My Tank

[Lilt Man]

Hello Everyone

I started this tank about 5 months ago and thought it would be nice to share it's current state as i have got a lot of advice from this board's members.

The breakdown of the setup is:

Juwel 400L
ADA Aquasoil
2 x Eheim 2028 Pro II filters
Pressurised CO2 fire via a extinguisher

Fish
Approx 110 Cardinal tetras
15 Otos
15 Amano shrimps
1 x female dwarf Gourami
3 x Croaking Gouramis

The tank is nearly completed, but i am waiting on the Bocopa on the right hand side of the tank to cover the pipework - i will allow it to get to about 1/3 of the total tank height.

Thanks for looking - i'll update again soon when i have the display complete - for the most part it's done though.

 

[saboy]

WOW !!!! Like the carpeting,


I have never done a proper planted before, but I feel that it is a bit bare looking.


And Yes like you say , the area by the pipes need covering, and also the plants next to the pipes need to grow taller to top of tank I think . What about some bogwood ? Or dont you like that it could make the water brown ?


Have you upgraded the lighting ? I take it you have, as juwel dont come with suitable lighting to grow carpeting plants.


the neons look great, I think 110 more is needed tho

 

[AlexAndCarmen]

Your tank is amazing
Is that some sort of topiary trimming the moss to form a reversed question mark, just off centre to the left?
The well spread carpet/gloso looks great, must have been painstaking tweezer planting.

Alex

 

[tetraman]

Dang, thats a lot of cardinals!

 

[sammy86]

i see an otto! XD

i want a big tank of tetras like this, they must looks so stunning swimming together
nice work! looks so natural!

 

[Neal]

What an astonishing tank. I have to ask, what is the plant in the front right corner? Looks very cool. You've inspired me to get working on my tank, so it can look like yours. I'm not sure if I should go fully loaded with plants, or go FOWLR (Fish only with live rock) - Marine. My brother is trying to convince me not to go marine, as he think's I won't be able to do it, apart from the fact I know more than him, he's had 10 years experience of "having" fish, not looking after and researching fish.

Neal

 

[madcaow]

mad tank.

cardinals look rad.

the moss in the centre looks totally sweet.

big ups!

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Nice tanks,
IMO it lacks depth and form but it is intersting that my eye is drawn from one side to the other and back again. I like the gloss and the echinodouras tennelus (??spelling??) I think that its too dramatic from very low glosso to a sky high bocopa ect perhaps somthing is needed to fill in the differance in hight, thats why i think the echinodouras tennelus works well.
Over all its allot better than allot of tanks ive seen, good job

 

[d3tained]

One of the most awsome tanks I have seen.I would love to have somthing like it.

 

[jtnova13]

woooow. it looks... green. Anyway it looks a heck of a lot better than my planted tank. I want to make a 60gallon planted and get rid of my cichlids, but i cant afford 240 watts of lighting

 

[RadaR]

WOW! Love it. I really like the moss bit in the middle. Struggeling to figure out how its done?

 

[Lilt Man]

Thanks for the feedback everyone... Nice mix of comments

Moody - The drops seems more dramatic in the picture than what they really are, as you have noticed the tennelus is growing & spreading in-between the the glosstigma which will give it a more 'staged' affect throughout the overall display as it matures.

Neal - The plant on the front right is a crypt (i'll post the full details later this week if you would like more info) . They are relatively easy to look after once the basic rules are adhered to.

I've tried to keep the theme of this layout as a 'natural' one, as apposed to a Dutch layout which is a flower bed type of arrangement.


The overall design of the tank is based on a combination of designs i have read in several Amano publications (the main inspiration for my layout)and research on the internet. I have tried to keep it very simple but effective with the moss being the main focal point - it actually comes to the middle of the tank (front to back) and is positioned off centre to the left.

The choice of plants are ranging from fine leaves & grasses to broad leaves, concentrating on planting the specimens in certain groups keeping a predominant green theme with a 'splash' of red in certain places to 'break' the continuity.

I've tried to keep the plant specimens in the region of 10. Any more than this and it seems to imbalance the display making it somewhat 'busy' changing the theme from calming to 'less relaxing' - this is only my opinion based on the information i have gathered and experienced though.

If there is anymore information i can give please feel free to ask - as we are all here to help each other

Thanks again for you feedback.

 

[Fwapp]

That's a beauty!

Dont take this the wrong way, but when I first saw it, I was reminded of a park, with the larger plants as 'trees', and the cardinals perhaps as a flock of 'birds'

And no, I haven't been 'at' anything

I think its because there is no background to the tank.

Still a cracker, for all my fevered imagination!

 

[russellbrooke]

Wicked tank. Hopefully when i post it'll be half as good as this. Well done.

 

[George Farmer]

Interesting design Lilt man. Very unique in for an Amano inspired aquascape in that hardscape appears non-existent (I can talk, have you seen my layouts?) I'm gf - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=156159

I like the combination of Dutch style stem groups and large open foreground. I think some midground hardscape or planting would improve the overall balance of the composition but I think I understand the look you are aiming for.

What lighting, CO2 diffusion method, liquid ferts are you running?

Anyway, good job - thanks for sharing.