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Andyh's "Twisted Wood" UPDATED 10May14

looks great andy you gone back to intank diffuser ?
 
looks great andy you gone back to intank diffuser ?

Yes, the UP was annoying me and once i had undone it was never quite the same again. I might go back at some point but currently there is no rush as the in tank is doing the job

Love those shots of the choccos and the tank is stunning. Im surprised the main alpha chocco isnt trying his look with the females if hes showing those colours.
Lets hope so, don't think i have the water conditions as perfect as yours though!

Andyh
 
Big time congrats:) this is a great scape,your eyes move all over the place when looking at this tank!Topped off with the super Choclate Gourami!When you say you don't have the water conditions,what water conditions do you think you have then?Cheers Mark
 
Big time congrats:) this is a great scape,your eyes move all over the place when looking at this tank!Topped off with the super Choclate Gourami!When you say you don't have the water conditions,what water conditions do you think you have then?Cheers Mark

Thanks for the kind words mark, with ref to the water conditions i don't think that they are "black water enough" the PH is circa 6.5-7.0 depending on how long it is since my last water change.
 
Yeah suppose you need very soft water to breed Choclate Gourami but they do look very healthy and happy in your tank,so you must be doing well.On the rare time i have seen these fish in shops they look in a pretty bad way,probably to hard water,cramped conditions and a almost bare tank does not cater for this fish very well!
And by the way i am allways amazed that people like yourself can keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a Hi-tech set up(co2,ferts big water changes......).How the hell do you do it?The TDS must be very high,or not?I can only manage to get Amano Shrimp to flourish in my Hi-tech,not even Red Cherry!Give us a few pointers:) Cheers Mark.
 
Yeah suppose you need very soft water to breed Choclate Gourami but they do look very healthy and happy in your tank,so you must be doing well.On the rare time i have seen these fish in shops they look in a pretty bad way,probably to hard water,cramped conditions and a almost bare tank does not cater for this fish very well!
And by the way i am allways amazed that people like yourself can keep Crystal Red Shrimp in a Hi-tech set up(co2,ferts big water changes......).How the hell do you do it?The TDS must be very high,or not?I can only manage to get Amano Shrimp to flourish in my Hi-tech,not even Red Cherry!Give us a few pointers:) Cheers Mark.


I purchased these chocs from a maidenhead that had them in supposed specialist tank, they had been there for a long time so had stabilised as i had seen them on several trips. I purchased them at about £3 each which is a real bargain. They lived in my holding tank for about 5 months and then moved in to this tank. I too have seen many kept in bad conditions.

With ref to the CRS, i don't really have any secrets. The key things for me are:
  • Only add them to a very mature tank/scape, don't add them from the start. Mine didn't go in for a couple of months.
  • Spend a lot of time acclimatising them
  • I water change regularly but not big drastic changes. I.e 25% twice per week, when i remember.
  • Derbyshire water is good!
 
Hello,

Yes its been a while....

I had a moment of planned madness today, this is what the tank looked like this morning. Overgrown, Moss balls the size of my fist. Un-maintained!
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyh_2011/13972469701" title="Before the tweak by Andy, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2903/13972469701_f6188042e3_o.jpg" width="3264" height="2448" alt="Before the tweak"></a>

I get bored with scapes and i am known for tweaking existing scapes and developing them along the way.

Then i did this:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyh_2011/13952551136" title="Half way through by Andy, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2905/13952551136_a1ccaaed99_o.jpg" width="3264" height="2448" alt="Half way through"></a>

Re-using Plantlets, superglued onto wood:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyh_2011/13972454772" title="Attaching plant lets by Andy, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7235/13972454772_0455dd269a_o.jpg" width="2448" height="3264" alt="Attaching plant lets"></a>

Then:
13976090304_4d3e7d67f6_o.jpgSand in by andyh_2011, on Flickr

13976091614_c075fbf7b8_o.jpgFull tank shot by andyh_2011, on Flickr

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andyh_2011/13995649123" title="Full tank shot 2 by Andy, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7247/13995649123_0b9368ec4f_o.jpg"


I really like the beach and plan to add a few graded stones and a plant here or there. Managed to hide the substrate/sand line with moss stones. I used lawn edging strip to provide a physical barrier.

Thanks for looking
Andyh
 
OMG…. (oh my god):mad:
What damage the spring tides have done……a beach has appeared.
Very brave of you, but necessary.:clap:
A nice change Andy, and very promising.

You know how much i like getting to the beach! Yes about half way through i did think why am doing this..........But i am delighted with it, the mature plants give the tank a crisp look. Once i add a little more detail to the sand i will be happy. The Corydoras & Goby love it.
 
Following on from the change to my tank, I have completed a 40% WC each day and yesterday i have cleaned my external filter, After which I added a nice fresh bag of purigen to help with any ammonia spikes from disrupting the substrate. The filter was filthy as i expected after disturbing the Amazonia, so the clean was a must.

I plan on keeping up the frequent WC to every other day this week.
I also plan on adding some graded gravels too. I am liking the simple and clean look of the tank now, its given it a new lease of life and also a less demanding upkeep.

14059792233_0c6bcc0708_b.jpgThe rescape by andyh_2011, on Flickr
 
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Great photo! I think those are Crossband Chocs (sphaerichthys selatanensis) not regular chocs. They look amazing a big group.
 
Nice rescape Andy, lovely fish selection, like the little cichlids just poking their heads out.
Sssssh don't tell anybody about the cichlids, there a surprise !

Beautiful shot mate. Looks fabtastic

Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Cheers, just a chance photo with the iPhone[DOUBLEPOST=1398721702][/DOUBLEPOST]
Great photo! I think those are Crossband Chocs (sphaerichthys selatanensis) not regular chocs. They look amazing a big group.
Yup, you would be right. The group is awesome, they defo like to be part of a shoal.
 
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