Planted tank - keeping it simple

[George Farmer]

My new low-maintenance layout. Gone are the fast-growing weeds!

As you can see the Java fern is becoming well-established, a testiment to good lighting and nutrient-rich water. It is about 18 months old now.

Future plans are to possibly replace the foreground plant (Sagittaria platyphylla) with a smaller leaved species i.e. Glossostigma elatinoides or even Hemianthus callitrichoides. The plant on the right is Crinum calamistratum and is slow growing. It grows one new leaf approx. every month so will take a while to become established.

I'm contemplating filling the space to the right of the ferns with something. Not too sure yet. At the moment I quite like the empty space - makes a pleasant change from my normal "jungle". My pruning scissors deserve a well-earned rest!

 

[Bandit]

that looks fantastic. i like the whole clean look, and the plants look very healthy

 

[Angel Lady]

That looks so clear it is like the water is so clean. Awsome tank

 

[Vivienne]

Looks great - I love the crinum (one of the first plants I killed unfortunately !).

 

[Squishiebabe]

Everything is so vividly coloured and fresh/clean looking, I absolutely wish I could accomplish that. Well done.

 

[millym]

absolutely beautiful!!!

 

[Spyderdf]

nice tank, i lik how it looks!

 

[zig]

The Hemianthus would get my vote, and maybe some Dwarf Riccia to cover the rest of the bogwood, and what else, cant think right now, but looking good gf, absolutly loads of possibilities, its a bit like a clean slate at the moment, a good position to be in, but i would be a fan of the HC, more nature than riccia IMO, although i havent tried either, but i believe the HC will carpet the area more rapidly than riccia and is less demanding, although ive heard some people find it very difficult to grow and others find it really easy, havent quite gotten to the bottom of that one, might be worth buying a small pot of HC just to see will it adapt easily to your tank.

Looking foreward to the progress and a nice position to be in.

 

[Nospherith]

i can just see the fern leaves waving with the water's current accentuated by neon glow of the passing cardinal shoal. pleasantly simple, not alot of distractions.

 

[cometcattle]

Looks great!

With less plants in the tank, do you run the lights less or is it the same?

 

[daza]

looks superb gf...

 

[George Farmer]

Looks great!

With less plants in the tank, do you run the lights less or is it the same?

[snapback]848870[/snapback]​

Thanks. Less light - down from 3.6 to 2 WPG. Dosing half fertilisers too - gotta keep the balance unless you want algae. CO2 remains at 30ppm though - algae can't use it as well as the plants.

 

[memnon]

i love your tank!

the neons or cardinals look great with the black backing and black gravel

 

[thapsus]

Looks great. I like your stocking too.

 

[houndour]

wow that is simple. Is this part of the grand plan of a low maintenance tank for when you go away? I have to admit I still prefer your tank from when I first came on here....which i believe is the first picture you posted in that planted tank post. Sorry. Please don't take any offence. The photo is still bloody fantastic though.