New Planted Project. I'll Make It Into A Journal...

[DevUK]

Hi guys.

I'm finally getting around to my "nano" planted. I've been thinking about it off and on for a few months but my main tank has taken over. Thats starting to settle and I need to leave it be for a little while longer, so I need something to occupy myself

Anyway, I give you project "Chiisai" (might change the name, but it surfices for now).

As in the pic, stats are:

18x12x12"
36w Power Compact T5 (interpet daylight plus - thanks NRY!)
EI dosing
Flourish Excel dosing
Tropica or Tetraplant substrate topped with Hagen black river sand.

What I need is some advice as to other plants to use. I've thought about carpeting plants. HC instantly comes to mind, but I'm not sure I want to go with that. Glosso also comes to mind. I think I have enough light for this. Any other carpet plant suggestions?

I want to use Hemianthus micranthemoides to balance the dirt hump. I might possibly have a few Crypt. Crispatula "balansae" on the left too, to get that great effect of long strands which I really like.

I think I want to avoid grassy plants in this one, but need something to plant on the hump to keep it stable if this is even possible. and mid sized (comparitively) to mix in towards the middle/back to counter the carpeting plant.

Then theres something for the right side of the tank. Something low growing maybe.

Shapes I'd like to avoid are sword style leaves (larger broad leaves) shorter spikey leaves (star grass etc) and anything too big and over powering. I think small and dainty are words to describe the sorts of plants I want

As for fish... Well theres a toughy. I'm considering trying to get a nice group of captive bread Galaxy/Celestial pearl danios. Failing that I'm not really sure. Small shoaling fish would be nice, maybe micro rasboras if I can get them. One thing for sure is I'll definately add shrimp!

So, thoughts? Suggestions? Advice?

Thanks in advance!

Steve.

 

[mlawson]

Looks good, I like the diagram.

The hill flattening out might be a problem even with plants especially if it's sand. Maybe you could have rocks underneath or something.

Hemianthus micranthemoides is a great plant for smaller scapes, and I don't see why you don't make as much use of scale and use HC for the foreground.

 

[DevUK]

Hmn, I was worried the hump wouldn't survive very long. I'm a bit unsure about HC. So many seem to have problems with it. Maybe its worth a try

 

[DevUK]

Hmn, I'm already re-considering the layout.

Thinking less of a hump (too much hassle if the hump flattens out) and more of a deep slope, going up to the same back right corner. In front of that a large rock with two others, trying to get an iwugumi effect. I've been looking around and really like the effect that utricularia graminifolia gives. Thinking of having that flow down around the main rock, fading into maybe HC. Also some Crypt. Balansae in the right corner maybe...

 

[nry]

They're some of my ideas! U.G. for carpet, rasbora maculatus for main fish interest (have some of these already), wood with moss, Tropica substrate with Hagen Black River Sand Also wondered about some H.M. somewhere but not sure yet, may stick to my current plan of using vallis 'mini twister' only for height to keep things 'simple' just like me My tank is a bit bigger though, 60x30x30cm.

How about pogostemon helferi for a small focus plant? Rather nice and interesting, I'll be using this in my tank when it is re-done in a few weeks.

 

[DevUK]

How about pogostemon helferi for a small focus plant? Rather nice and interesting, I'll be using this in my tank when it is re-done in a few weeks.

I don't really like the look of this plant to be honest. Its not my taste. I might give it a try one day but I'll avoid it for now

Its a slow day at work, so I think I'll knock up another photoshop effort with the stones etc.

(Oh, and the hagen river sand is stolen from one of your posts What can I say, you're inspirational )

 

[nry]

I do like the Hagen sand, I bought a bag from my LFS to go into my 15-gallon, still have 1/3 bag left from my 5-gallon so that should be plenty. The sand is not 'black' per-se, it is a mix of darker colours but it is natural looking and that's mainly why I like it.

 

[DevUK]

Ok, this is option 2. Iwagumi style (sorta)

 

[DevUK]

Ok, ordered some of the "mini" landscaping rocks from AE along with the HOB filter and Eco Complete! Only cost £58! (ok, so I added in some APA pruning scissors too )

 

[Underwurlde]

36W / 11 US Gal = 3.3W/G.

That seems like an awful lot for non-CO2 setup! You cannot think of Excel as simply being a straight CO2 replacement....

Hell, I could be wrong, but alarm bells are ringing: Lower (shall we say) CO2 = less growth (for massive lighting) = less fert intake. So you'll have the situation of massive lighting + excess ferts = rempant algal growth.

I think I should chill out though....

Andy

 

[DevUK]

I like to live life on the edge

I'm going to be attempting fast growers first, and phase them out into my planned planting when things have settled.

It could all go completely wrong, in which case I may look at CO2 (I'm about to set up my first pressurised CO2 on my big tank, so I'll see how that goes).

 

[Dave Spencer]

It could all go completely wrong, in which case I may look at CO2 (I'm about to set up my first pressurised CO2 on my big tank, so I'll see how that goes).

If this new tank is close enough to the one getting pressurised CO2, you could always tee off the CO2 to both tanks. I have done it on my 60l and 26l.

Dave.

 

[DevUK]

It could all go completely wrong, in which case I may look at CO2 (I'm about to set up my first pressurised CO2 on my big tank, so I'll see how that goes).

If this new tank is close enough to the one getting pressurised CO2, you could always tee off the CO2 to both tanks. I have done it on my 60l and 26l.

Dave.

It might well be within 2 metres of the other Its always an option!

 

[garuf]

I've got the same tank you should have gone with a Eden501 rather than the HOB, I can't wait to see the results be sure to give us a review of the tropica substrate I'm planning on using it on my next tank.

 

[mlawson]

I've got some Mini aquascaping rocks in my new scape and they are great, the only disadvantage is that you can't see what you're buying, but fortunately AE gave me some nice ones (I'm sure they're all nice!). Looking forward to this tank. Keep us updated.