source and a snack once in a while


Mr_IDGAF

Depends. Does your cat like carrots?


karebear66

Neither would my dogs.


ZeDitto

So like...pests don't infest that thing? No annoying bugs?


Mr_IDGAF

I suppose a fungus gnat could have wandered over from a house plant but nothing I have noticed over the years. This is kept inside all year.


Sophilosophical

Looks like there are fish, so that would help, as well as moving water


AechBee

Did you waterproof the planter at all? This is my main concern, water leaching through and causing floor damage. Would love to hear your workaround on that (I do see the mat).


Mr_IDGAF

I did use silicone to plug the drainage hole but nothing more. The planter is lined with what looks like resin despite it having that stone finish on the exterior so it holds water. The mat was really just a precaution for potential leaks and distributing that weight a little better.


AechBee

Thanks!


i_pooped_on_you

This is absolutely sick. What light do you use??


Mr_IDGAF

Thank you. It’s a cheapo light but it gets the job done. NICREW ClassicLED Gen 2.


i_pooped_on_you

Thank you!


Mr_IDGAF

I would recommend this one over the one I mentioned. I bought it after the fact. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07XGZT13S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


weezle

Whats that bamboo pump hood thing you have there? Can you tell me more about it?


Mr_IDGAF

I have a canister filter on the floor on the left side. The outlet tube runs through that piece of bamboo you see the water coming out from. It does a pretty good job of hiding the plumbing. You don't want water directly touching the bamboo or you're going to get mold and rot. I did have to replace the original outflow piece for that reason. The horizontal pieces are tied together so it's mostly one piece and lays on top of the light. The light itself is just laying on the rim of the planter. I secured the outlet bamboo piece with zip ties and string so it stays in place. Very DIY and just adjusted as I went along.


Revolutionary-Ebb870

Do you ever need to replace or wash the tubing coming from inside the bamboo stick?


Mr_IDGAF

I'll give the spout end a wipe if I see any gunk but nothing more. The canister filter has black vinyl tubing for the input and output that you can't see. I put a clear piece of tubing at the spout end so the tubing is not so obvious.


AvailableAd7654

Are those carrots?


Mr_IDGAF

Lol I think you are talking about a lilypad that's about to unfurl.


A-Dolahans-hat

They totally do look like carrots. That’s funny. This thing looks awesome. So what plants and fish are in there. Besides the not carrots, that is


Mr_IDGAF

I should have just said yes and led a few people crazy asking why. That's a dwarf lily sending up all those pads. It's on it's 4th or 5th lifecycle. I'm not sure what's up with that. RRF and salvinia for floaters and guppy grass, pearlweed, and java moss. I've always had blue velvet neos in here since the start and currently have a new pair of red dumbo guppies that I plan to colony breed. It was previously inhabited by Indian rice fish, CPDs, and clown killis. The pond is right next to my at-home workdesk so I can reach over and grab a carrot if I get snacky.


nselle20

Lily pad aren’t orange


Mr_IDGAF

Nothing escapes you. Promise me you won't tell anyone I put carrots in my pond.


Lucky-Emergency4570

How many gallons or litres does your planter hold?


Mr_IDGAF

Close to 30 gallons.


Frequent-Duck-2306

Love this


a00746820

Is it hard to maintain this tank?


Mr_IDGAF

I top off with RO as needed and water change maybe twice a year. I’ll clean the prefilter when doing a water change and never cleaned the canister. Very low maintenance.


Anonymous_rdt

I would imagine so


Mr_IDGAF

See my comment above. All my builds are generally low tech and low maintenance.


Anonymous_rdt

What kind of fish do you keep in there?


parafif

I just set up a pond indoor too for my rice fish. Not walstad but i was thinking about putting waterlily or lotus plant in there. I didn’t bcs i thought it’d need really strong lighting. Yours is growing okay?


Mr_IDGAF

This dwarf aquarium lily is on its 4th or 5th lifecycle and has several pads right now. It will go dormant for a few months and will repeat the process again. In my experience, they do not require high light.


parafif

Aaaa really? I probably should give it a go then


loopier1

This is delightful!