FishLifeLondon
Member
This is my second aquascape and is a 35cm Cube Aqua Manta aquarium. Its inspired by Iceland, which I visited a year ago with a foot of snow, but I know how vibrant the greens are in summer. In particular it's inspired by some sea stacks at Reykjanes (I have some photos I just need to access from my camera). I plan on keeping Celestial Pearl Danios and Sakura Red Shrimp which continue the theme of Iceland with the somewhat volcanic colours.
I made the hardscape up today and planted all the Monte Carlo (4 pots) and Pogostemon Erectus (2 XL InVitro pots and planted 1 1/2). However I also have some Anubias 'Bonsai', Bucephalandra 'Mini Needle Leaf' (XL InVitro pot which is way too much) and some Bucephalandra 'Mini Catherinae' which are yet to be positioned. The excess Monte Carlo and Pogostemon Erectus have been put into a dry start 30cm fruit bowl pond (inspired by James Wong) and I'll add some of the Bucephalandra to it and my 'Stoneage' aquascape.
I made a few mistakes in my last aquascape which I hope to avoid with this one. Firstly I started with too few plants: Although I don't have a vaste amount of Monte Carlo, the Pogostemon should hopefully grow in fast. I didn't settle on a routine for too long: This time I'll do a 50-60% each week and dose 4-5ml of TNC Liquid Complete and for the first month I'll do water changes even more frequently. I also left the light on too long by overriding the timer and having too long a photoperiod: This time I won't be able to fall asleep without the lights going off and I'll start with a photoperiod of 5 hours moving up to maybe 7 in 1-2 months. Having said all this I still expect algae and a slow growth rate, but just an improvement on the last hopefully.
Here are the first dodgy IPad photos before and after planting:
I made the hardscape up today and planted all the Monte Carlo (4 pots) and Pogostemon Erectus (2 XL InVitro pots and planted 1 1/2). However I also have some Anubias 'Bonsai', Bucephalandra 'Mini Needle Leaf' (XL InVitro pot which is way too much) and some Bucephalandra 'Mini Catherinae' which are yet to be positioned. The excess Monte Carlo and Pogostemon Erectus have been put into a dry start 30cm fruit bowl pond (inspired by James Wong) and I'll add some of the Bucephalandra to it and my 'Stoneage' aquascape.
I made a few mistakes in my last aquascape which I hope to avoid with this one. Firstly I started with too few plants: Although I don't have a vaste amount of Monte Carlo, the Pogostemon should hopefully grow in fast. I didn't settle on a routine for too long: This time I'll do a 50-60% each week and dose 4-5ml of TNC Liquid Complete and for the first month I'll do water changes even more frequently. I also left the light on too long by overriding the timer and having too long a photoperiod: This time I won't be able to fall asleep without the lights going off and I'll start with a photoperiod of 5 hours moving up to maybe 7 in 1-2 months. Having said all this I still expect algae and a slow growth rate, but just an improvement on the last hopefully.
Here are the first dodgy IPad photos before and after planting: