(updated) My Recently Re-scaped Tank

[excaliborg]

Thought i'd try a mix of substrate and take advantage of the fact my Riccia had grown so extended the carpet.

Tank has 6 Golden Barbs, 4 Pearl Danio's, 4 X-Ray Tetras, 1 Red Eye Tetra and only 1 Red Cherry Shrimp now (I think!) Has two badly positioned 18W tubes and a Hydor CO2 reactor using DIY mix.

I'm open to critiques so throw them at me!

 

[Themuleous]

Interesting item, kinda looks like the sea (sand bit) which turns into land (gravel bit) with the cabomba trees making a forest. Nice

Sam

PS - do you use a gravel cleaner? The gravel on the far left looks a bit mucky? Just a thought.

 

[excaliborg]

Interesting item, kinda looks like the sea (sand bit) which turns into land (gravel bit) with the cabomba trees making a forest. Nice

Sam

PS - do you use a gravel cleaner? The gravel on the far left looks a bit mucky? Just a thought.

That's sort of the idea i was going for. I am looking for better plants to replace the 'Forest' though - any ideas?

No i don't use a gravel cleaner just a syphon tube and bucket!, and always too scared to go poking round the grass as it's rather delicate and will be sucked up way too easy. You're right though it could do with a clean (looks worse in the photo though, honest )

 

[Dave Spencer]

I was toying with the idea of a mix of substrates along the lines you used, and now I can see how your set up looks i am definitely going to give it a try some time. Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[stang1]

It's looking good!

 

[cleekdaFish]

i think its gd

 

[excaliborg]

I was toying with the idea of a mix of substrates along the lines you used, and now I can see how your set up looks i am definitely going to give it a try some time. Thanks for the inspiration.

Go for it! As the sand and gravel are quite different in size it should be possible to seperate them out again. The fish love to sift through the sand, they dont seem to touch the gravel.

It's looking good!

Thanks!

i think its gd

Thanks again!

Still not totally happy though, it needs a mid-ground plant to sit behind the bog wood i think.

 

[lljdma06]

Very nice. I also like the mixture of substrates.

If you want to vacumn without pulling your plants, may I suggest a smaller size gravel vac? Don't get the size for your tank, get the smallest available. It'll have more than enough suction to remove the mulm and gunk, but it won't pull at your plants. Mine is pretty delicate. It's also really cheap, and it doesn't take too long to vacumn even though it's smaller.

llj

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Your composition isnt bad. The wood isnt very intersting so i will sugest covering it with some narrow leaf ferns( Microsorum pteropus ''Philippine'') or (Microsorum pteropus ''Narrow'') and other plants like Anubias barteri var. nana 'Petite' and moss.
Your tank needs some more planst down at the substarte. Your tank looks low light so moss on flat stones ( infront of the wood towards the sand ) would work with your design. Add some Crypts to give it an earthy look and to add contrast to your other planst. Bacopa caroliniana may work well in this set up. 3 or 4 good healthy clumps of stem planst with crypts, moss and furns should look good.

R,
Graeme.

 

[excaliborg]

Your composition isnt bad. The wood isnt very intersting so i will sugest covering it with some narrow leaf ferns( Microsorum pteropus ''Philippine'') or (Microsorum pteropus ''Narrow'') and other plants like Anubias barteri var. nana 'Petite' and moss.
Your tank needs some more planst down at the substarte. Your tank looks low light so moss on flat stones ( infront of the wood towards the sand ) would work with your design. Add some Crypts to give it an earthy look and to add contrast to your other planst. Bacopa caroliniana may work well in this set up. 3 or 4 good healthy clumps of stem planst with crypts, moss and furns should look good.

R,
Graeme.

Thanks a lot, just the sort of comments what i was after Gonna have a trip down to LFS now and see whats in.

 

[dasmall1]

Well said, Graeme. In addition, maybe add a fern in the back right, and put the moss there in front of it. Nice start, btw!

Edit: i meant right, not left!!!

 

[excaliborg]

Added new plants behind the wood, put some java moss in front of the log, added a hornwort at the back, put an old anubis i had on the far right.

Looks so much better than it did!

Any comments? Suggestions?

Also bought another light and unit, got 3 15W lights in there now, not perfectly positioned though, and no room for reflectors.

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Looking much better.
Some observations......

You riccia ( i think its the stuff i gave you ) hows it doing? Does it pearl at all? I only ask because its looking a bit sad, it looks like it needs more light and C02! You have added extra lights which is good, but what about your Co2? How much is going in? You will need to increase it now you have more light.

Next is your moss, its fine IMO where it is, some on your wood would be even better along with that anubius you have to the right in the sand. The moss also looks like it needs tying down better, looks like its about to float away . If i may suggest that you re-tie it on your stones but keep some back and tie the rest on the wood next to the stone with the moss. Over time the moss on the wood and flat stones will merge and create a green undulation.

The other is the piece of wood, you already know about that though.

Please don't think I'm telling you what you should do, I'm just saying what i think may help you to improve your layout. Its all a matter of taste my friend so go with what you like, not what others like ( me include!!!!!)

R,
Graeme.

 

[excaliborg]

Looking much better.
Some observations......

You riccia ( i think its the stuff i gave you ) hows it doing? Does it pearl at all? I only ask because its looking a bit sad, it looks like it needs more light and C02! You have added extra lights which is good, but what about your Co2? How much is going in? You will need to increase it now you have more light.

Next is your moss, its fine IMO where it is, some on your wood would be even better along with that anubius you have to the right in the sand. The moss also looks like it needs tying down better, looks like its about to float away . If i may suggest that you re-tie it on your stones but keep some back and tie the rest on the wood next to the stone with the moss. Over time the moss on the wood and flat stones will merge and create a green undulation.

The other is the piece of wood, you already know about that though.

Please don't think I'm telling you what you should do, I'm just saying what i think may help you to improve your layout. Its all a matter of taste my friend so go with what you like, not what others like ( me include!!!!!)

R,
Graeme.

CO2 - Not sure how much is in there as i don't have any testing kits where i am at uni. rate is just under 2 bps though. Unforunately the riccia still doesnt pearl much even after having a day with the new light in place (except for a few tiny bubbles in the high places) The riccia that is floating on the surface however pearls like crazy. I dose weekly with the recommended amount of nutrafin fert during 25% water change, substrate has no ferts.

When i get round to it i'll paint the inside of my hood white to direct a bit more light downwards. To be honest the riccia has grown quite thinly, it may need to be taken out and re-tied down so it can grow backhopefully fuller in the now higher light conditions.

 

[Themuleous]

Looking really nice