Tank Doesn't Look Right...

[onidrase]

Anubias and java fern both need to be attached. If you do put them on the substrate, only bury about half the length of the roots. Tying them to a small stone with cotton thread and putting them on the substrate is much better. They will do good for a while planted, but eventually just rot away.

I have some black yarn labeled "100% acrylic weight yarn, color fast, no dye lot, machine washable and dryable" but no cotton thread. Would the yarn be harmful at all?

 

[thereverendturtle]

No it won't harm anything, but you have to boil it first for a couple of minutes. The reason for the cotton thread is eventually it disintegrates, although I've often used fishing line instead and just cut it off after the plant attaches.

 

[onidrase]

I found a few rocks from my great grandfathers collection, he had a massive one way back. I'm just wondering if any of these are safe or unfit for an aquarium. I've got loads more, but these are just a few that were in plain sight.

Here is the one I'm most skeptical of, along with the one I think will be fine right underneath it

Any comments confirming the okays, definite nono's, and plausible's are appreciated

 

[onidrase]

No it won't harm anything, but you have to boil it first for a couple of minutes. The reason for the cotton thread is eventually it disintegrates, although I've often used fishing line instead and just cut it off after the plant attaches.

Alright, I'll look for some cotton threat first, and use the yarn if I don't have any. I do a lot of crocheting, so I have loads and loads of yarn, but it's all acrylic, and the black stuff looked the safest. Thanks for the help, by the way

 

[This Old Spouse]

I found a few rocks from my great grandfathers collection, he had a massive one way back. I'm just wondering if any of these are safe or unfit for an aquarium. I've got loads more, but these are just a few that were in plain sight.

Here is the one I'm most skeptical of, along with the one I think will be fine right underneath it

Any comments confirming the okays, definite nono's, and plausible's are appreciated

I think the test is to put some drops of vinegar on them. If it fizzes, you shouldn't put it in your tank.

 

[onidrase]

I found a few rocks from my great grandfathers collection, he had a massive one way back. I'm just wondering if any of these are safe or unfit for an aquarium. I've got loads more, but these are just a few that were in plain sight.

Here is the one I'm most skeptical of, along with the one I think will be fine right underneath it

Any comments confirming the okays, definite nono's, and plausible's are appreciated

I think the test is to put some drops of vinegar on them. If it fizzes, you shouldn't put it in your tank.

Huh... What causes the vinegar to fizz..? Most of these rocks have been tumbled, aside from the shiny one I'm skeptical of, and the pink and blue slate one. So they're all smooth and shiny, and I don't know if that'll effect any testing or not, since it seems to really effect the porousness of the rock.

 

[Ruskull]

here's what I've got now

Still debating on if it's better, worse, or about the same

I'm having a bit of trouble with Jim's piece of driftwood, honestly. (Jim is my java fern, respect his authority)

The smaller driftwood piece on the right side of the tank is kind of a hassle now, but all the khuli loaches love it, and for good reason. It doubles up as a very nice cave, as the back of it is very flat and hollow. So I want to keep it, even if it is a problem.

The bigger piece, (which is actually two pieces of driftwood, one mopani one something that isn't really named) tangle together pretty well, I can make a lot of different positions with them, but so far, I like this one best.

More advice, criticism, hatred, trolling, compliments, praise, or maybe some worship is appreciated

thanks, guys

Funny post, we all appreciate Jim.

I like the new layout much better, looks more natural. As others have already said, you need something to fill in the height. I have the same problem as shown in my sig. That's why I added the Wisteria. It's cheap, grows like a weed & fills up quickly. Mine has grown about 3 inches in three months with a regular hooded 17 watt light. I just upped the lighting to 62 watts & I expect everything will grow faster now.

 

[onidrase]

oof, almost forgot to post the final results of now

anchored the plants onto some rocks, move the plants around a little, moved the driftwood left a bit, and still a bit confused as to what to do with jim and his log.

I'm gonna look around for some tall and quickly growing plants for the background, or I might just use some more java ferns.

Anyone have any good tall fast growing plants I can throw in the background which can live in low lighting and don't need much maintaining, and are firemouth cichlid friendly?

That's a pretty tall order, come to think of it.

 

[snazy]

I don't know what they are called, but the ones on the back of the tank on the picture below grow with no problem without too much light or any ferts and carbon( not the valis, but the one with little leaves next to it) I need to bush mine more eventually, so not a great example but here you go

 

[Samuran]

Very clean looking tank!
The only thing I'll say is that I think it would look better with more plants

Ben

 

[Zikofski]

sorry for not replying so oftern nice one i liked the first change you did but the last one there looks pretty good, and yes i think more plants would look better vallis or even crypts at the back im going to get a shed load of crypts for the back of my tank to hide things and alow my fish to hide behind them

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Its looking good onidrase