Journal Rocco's No-Tech Bowl Scaping Thread - with APT Feast!

[BranchScape]

Stop it!. between you and Aqua dream I want a bowl bad. I have a DOAA Cell and Shizuku and that has to be it for now based on my space.

 

[CincyScaper]

Looks amazing. Does it get surface scum at all ? What about bugs and such without filter ?

 

[Dennis Wong]

You need to rent a red-tail catfish or baby arowana, put it in the tank, take a photo and post it on facebook reddit. Golden opportunity

 

[JayP]

You need to rent a red-tail catfish or baby arowana, put it in the tank, take a photo and post it on facebook reddit. Golden opportunity

He already took heat from some reddit users for having any fish in a bowl type tank because the fish will go mad or blind, or something like that. Reading those comments is where I first learned of some European countries banning fish in bowls.

 

[SmartAlec13]

You need to rent a red-tail catfish or baby arowana, put it in the tank, take a photo and post it on facebook reddit. Golden opportunity

(baby arowana in bowl) "Got my new lil guy all situated, I think he's lookin happy. Anyone know what he eats?" or something like that lol.

Reading through all this makes me want to get a little bowl like this going

 

[JayP]

(baby arowana in bowl) "Got my new lil guy all situated, I think he's lookin happy. Anyone know what he eats?" or something like that lol.

Reading through all this makes me want to get a little bowl like this going

Mine is still sitting empty because I can't decide how I want to scape it. I have a little bonsai tree I was going to use in it, covered with Riccardia chamedryfolia, but I just can't decide, especially when Rocco provides all these images of other bowls.

 

[MrJG]

Loving the little bowl! I like how the Penthorum is growing with the lower light, more classic stem look and less compact nodes.

Do you keep an eye on temps at all? Our house stays 68-69 most days and dipping to 66 overnight. I’m sure the caridina would be fine at that just not sure about a nano fish liking it that cool.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I've got a great mini split heat pump setup that keeps temps super stable, but more importantly CPD's are great cold water fish! 68F is fine for them, not that it's ever that cold in the house.

The streams they come from drop to 60F seasonally, so I’m sure they're good! But I wouldn't try any tropical nano fish without a little 5W heater tucked away in the back of the bowl.

 

[Kwyet]

Least Killifish would also be fine at those temps, and they’re small enough to do well in a bowl. They aren’t as colorful, but still pretty cool.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

the least killi's look so cute! I've kept Rocket Kilifish in unheated bowls and they bred all the time, but they probably wouldn't like the more-closed top of this bowl compared to my old bowl:


They mostly hang around the surface.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Looks amazing. Does it get surface scum at all ? What about bugs and such without filter ?

Thanks! Not sure what you mean about bugs, but it's been bug-free so far

It does get surface scum throughout the week, especially towards the end. I start every 50% water change by lowering a cup into the bowl, and positioning the cup so only the surface scum can fall into the cup. Usually takes 4-5 cup fulls to remove the scum, then I switch to a section of hose to siphon out the water to my "50% sharpie line" on the side of the bowl.


Here's the scum before the latest trim, this was actually after 9 days instead of 7 (I've been busy!).

A thin-walled cup or container is a quick way to suck up all the scum and give it a clean surface for the next week.

That's part of why I wanted to find a bowl that was thinner (less open, more "full sphere") at the top compared to my old bowl, which had a much larger surface area. The scum is less noticeable when the bowl has a smaller top opening, and it's easier to clean!

 

[CincyScaper]

Great! I had always thought stagnant water over a long time would become a breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes …. But guess not

 

[MrJG]

Super cool with the rocket/clown killi!! I thought that they were notorious jumpers and I’ve always wanted to try them.
Now I gotta find somewhere to put one

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

Great! I had always thought stagnant water over a long time would become a breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes …. But guess not

Stagnant water outdoors sure, but this is in my kitchen! And the water quality is great, I know from experience (I drank a lot on accident the other day getting the hose siphon started, tasted absolutely great lol).

These CPD's would relish the chance to eat some mosquito larva if they dared to lay eggs in this bowl, they're little predators at heart.

 

[Kwyet]

How did the Rocket Killie do in the bowl? I had considered getting some, but was also afraid of their reputed jumping ability.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I actually kept 3, one male and two females, in a bowl for about 7 months. They did great, the male was constantly chasing the females and flaring his fins. They never jumped once while they were in the bowl, but I did find little rocket killi fry!

I moved the 3 into the 150p (the same tank you have) and they were SO tiny in that tank, I think it stressed them out. They all jumped within 2 weeks after moving them into the big tank

So I do think they're jumpers. I don't know if I'd necessarily recommend them for a bowl scape as they really enjoy life near the surface, but if you had some floating plants they might really thrive.

 

[Kwyet]

I actually kept 3, one male and two females, in a bowl for about 7 months. They did great, the male was constantly chasing the females and flaring his fins. They never jumped once while they were in the bowl, but I did find little rocket killi fry!

I moved the 3 into the 150p (the same tank you have) and they were SO tiny in that tank, I think it stressed them out. They all jumped within 2 weeks after moving them into the big tank

So I do think they're jumpers. I don't know if I'd necessarily recommend them for a bowl scape as they really enjoy life near the surface, but if you had some floating plants they might really thrive.

That’s cool that they bred. I don’t have my bowl running anymore. I had thought about them for the 72g Dutch. This is good information, and I’ll continue to give them a pass until if/when I downsize something.