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Not just you - if you get it right first time you're a genius.

Arrgh, when it said this was at Peterborough I assumed Crowland - I didn't know there was another one! I wondered why I didn't see it! :evil:

I think there are several more that should have made the list! (worldwide, that is).

Has anyone used ADA Horn Wood? What did you think of it? TGM said it may stain the water a little but should sink straight away, but I thought I'd get second opinions before getting some. I've got Old Iron Wood at the moment and I love it. Cheers, Tom

Looks nice George - how much are you dosing of each for this?

I think before you can do well with scaping, you need to be able to keep plants healthy. This is something that wasn't a problem for me when I first started, but recently for some reason has been an absolute nightmare! It kills your confidence and creativity, and you get stuck and focused on...

You could try the "Aquascaping Clay" or Milliput reefers use for securing rocks. I used it in my last scape.

Thanks - it just looks really plain to me, and it's been like this more or less for 2 years or so. Just got to the stage where it's a tank that gets cleaned occasionally, fed a couple of times a week and thats it. That's why I'm trying to do something to liven it up a bit. Got some of what I...

Sorry, completely forgot about this thread! Erm well here's what I've got to work with at the moment. I could do something like Andy's done, however I think I want something a bit more rugged and with more hidey-holes. Or at least a main "central" cave. I'm undecided whether to add wood or...

I'm trying to decide what to do with my Baileyi Puffer tank to make it look less naff. At the moment he's in a Rio 180 with a Tetratec EX1200 that's not quite cutting it, so I might have to get some more powerheads in there for water movement. Anyway, I've tried wood, but all my pieces leech...

I think there's some potential there. Can you give us details on what substrate you have gone for? What are your plans for planting? How secure are those slanting rocks? One other thing I might try could be to try slanting the single rock in the other direction towards the others. Maybe some...

Forget back to front, I'd like to see an upside down layout. That would impress me.

I'd like to have something Mini M sized, with just a little more space front-to-back. Just that little bit more room for background planting and stem groups.

Thanks :)

Does Old Iron Wood need to be soaked before use? I'm not sure if it will float or not, but is it OK for tannins? Cheers, Tom

:lol:

Re: Post your favourite ever driftwood layout! I've always loved this, but there are lots of others I can't think of right now :) Maybe not as dominated as you want, but I likes it anyway! http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/driftwood/AQ113-030-04_ava1.jpg

Hi Dawid, here's what I would try... First I would swap the two rocks at the back-left, so the larger one is on the inside. Then, take the one that's bang in the middle, and swap it for the small one to it's left. With the trio on the right, swap the back two stones and then move the back-left...

Re: What is the best way to separate Aquasoil and cap sand.. Yeah, please don't tell the mother...

Re: What is the best way to separate Aquasoil and cap sand.. It was just a thought - I separated the ADA Forest Sand Xingu into 3 different grades a while ago using different sieves and even a cheese grater!

Re: What is the best way to separate Aquasoil and cap sand.. Is it normal grain Aquasoil? Can you dry it and sieve it?

The Botias look great :)

4 or 5 for me :) Great pieces, just make sure to cover the sawn-off edges in the moss!

I'd still go for a normal Vallis, not that huge one. It puts out leaves so thick you could use them to hold your trousers up. As for the moss, you only want to get a very thin covering, or the stuff underneath can just rot and will never get a hold on the wood. I'd go for 2-4 pots, or a cheaper...

A good read :)

I used it at PFK for a tank setup we did. I think it was from Unipac.

Or just say you have 15cm of substrate :P

Yeah I think particularly the rock faces and foreground sand looked better darker, but it just doesn't look as neat in the actual shot. It looks flatter and longer too

So do I strangely!

It's 2nd and 4th for me - both are gorgeous. The flatness of the rocks in 2 is awesome. 1st place doesn't bother me at all, I don't like it. Not a lot of innovation there except those two, the others don't stand out for me at all. Tom

If you try to apply it to Amano's layouts, chances are they would be close but rarely spot on. You don't need that level of accuracy. It's much better to just use your eye and imagination, or as Dave says you'll create a whole set of restrictions.

