Evo 2

[pseud]

So, the other journal got kinda lost and I'm a little too lazy to find it. Plus, that was for the major evolution of the tank, this one is specifically for minor changes I make. At the moment, I'm waiting for some of the plants to grow out, I need to trim the foreground and replant some pieces, also need to trime the H. Leucocephala and extend it around the bacopa. I'm also waiting to come across a midground plant for the center, infront of the stargrass. But anyway, here it is. (Ignore the heater and filter and moss wall at the back, that will eventually get hidden )

 

[simonbrown403]

Looking good m8 what you doing planting the left dide up and leaving the right open, with the wood, java fern and anubias.

 

[illusion54]

Looks nice, but for some reason the driftwood and plant colors create a sharp division of left and right. Still awesome though.

 

[pseud]

Looking good m8 what you doing planting the left dide up and leaving the right open, with the wood, java fern and anubias.

Well the plant on the far right, Hygrophila Corymbosa 'Green Temple', is really gonna fill out. Those stems are short, but they're growing side shoots at every node now, it's really exciting to watch. So that's gonna be like a jungle over the driftwood. I'm unhappy with the ferns, I'm gonna moss up the wood a bunch.. and the back walls will also be covered in moss. Thanks

 

[stegoodall]

How do you make a moss wall?
stephen

 

[pseud]

In a nutshell, you take two plastic grids that are used for crocheting or some kind of needlework, and sandwich some moss between them. The moss grows out of the small holes. I'll be making a thread on how to make one in the next few weeks. (Gotta wait for it to grow out so I can rebuild and take pics this time)

 

[pseud]

Thought I'd update with some preliminary shots. Decided to swap out all of the fast growing stem, and turn to some lower maintenance, slower growing plants. Still some work to do on this. Pretty much verything on the right of the wood will be out, and replaced with some of the H. corymbosa from the left corner. Waiting for a couple of crypts to fill in (primarily left mid ground). Some patchy holes in the foreground need to be filled, and uhh... just general growth filling in. Enjoy >>>>>

1 - Hygrophila corymbosa
2 - Blyxa japonica
3 - Elatine triandra
4 - Cryptocoryne wenditii
5 - Cyperus helferi
6 - Lobelia cardinalis
7 - Nymphea Zenkeri
8 - Anubias nana
9 - Vallisneria Spiralis
10 - Anubias Nana var petite
11 - Weeping moss (I think.. can't remember.)

 

[kenneth_kpe]

looking good !!! The elatine carpet is going nicely, BTW I find my elatine auto-unplants itself when it gets thick Lets see what happens to your after a while hehehehehehehehehe

 

[pseud]

Yeah, mine isn't even terribly thick and it kinda uproots... I think as it creeps along horizontally it pulls itself out. My swordtails also seem to have a helping hand in the matter too....

I still love it though, more than glosso or riccia...

 

[zig]

Very nice pseud, very professional presentation as well

Looks nice and healthy, you seem to be definatly over the green water. Pity about the elatine uprooting because it looks excellent, i wonder does it do that in any type of substrate, would it do better in eco complete or something like that.

But nice tank.........good job

 

[kenneth_kpe]

hmmm good point zig, i think elatine might prefer a much more muddy and soil like substrate

 

[pseud]

Thanks Zig, learn from the best

Yeah, I agree, E. triandra has such a thin root structure. Something sticky would be much more suited, but hey, at least this way there's ALWAYS something to tinker with.

 

[Themuleous]

Nice, really like it how it is now, probably more than when you started this thread, seems more balacned to my eye. You goinna fill out the left hand side at all?

Sam

 

[pseud]

Yeah, this is my favorite layout to date, Sam. The left side will be filled out with more A. nana and some Crypts.

Which reminds me, Zig... no sooner did I mention that I really liked that x willisi 'lucens' than it appeared in a plant package on my doorstep the next day. Some guy sent me a bunch of plants and threw a small one of those in as extra. It only has 3/4 leaves at the moment. Is it fast growing?

 

[zig]

Yeah, this is my favorite layout to date, Sam. The left side will be filled out with more A. nana and some Crypts.

Which reminds me, Zig... no sooner did I mention that I really liked that x willisi 'lucens' than it appeared in a plant package on my doorstep the next day. Some guy sent me a bunch of plants and threw a small one of those in as extra. It only has 3/4 leaves at the moment. Is it fast growing?

Its not growing that quick for me anyway, it has a funny growth in my tank, its throwing out lots of new leaves but its not gaining any height, which is what i wanted it to do, a lot of the leaves are melting as well which could be diue to the fact that i cant find any root tabs over here, you used to be able to get API root tabs everywhere but apperantly they have been banned for containing some previously banned substance anyway bottom line is i cant find root tabs anywhere unless i buy them online, which with the added postage costs just isnt worth it for root tabs.

Also my water is very soft and crypts generally do better in harder water, but they do take a while to acclimatise anyway so hopefully thats what mine is doing, basically its looking very healthy but just not gaining any height.

I might have to do some DIY root tabs