Off topic-river tank system

[JohnD]

A coworker of mine knows I keep several tanks. He wants my help in getting information on river tank systems for his 10 year old son. I did some searches on this board and didn't find anything suitable. I also searched the web and really didn't find anything.

Dad was looking for a 20 gallon tank, with gravel, appropriate plants, some frogs and some type of water movement/filter system.

Does anybody have any experience with one of these systems? Or do you know of a good website for info and possibly products with prices?

Thanks much.

JohnD

 

[liquid]

Another name for what you're looking for is also called a "riffle" tank or aquarium. A quick search on Google revealed a couple websites that might help you out:

http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/rivertanks/

http://www.aquafind.com/articles/darters.html

http://www.nanfa.org/articles/riffletank/zoller.htm

If you're into FW darters, a riffle tank really shows them off nicely. I'm hoping to set one of these up sometime using a closed loop on a 33 long for native Ohio darters.

Shane

 

[Cracker]

I second the NANFA recommendation. That is where I got my info on setup and legal collection practices for my Missouri tank. They also have links to a lot of other native fish sights.
Whitey

 

[oranje]

If you're talking about the "River Tank(tm)" brand of aquariums, I would most certainly recommend these. In the about.com link given by LiquidShameo, there's direct reference to what I speak of.

I haven't seen these tanks in stores in quite a few years, and they were -extremely- pricey for freshwater tanks. Of course, my current skimmer cost about as much as my entire RiverTank did back in the day...

So, the RiverTank(tm) is an excellent fishtank for a beginner. Excess fish food is used by plants, minimal filtering is needed, and the diverse ecosystem means minimal testing and additives. I even bought a glass top for mine, to avoid having to add water. Several small fish thrived, along with frogs and plants, for many years with little intervention.

 

[MFisher]

This is so wierd! Today, while I was out sampling aquatic insects, I kept catching rainbow darters and thought, "I should start a tank with some of these, I wonder if anyone else keeps them".

Wierd coincidence. IMO the next big plunge for FW aquarists will be maintaining riffle aquatic macroinverts. Their communites are really interesting and diverse, though ephemeral. I think maintaining stasis in an aquaria like this would be much more difficult than reefing and equally enjoyable.

I've got a couple of collection sites loaded with sponges and bryozoans. Who says that sponges are just for us salty-folk.

 

[xKEIGOx]

a riffle and an aquatic plant tank are quite interesting, I prefer aquatic plant then riffle. :wink:
I dont' think haven't a riffle is hard. Just need some creativity. Some FL light will be suitable for the ligthing problem. Most of the stuff you can get it in nature. I recommend that the pump to be connected to an undergravel system. I have had so much problem that the pump got jam by the leaves. Then I start to connect the pump to the undergravel so that the water will be filter out by the gravel before enter the pump. no CO2 system are required.

hei~ but both riffle and aquatic plant tank can't beat the reef tank! :twisted:

 

[liquid]

MFisher,

Just what I had in mind too: rainbow darters and orange throated darter.

Shane

 

[Cracker]

Mfisher,
We don't have the rainbow population around here. However, we do have the orange throat. I will recommend that you collect from a place that has less than 5 degrees difference from the tank you're moving them to. Secondly, use your reef acclimation skills to get them used to the water. Sadly, your water may be cleaner than they're used to.
Good luck!! A native aquarium is worth the effort,
Whitey
PS: I would include some aquatic insects. They will not make it to maturity, but they are prolific. They also make great natural food if they get eaten

 

[JohnD]

Hey, thanks for these replies. I will forward them to my coworker.