Thanks for the advice. They've been soaking since that picture was taken, and I'll make sure to scrub them down and check them over before use :thumbup: Tom

I've just got back from collecting some bits and pieces for planning various aquascapes, but I'm wondering about the safety of using some of the bits I've got. They're covered in bark for the most part, and I just thought I'd check that they would be ok for use in a tank after a wash down. Is it...

Does anyone know of any good examples of layouts using petrified wood as a dominant feature in the scape? I've just made a layout in my old 40cm with it along with some very branchy, twisty wood and leftover ADA Forest Sand and it just looks so so orange! I've never used it in a proper scape...

You want it editing or suggestions for the aquascape?

How far are you allowed to go with photoshopping? When I do my photos, theres loads of barrel distortion coming from using a fairly wide angle so I have to straighten the image out, and it comes out a funny colour from the bulbs I'm using to photograph it. Instead of sorting that out in the...

The HC looks amazing! Not a single bad leaf - so neat! Tom

There was a step by step somewhere, although IIRC there wasn't much of a "front on" shot?

At the moment my favourites are Justin Law's "Summer Dance" http://www.cau-aqua.net/index.php?option=com_zoom&Itemid=29&page=view&catid=39&PageNo=1&key=0&hit=1 and "Peaceful Wilderness" by Judy Putra...

I personally would lose the red plant, and replace it with the green one (sorry that's not very technical!) Then I would use more of the moss over the foreground Perhaps also bring the rocks further towards the right, so they are just off center as opposed to being well on the left. Tom

I was just interested to see what others preferred in a scape. I personally go for the open, sandy foreground every time without thinking about it, but I'd like to try more foreground plants in the future... Comments?

I've just switched one of my entries out for my new Iwagumi, but as I've already done the photo release form I can't find another one to print out!! :? I've emailed Erik, so have to see what I need to do when I get a reply... Tom

Smooth the substrate out at the front! ;) Tom

Right I've got 3 of mine in now :D The last one was a bit of a last minute thing and the pictures not perfect, but it'll do :S

I believe they ask for the name of the aquascaper, and the photographer. In many people's cases this is the same person, but some people have pro photographers do the honours. That shot of George's tank was probably taken by Neil and used in PFK, so he had to get the credit for the photo. It's...

I've just re-scaped my 40cm, so given a little time to fill out again, I might be submitting that as well Tom

Good thread George :D Quickest aquascape was "At Forest's Gate", at around 70 days. Next was "Javanese Paradise", about 75 days. Longest, is the low tech I set up for my parents, at about a year old so far, and going strong. I draw a lot of my inspiraiton from Mr. Amano, but also the...

Got to see this tank a couple weeks back, and I have to say Dan you've done a proper job on it. Good luck! Tom

Ahh, never realised you were on UKAF :lol:

Anyone notice my article?? :D

I'm sure we could attract some awesome aquascapers if we had someone like Amano judging :D Or maybe the Senske's, Steven Chong, Philipe Oliviera etc...

I'll let Craig know tomorrow when I see him and find out if he's intersted in doing something like that. Tom

It's doing better than it was thanks. I did a blackout for about 5 days :shock: and it seems to have worked as the vast majority is gone, although not really suprisingly the Riccia died. I might be changing to T5 lighting soon, but I don't know when as for some reason college is having...

Could try that thanks, it can't hurt to try :D I'm running 1 Fluval 405 and 1 AquaOne (CF1000?). So you think this is because my flow rate isn't high enough?

The bulbs are AquaOne I think. It came with blue marine T5's and my lecturer (craig baldwin) reckons they make no difference. It would definitely be worth a try though to see the difference. I noticed this morning that the BBA and hair algae appear to be receeding, but the BGA is going strong...

Great idea. If it were mine I would try and point the large rock to the middle slightly to see how it looks. The small foreground rocks look a bit "domino-esque" at the moment, but as you say it might look better when the HC grows in. I've had a thought about positioning if you don't mind...

That sounds great I'd love to :D Yeah. It's an AquaOne 2x 150w. The penetration of the light is really bad IMO. Below about a foot it seems really low intensity and I've also noticed more algae in the lower half of the tank (BBA and BGA mostly) :? . I'm having a lot of trouble with this...

Thats a good idea :D With links to UKAPS of course :wink:

I loved my Apisto viejita when I had them in a leaf litter tank.

