29 Gallon Low-Tech

[qwikimpss]

I'm in the slow process of making my 29 gallon tank into a 'real' planted tank. As of now I only have a few plants in there, a couple java fern and anubias. I'm running 20 watts of light right now but I plan to bump it up a little to 35 watts of normal output fluorescent lights. This is my first shot at a low light tank as my old set up in this tank had CF lighting and whatnot.


I'm thinking about adding another piece or two of wood, some java moss on some slate. Maybe some crypts and a boring old amazon sword or two while I'm at it. Could I squeak by with some vallis in here too? I might toss in some stem plants off the bat to try and hit some sort of equilibrium, any ideas on species to use? Would I run into any lighting issues with the plants and the lighting planned on.

I plan on only dosing some Flourish two or three times a week and I have an inert, black tahitian moon sand substrate. I'll probably toss in some root tabs just for good measure.

My planned stocking for the tank is mainly for my wife, she loves Honey Dwarf Gourami, Colisa Chuna, so I'm going to go with a group of them and I'm going to take another stab at some cory cats, which is why I went with the sand(I've never had good luck with them before probably because they weren't getting anything to eat so I think that the gouramis shouldn't eat too much of their sinking food).


Anyway, here are a couple crappy pics of the tank as it sits now. The glass needs cleaning and it needs a water change which I do on Sundays. Any and all ideas and input are appreciated, thank you!

 

[lljdma06]

35W is plenty of light for a low-tech tank. Yes, Vallis should be fine, hardy stemplants, even som saggiteria and swords, Pelia, mosses.

The inert substrate is fine. Is that blob in the middle live plants? Can I have a close-up shot of that? Looks potentially very cool and could be the foundation of an excellent island scape.

 

[qwikimpss]

Yeah it is a big 'ol lace leaf java fern with a couple anubias under it. I had the same thought of an island scape with it too! Pics coming!

Here is a pic of the 'blob', which is a pretty appropriate name of it, maybe a good name depending on how deep I get into 'scaping the tank. Please excuse my pics, I'm using my wife's crappy Kodak Easy Share POS. I'm thinking about Craigslist-ing a decent Canon Rebel or Nikon D40 - D60 with my tax return (should be good since we had our first child last year).

 

[lljdma06]

You put that just off of center and add some plants that draw attention to it, the scape is done. I am all about using what you already have.

We are a camera-happy bunch in Planted.

 

[qwikimpss]

I'm thinking about a ton of dwarf hairgrass surrounding the island to make my scape. I've had DH before but with mixed results. Do you think this set up would have enough light for it.

I thought about using some crypts, probably wtendii (guaranteed to be misspelled, sorry), but I'm worried that they would be too tall and distract from the focal point of the fern.

 

[qwikimpss]

I just did my water change, cleaned the glass, etc. I moved the large java fern and driftwood to the left. The wood has to move with the fern because the wood is being held down by the rock the fern is attached to.

I've been brainstorming ideas for some aquascapes and the idea I like best is adding a few dwarf sags and some java moss attatched to some slate or tiles. I illustrated my idea in paint....as you can see below. Thoughts?