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Advice scaping deep aquarium

madlan

Member
Joined
29 Sep 2010
Messages
241
Location
Stevenage, Hertfordshire
Hi All,

I have a Fluval Profile 1200 - quite a deep tank for its size (120 x 47 x 65cm)
Would really appreciate any advice or pointers on where to start with the scape, now I have most of the equipment.
I'm going to use Akadama for substrate, high lighting\EI\Co2.

For an idea of what I'm aiming for here's a few scapes that really do it for me:

TGM Aquascape by Andrew Mack (Obviously!)
http://www.thegreenmachineonline.com/articles/journals/aquatics/tgm-aquascape-andrew-mack

Paul Meelen
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=3004

Jessica Leebelt
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=3150

Andy Hart
http://www.practicalfishkeeping.co.uk/content.php?sid=3221

I've looked around several large aquatic stores in Hertfordshire (MA, Hertfordshire Fisheries etc) but cannot find any decent wood - something that doesn't look lost with decent arms for Anubis\moss maybe.
Not too keen on a wall of Valis, although I will need to fill that height some how...

I would like to have a large portion of slow growing plants but a few stems at the back to fill it out for a few months wouldn't be a problem.
 
I would suggest some sort of terracing with rocks and or wood. Here's an example I really like:
http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2 ... ol=2&id=57

The benefit of building a terrace is you get rid of some height and it allows your aquascaping arms to reach the planting area much easier. It also adds to the depth perception, provides rock work for moss/ferns/anubias and nooks and crannies for shrimp. Remember to be quite bold with any hard-scape because once the plants grow in it takes away/softens the effect.

I like your selection of aquascapes!
 
I agree on the being bold thing. Plan your wood and/or rocks on a set are on a table or somewhere then when it's looking like theres too much, add a little more :)

Large wood was my aim and eventually I found some and my recent thread shows the tank as it is now with a mass of growth on the wood. Actually, I'll add a pic of the wood arrangement before I started so you can see the major pieces used.

It's hard finding big pieces of wood. The forest is worth a look but be prepared for the relevant preparation.

I have one piece of bogwood you might like that's a curved chunky piece that's about 4+ foot long. It has a natural trough in it that would great for planting in or on the top of.

Cheers

Gavin
 
That tank is stunning - love the depth! Any idea on construction\hard scape? Not sure if I can fill the height while creating an illusion of depth as that example...


Hi Gavin,

I would be very interested in some pics - I too am aiming for some sizable wood to take up some vertical space, I think it would look great with the extra depth the tank has.

Where did you find a piece of bog wood that large? I've spent weeks trauling round all the shops within 30 miles and cannot find anything suitable.

Thanks
Alan
 
The wood in my tank if you've looked at my thread, is made up of two large pieces, one placed resting on the other. This gave me a nice high platform to attach plants to as well as a good space underneath for fish to hide under and get shade.

The piece I have spare I purchased from Aquarist Classified. It's definitely worth keeping an eye on there for large pieces of Bogwood.
Here it is, but pics really don't do it justice:-
d67c7a38.jpg

0dce51ec.jpg

Where are you based?
Drop me a PM and I can take some pics outside tomorrow with another decent smaller piece and email them over.

Think big! He who dares wins :D

Cheers

Gavin
 
Sorry Gavin, the cakes on the table have my attention at the moment... Hmmmm.

That's bloody massive!!!

The only thing I'm worried about is the weight of anything large on my Akadama, was looking at long thin branches as a way of avoiding this.
 
Why worry about the weight. If you're worried about it then sit the wood on some egg crate plastic set into the substrate that way you can fill the egg crate with regular substrate or leave it empty or spray foam, that would be a good idea. Tanks with twigs in them always look like just that in my opinion. Get the big wood in there mate :)
And have a cake too! Lol

If you want to see more pics I took today, just PM me your email address ok
 
Right, got some wood at last! What do you think? Any pointers to scaping it?

I was thinking of attching a few plants to the wood (Anubis, moss maybe), HC towards the front, then fill out with some stems at the back.

photo2xb.jpg


photo4kr.jpg


photo5as.jpg
 
Any high light plants that could be attached to the wood? The branch leading to the surface will have 4 x T5's above it so might be a bit much as you say.
 
I was just looking at your thread again - the problem is no substrate or the option to add it due to the branch being thin. Something that attaches Java\Moss\Anubis but I'm not sure how any would do under the light (Will need all four on at some point during the day due to the depth + HC)
 
I've just ordered some plants:

Rotala Macrandra
Pogostemon Helferi
Staurogyne Repens
Eustralis Stellata
Rotala Rotundifolia
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green
Cryptocoryne Wendtii Brown
Heteranthera Zosterifolia
Utricularia Graminifolia

Micranthemum micranthemoides
Hydrocotyle verticillata
Limnophila aromatica
Anubias barteri var. barteri
Anubias barteri var. nana Petite
Cryptocoryne parva
Eriocaulon cinereum
Hydrocotyle leucocephala
Lagarosiphon madagascarensis
Ludwigia inclinata


Any suggestions for the piece of wood to the right? The vertical part has an opening which would be good for a feature plant. Any suggestions on something fairly large that can handle high light and attaches to wood?
 
Hi,

That's a couple of nice bits of wood you found. Is that your final final arrangement though? :) have you tried lots of different compositions? :)
If so I'd be thinking of having some kind of plant or plants that spread upward and outward, to give that high wood the appearance of a leaning tree.
This will give you some shady areas that would work for your slow growers. It may be wise to plant this the opposite way to most and start at the top and work your way down.
Being honest, I don't know what half those plants are you've ordered. But I realise there's a good range to play with and create a very interesting scape.
I'm an anubias fan myself, and you may find that even with all that light, if your anubias are planted low and you have some shade created by either floating or rising Lilly type leaved plants that hang around your tree trunk the supposed low light plants will do just fine.
I'd be playing with the flow too. Not too much blasting at that high wood or you'll have a never ending BBA problem. Tricky but interesting scape and I look forward to your choices and to hear what others may suggest here.
Get yourself some fishing glue, or other superglue for the anubias. To attach to the base of the wood where there's nothing to wrap a cable tie around, trim half of the roots away from the rhizome so you can get it glued tightly to the wood. The new roots will automatically grow to the wood contours then. Nice :) so thinking about this, cut the roots away that face the front of the tank, the ones you leave will be behind the plant and out of sight.
Just a little tip :)

You now thinking you shouldn't have put the wood in until it was dressed??? :) you could pull it out, dry it off then put back once all plants are attached.
Have fun mate.

Cheers

Gavin
 
I've just taken the wood out to dry and purchased some superglue :)

What about a nice big Microsorium Pteropus Windelov as a feature within the hollow on the right? It would hang over nicely and attach well hopefully. I read it does ok in full light if given Co2 and nutrients. I have some water lettice to shade parts of the wood so the Anubias should fair ok.
 
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