Almost definitely the best looking tank I've seen come out of the UK yet. :D Love it! Why is it, that as soon as I settle on a layout I see something else I want to try!! :lol: Tom

I like the way the reporter scares the hell out of the fish :lol: Tom

Thanks George. I'm wondering though whether if I planted heavier on the left side and make a triangular/convex shape it might lose that centralness? Another thing, as this tank is going to have such a low plant mass in it and with a lot of slow growers, do you have any thoughts about...

I think I've finally found a layout with some potential. Sorry about the bad pics though, it looks a lot more defined and has better perspective when you actually look at it. I'm thinking mainly a Moss/Fern scheme, such as might cover an old fallen tree in nature. Maybe some stems behind the...

Thanks for the suggestion Graeme. I'm home for Christmas now, so if the tank survives 3 weeks of "technitions" looking after it (am doubtful) I'll have a play with it. Tom

I used aquasoil with JBL because we couldn't afford all Aquasoil. George gave me all the Aquasoil I've got. I've just got Bolivian Rams and Ottos at the moment (budget reasons!) JBL gave us a load of equipment (substrates, CO2 units, ferts etc) so I have JBL Profi2 CO2, their substrates...

Im sure Riccia and Java moss were Asian... :?

Here is my Nature Aquarium at the Aquatic Centre at Sparsholt. It was done on a very low budget, and as such the equipment is a bit mix and match. Foreground is silver sand, but the planted area is JBL and Aquasoil (on top), due to college budgets!! Thanks to George for the Aquasoil there...

Cheers

No-one?

I am covering Nature Aquaria for my college special interest project, but I'm struggling to find much detailed information in English. Anyone got any links? I'm looking for detailed information on layout styles such as Wabi Kusa, Iwagumi etc - and the different types, like sanzon etc. ADA...

ADA do a thin black mat to go on the cabinet, but I don't know if this tank uses one or not. I didn't bother with my tank, it went straight on the cabinet. http://adana.co.jp/_e_product/82_index.html Tom

I think if I'm using weeping moss, I'll just attach it to key points in the scape, such as some of the joints in the wood and draping it over the top of the rocks. Tom

Wow that's a really nice setup. I like seeing the pictures of setting up the hardscape too. It gives me ideas!! I think I saw the finished result over on APC. Could easily be one of Amano's. Tom

The moss balls are almost like brick in material. Hard to describe but they're quite dusty and have quite a rough surface so as you say its good for anchoring on to. The ADA sand is fairly course, much more so than silver sand. It's more ungraded than silver sand too so im my opinion looks...

The ADA stuff came through today so I'm slightly excited :lol: ADA Aquasoil Africana in: ADA Sarawak Sand in: I saw these moss balls and thought I'd try them out to see if they're any easier to use than the slate pieces I've used before: Finished setup with moss balls in place I'm...

hehe I couldnt resist. I've just bought ADA Aquasoil Africana and ADA Sand, along with a new diffuser, the 2006 catalogue, moss balls and some tweesers :lol: :roll: Hopefully royal mail won't lose this like they did my moss and riccia etc! I'd like to get the hardscape totally finished by...

I'd like to have a glosso carpet, but I'd also like to have ADA nile/bright sand in the foreground and build up with Aquasoil at the back. Then again, I'd love to have a mossy foreground as that's something I've never done before. If my weeping moss ever turns up I might see how it does in the...

Ok, I think I've found the layout I'm going to use... Found 2 really nice pieces of wood on friday and have been playing around with them since. I've put in some leftover aquasoil (about half litre) from the last tank. It's going to be a while yet before it's set up (Xmas or Easter) so that I...

Nice tank, great growth going on there! I cant help but think though some larger rocks might have made more of an impression. I'd also agree with James about it being symetrical. Maybe if the "dip" in the centre was more to one side you could eliminate that That said, a very nice tank you've...

Latest idea:

Thanks for the advice. Themuleous - yeah they were a bit flat. I've changed it around a bit now to get it more 3D. the reason it was flatter was that with my last tank, I had the mossy branches leaning forwards and they shaded the foreground a bit too much. Dan - it took me a while to work...

Today I took down my 25l today (finding 30 cherry shrimp I'd never seen before! :shock: ) , so I have an empty tank to play with :D I working on this layout, but I'm really not sure if I like it. I've added 2 pics with one piece of wood slightly different. Tom