Rescape For Tank

[GrayScale]

Alright so here is my main display tank. I took out all the previous plants(hygro augustofolia, dwarf hairgrass, vallisneria and java fern) and put them in my Celestial Pearl Danio/Red Cherry shrimp 10g tank.

It's not complete but i wanted to toss some ideas around with you all to see what may work best. Currently my light fixture is 2x24w T5 HO in a 20g long tank. I dose daily with a liquid fert in small doses about an hour before lights come on.

What do you think about the plans marked on the image? I was thinking of picking up another Indica Rotala for the left side of the tank. Currently in the back is Cabomba and on the right 2 bunches of anacharis.

I know the wood is quite large and there isn't really a focal point but to me it seems like a very natural type mangrove root scape. I was thinking about putting some Dwarf Hairgrass in between the two pieces of driftwood but since it overhangs there isn't much light, would that work? For the top of the wood on the right i was thinking of Riccia Fluitan or maybe flame moss, star moss, xmas moss or fissidens. It's hard for me to grow anything on the left bogwood since its right under the output for my HoB filter. And then for the main foreground in the front under all the light some Glossostigma elatinoides.

Let me know what you all think and maybe some other suggestions would be great. I'm not too well off with the aquascaping yet but I'm working on it and I just want something lush and filled in.

EDIT: Now that I'm looking at it took, the bottoms of the anacharis isn't getting much light due to the bogwood end blocking it plus they are blocking the bottoms out on themselves. Would this be an issue or does it seem like enough light?

 

[stevereade]

Gotta say I'd use Christmas Moss on the bog wood, its cheap and much better looking with better structure than Java Moss. How about some Riccia on mesh to create a nice lawn across the front? You may be able to grow some Java Fern on the left piece in the alcove of the wood, would look good over hanging it towards the foreground.

 

[Biulu]

You have some great pieces of wood there! I would cover the left wood piece with anubia barterii petite or nana. That would give a nice effect of a wall and add some more depth to your scape.

 

[ian]

I must say, thats a lot of light over a 20g, are you planing on using C02, as the plants won't last long without. More light = more C02 = more N and P = more micro ferts = more flow. I would personally address this before planting.

 

[GrayScale]

I've been trying to sort that out recently. I've been wanting to give a go at diy pressurized co2. Yea, I told the guy at the LFS that I was going to do a planted tank and he was like okay we'll order one of these lights and of course since I was brand new and not familiar with lighting etc, i didn't say no. And now I've got some algae issues and i'm on a 6 hour light cycle. The main reason i DIY'd some clips on it is because it was burning the tips of my taller plants. Hopefully next pay check i will order everything for the co2. Other that that, what do you think of the scaping? Currently i've got 6 serpae tetra and 2 kribensis in there.

 

[ian]

Personally, i would remove one peice of the wood maybe the one on the right, the one on the left has more potential. Maybe carry on with a same speciemen plant at the back. You could then bring the carpet through, where the big bit of wood is on the right (if you get me). Its good to move things around though, it doesn't have to be perfect first time.

have a read of Supercoley's pinned article on DIY C02.

 

[GrayScale]

Just had a read through (again) not too bad but i'm not much of a handy man. Would it be possible to remove a bulb from light to reduce it to 1 24w t5 ho daylight bulb until I can get some Co2 running?

 

[Biulu]

Sure, as long as your tubes are not connected in series. Otherwise, when you remove 1, the other won't function either.... Check it though...

 

[GrayScale]

yea one tube wasn't working when i first set it up but i think it was my fault for not screwing the bulb in properly and the other one did work. I'm considering popping one out until i can get co2 in and i'm hoping it will still be enough light to maintain the current plants.

Thanks much!

 

[Biulu]

Yes, you will still have a bit more than 1wpg and you only have low light plants at the moment. Should be fine.

 

[GrayScale]

My girlfriend is going to kill me! i bought a 5lbs co2 tank and a regulator for 151 bucks and a a diffuser. Should be here within a week i suppose at my work.

Is there a specific fluid to put in the bubble counter or just water?

 

[GrayScale]

Whist waiting for the rest of my co2 equipment I'm replanning a rescape to get an idea of the plants I want to order. Per the picture that I attached on the first post, I was thinking of removing the left peice of bogwood and moving the right one. I was going to put it in one of the back corners proped up with some rocks so it will sit at about a 45 degree angle from back to front. A littl confusing I know. The base will be in the corner with tip coming up and out into the tank. Was considering making a natural cave by leaving an open space in the supporting rocks for my kribs.

After the hardscape gets situated I was thinking of attaching anubias Nana and christmass moss to the supporting stones as well as some java ferns on those same rocks in the back. In the opposite corner of the tank I was going to make a nice lush combination of taller plants then progessively go with shorter plants toward the front and middle of the tank and have a nice carpet of Glosso and dwarf hairgrass. Is it possible to attach anubias and java fern with superglue like you can with moss?

Any suggestions on taller background and medium midground plants would be awesome. Was considering swords, hygro, cabomba, vallis, crypts and anacharis. Very undecided but I suppose this is why planted people plan it out before doing it.