Welcome To The Jungle...

[Ny82]

This was it before

This is it now-and hopefully it stays like this!

What do you guys think? A lot tidier?

Just received a phonecall, the rehomer is on his way

 

[JonE]

I think it looks good and also quite like the path. I've just put some Riccia on pebbles in my nano, it's a bit fiddly but no more complicated than tieing moss and it looks great when it's finished.

Thanks, I might make the path a bit skinnier, just worried about the corys soft barbels on it. They always go to that bit
Ooh pebbles sound nice I need to find some riccia what about when they sell it online already attached to the mesh-is that ok aswell? Do I just use thread to fasten the 2 bits of mesh together?

http/uk.ebid.net/for-sale/riccia-fluitans-on-pad-tropical-aquarium-plant-39451053.htm?from=googleshop_uk
Looks simpler lol

Here's a link to my Journal which shows how I did it, I didn't use any mesh as I was just covering a couple of pebbles rather than trying to create a large carpet.

This was it before

This is it now-and hopefully it stays like this!

What do you guys think? A lot tidier?

Just received a phonecall, the rehomer is on his way

Looks much better with the moss balls removed.

 

[Ny82]

I have been advised in the cory section that the crushed coral will affect the barbels of the cats, so I will go tomorrow and get some more sand to cover them, will they still work in keeping the PH stable? Thanks

 

[Ny82]

So last night I rescaped the tank. Here it is now, opinions always welcome i'm just not feeling it to be honest but had to do something quickly to stop the corys injuring themselves.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

The reason your not liking it so much is the diagonal line, as it crosses the centre of the tank. If you look in parc there is a guide on scaping, it's kind of like splitting your tank into thirds and placing the focal point on the edge of one of the thirds. Other wise it will draw the eye to a few differnt areas and it won't be as pleasing to the eye. Have a look it might help.

 

[Ny82]

Thanks for the tip When I was doing my water change yesterday I just decided to rescape it again

The plants still aren't here yet it will look a whole lot better once they arrive.

I forgot to add, in the parc section, all the scapes are so stunning but the scape with the platinum angels is just incredible!

 

[Ny82]

I got an email about half an hour ago from plants alive telling me my orders been sent so i'm hoping all my plants are here tomorrow

 

[minnnt]

That last picture is much much much better... times a million! I would swap the white stone for a more natural looking one and maybe attatch some Riccia or moss of some kind to it so it isn't so stand out ish. Your new plants when they arrive will completely change the look of the tank. It is suprising how much it all starts to come together when you have enough plants.

 

[Ny82]

That last picture is much much much better... times a million! I would swap the white stone for a more natural looking one and maybe attatch some Riccia or moss of some kind to it so it isn't so stand out ish. Your new plants when they arrive will completely change the look of the tank. It is suprising how much it all starts to come together when you have enough plants.

Thanks minnnt, I was starting to get a bit concerned about the rock even though I soaked it for a few hours and scrubbed it there's little bits still coming off it and I don't want any of the fish swallowing it, so I will need to take it out. I have slate I found outside after "hurricaine bawbag" it's purple/black and I really like it if I boil it can I put it in the tank? It's not particularly sharp but will I need to sand it down to make it smoother?

Oh all I can say is thank goodness they haven't forgotten about my order! I ordered it from plants alive on the 2nd of January!!! Hopefully it's here tomorrow. Then the fun will begin strategically planting them

 

[ian]

you certainly have an artistic eye Ny...either scapes work for me. It'll be interesting how you plant in out.

 

[minnnt]

Don't boil it. Rocks can contain air pockets and when heated up they can explode. A good scrub in hot water will ensure no nasties.

 

[Ny82]

you certainly have an artistic eye Ny...either scapes work for me. It'll be interesting how you plant in out.

Aww thanks I wouldn't say that though, more of everything just bunged together. I've messed up the sand by putting the gravel, some of the leaves on the amazon sword are turning brown, I can't get the plants to stay the corys come along and uproot the cabomba next to the bogwood and now my ammonia has spiked up to green (about 0.5 ) as I added a shoal of neon tetras but I will do a water change tomorrow and hopefully if the plants come add them in but if not do it the next day and get that ammonia back to yellow. I'll just go into the corner and have a cry

Don't boil it. Rocks can contain air pockets and when heated up they can explode. A good scrub in hot water will ensure no nasties.

Ah ok thanks, I really like them but will need to find somewhere to put them!

 

[Ny82]

Here is a short 5 min video of the gang feeding on the algae wafer I put in for the corys the corys are so, so shy they wouldn't come out of hiding

http/s1199.photobucket.com/albums/aa466/TiggsGTI/New%20tank%20progress/?action=view&current=VIDEO0078.mp4

 

[Ny82]

I woke up to 2 dead neon tetras this morning they were the 2 biggest ones aswell. I have never had any luck with the neons they just seem to drop like flies. After I put them in yesterday I tested the water and the ammonia went dark green, I thought it was 0.5 but it was more than that. This morning I did a water change and it's gone down to light green about 0.5 tomorrow I will do another one and that should bring it right back down. On the plus side the nitrites are 0-how weird. Also I never had luck getting the fish to eat peas, I think they are overweight, i'm probably guilty of overfeeding them so I got normal canned peas in water, opened them and was about to squash the insides into the water when the danios and some of the tetras just surrounded it and were taking it from my hand they went crazy for it! Even the gourami took it from my hand! I'm so relieved in case they are bloated. They had about 4 or 5 peas. The danios are instantly zippier, the neons are a bit slow and the platinums are back to normal but with massive bellies.
Another plus note-my plants arrived this morning
I was embarassed to put they were just the "bargain surplus" plants I bought as it was cheaper but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of them. Only problem is I don't know what the plants are
I put them in and what a transformation. At first I thought omg it looks like a jungle but when I put the lights on I just looked and thought wow.

I love the pink ones

Also loved this grass looking plant

Right side, next to the bogwood

Left side

full shot

cory exploring the new grass

So opinions-and be truthful i'm a big girl I can handle it I thought at first that it was too much and I will need to rehome some fish because they don't have much room to swim and that they would get stuck but the gourami can go in and out the plants and at 2 inches he's the biggest fish I have,the corys also go in and out. I was getting worried about them, I hadn't seen them after planting and thought they were stuck but they came out easily to eat the peas.
Do they have enough room to swim? I have also noticed the last big tetra-he must be about an inch long is very, very slow and is seperated from the group and swimming by himself. I hope no more fish die, i'll never find them in there
Thanks

 

[Ny82]

Another full tank shot the best one I have from my phone. I will put my camera on charge and hope I can get some better pics with that.