Planted Journal...

[Dan Robbins]

Here is my journal.
I put off starting this topic until all was settled in nicely so i didnt keep you in suspence during the long hauling proccess.
Anyways.. lets start..
Tank is 5 x 24" x 20" giving us a total of approx 450litres.
First picture is the folk removing scratches from the tank using cerium oxide.
The tank housed my Jaguar cichlids before these pics and they did manage to get a fair few hariline scratches into the tank with his digging habits.
Anyways. All scratches gone... Lets proceed.

 

[Dan Robbins]

^ 30kg of Tetra plant complete substrate...
HEFTY PRICE!
This piece of wood weighed a whopping 11kg measured over 2.f ft long and cost me £80...

 

[Dan Robbins]

AFter deciding their final position in the tank, Cristmas moss was tied down by fishing line...

 

[Dan Robbins]

Their final position in the tank...
i decided not to overdo it on the hardscape and keep it to a minimum primarily with wood.
at this stage, A mixture of course and fine sands, and different grains of gravel were added ontop of the nutrient substrate.



My first plants.
As this tank is a biotope of the orinoco, i decided to go with some orinoco plants.
My first choice was some Echinodorus quadriscotatus.

Quadriscotatus in!
Echinodorus tenellus has been ordered...

some cabomba in the tank.
This is a really underated plant in my opinion..

 

[Dan Robbins]

.

this is it finally. I still have some large swords on order.
Bare in mind this tank is a month old with plants being in only for around 2 weeks so it is a fairly new setup.
Ill keep you updated when everything starts to grow out abit.
regards.
Dan.

.

 

[markandhisfish]

absolutely top notch mate stunning

 

[Dan Robbins]

Well thank you very much...
I didnt want to go with the underwater scaping which some people go to the extents of making look alike trees and what not with wood and mosses as i feel it takes away the natural appeal of it.
THanks for you kind comments.

 

[Nick16]

yeah looks pretty sweet mate. im in the process of starting up a rio 240 high tech planted so i might do a journal!!! but tank looks great, like the shoal of fish as well. cant wait for more pics as it fills out.

regards,

 

[markandhisfish]

looking forward to seeing this one develop and grow. id love a scape like that but my stocking wont allow it .

 

[SuperColey1]

I'm on your side here Dan. Jungle natural is the way and 'nature style' landscapes are not my thing.

Looking good, will be nice to see it grow.

AC

 

[veil92]

Give it some time and this tank will be even more stunning!

 

[nosoup4you]

Lovely tank Dan. If mine looks half as good then I will be pleased...

 

[Dan Robbins]

Thanks for the comments!
anything that i could possibly improve on?

 

[ccskitten]

Really impressive. First class

 

[SuperColey1]

I would just let it grow for a month or 2 and see how it comes along. then you will see if anything 'doesn't work' so well etc.

AC