jack-rythm
Member
Hi everyone,
Very new to this site and although my interest with planted aquariums has been quite huge for some time I never had the confidence to go ahead and build one... until now. I would like to show you how my tank started and where I am up to now. Unfortunately I have only just decided to do a journal 2 months in but do have photos so I will just blitz through until I reach a current point
Please enjoy
Specs:
Tank: 90x38x38cm (I built this tank myself using 6mm safety glass)
Lighting: 2x 21w white t5's and 1x21w blue marine t5
Substrate: ADA Aquasoil, Play sand & ADA Gravel
Filter: Fluval 305
Fertilizers: EI 0.5ml a day
Decor: Garden scape Stone
Plants: Pogostemon erectus, Riccia Flutians, Short hair grass - Eleocharis parvula, Java Moss - Vesicularia dubyana, Hornwort plant - Ceratophyllum
Living things!: Rummy Nose Tetra - Hemigrammus bleheri, Peppered corry - Corrydorus paleatus, Cherry Red Shrimp - Neocaridina Heteropoda, Zebra Danionin & Leapard Danionin,
I Will be doing weekly updates on the progress and growth so please do keep intouch...
Below is where I began. After collecting my substrate and stone I began to arrange my scape...
Once my scape was arranged I then began to think about planting. I always thought I wanted a short hairgrass carpet so began that, as time went on I decided to mix riccia with hairgrass and have two successful carpets running throughout...
I thought now was the time to change my filtration pipes to lilys, I also changed my tubing to clear piping...
Now deciding where to arrange the riccia was my let down, I should of had this all ready and arranged but me being me I jumped into it and started to just do... First off I tied some riccia down with some mesh to a stone I had, I also created a path like grow of riccia to the front of the tank like this... At this point I also had my rummy nose tetra in there...
After a few few weeks playing and arranging I had come up with my scape, Planting the hairgrass and riccia was stressful as a first time aquascapist but I think i did ok. I removed the java fern from the back and replaced it with 2 different plants. (if anyone could tell me what the long dark green plant is to the left of the middle it would be appreciated!) you will see changes I have made as we progress and fish critters added...
After dosing this with fertz, feeding with 7 hours light I decided my riccia needed a boost. So I went out and bought a hell of a lot more. now Im beginning to shape and create a theme to my riccia with out it becoming un-natural. I have also removed the riccia rock and decided to replace it with some more scape. You can see I used metal mesh plates with green mesh sheeting to tie the riccia down. I had to cut and shape the sheets which was time consuming but im hoping it pays off (I have a vision of a white gravel path coming between the hairgrass and the new scaped stone on the far right to cause a beach affect...
(I just wanna say the photos really are not giving it any justice )
Ok... So now im up to date and I will try and keep a journal every week of the progress and growth of my tank. I will also post up problems for all you solvers to address!!
Just took a side shot of my tank set up. Pleased with the clarity of the water. I have also added 40 leopard and zebra danios and they work so well, so happy with that choice My cat Ezio was intrigued...
I managed to get a photo of my leopard and zebra danios clustering together. I think I have about 40-50 danios and they look stunning in such a great number
Today I have decided to make the surface area a little more busier.. I have a lot of riccia left over and a few dried sticks so threw them into the tank to see what outcome they would have.. to my surprise I actually really do like the affect and my cherries and fry love to hide underneath
what do you think?
Very new to this site and although my interest with planted aquariums has been quite huge for some time I never had the confidence to go ahead and build one... until now. I would like to show you how my tank started and where I am up to now. Unfortunately I have only just decided to do a journal 2 months in but do have photos so I will just blitz through until I reach a current point
Please enjoy
Specs:
Tank: 90x38x38cm (I built this tank myself using 6mm safety glass)
Lighting: 2x 21w white t5's and 1x21w blue marine t5
Substrate: ADA Aquasoil, Play sand & ADA Gravel
Filter: Fluval 305
Fertilizers: EI 0.5ml a day
Decor: Garden scape Stone
Plants: Pogostemon erectus, Riccia Flutians, Short hair grass - Eleocharis parvula, Java Moss - Vesicularia dubyana, Hornwort plant - Ceratophyllum
Living things!: Rummy Nose Tetra - Hemigrammus bleheri, Peppered corry - Corrydorus paleatus, Cherry Red Shrimp - Neocaridina Heteropoda, Zebra Danionin & Leapard Danionin,
I Will be doing weekly updates on the progress and growth so please do keep intouch...
Below is where I began. After collecting my substrate and stone I began to arrange my scape...
Once my scape was arranged I then began to think about planting. I always thought I wanted a short hairgrass carpet so began that, as time went on I decided to mix riccia with hairgrass and have two successful carpets running throughout...
I thought now was the time to change my filtration pipes to lilys, I also changed my tubing to clear piping...
Now deciding where to arrange the riccia was my let down, I should of had this all ready and arranged but me being me I jumped into it and started to just do... First off I tied some riccia down with some mesh to a stone I had, I also created a path like grow of riccia to the front of the tank like this... At this point I also had my rummy nose tetra in there...
After a few few weeks playing and arranging I had come up with my scape, Planting the hairgrass and riccia was stressful as a first time aquascapist but I think i did ok. I removed the java fern from the back and replaced it with 2 different plants. (if anyone could tell me what the long dark green plant is to the left of the middle it would be appreciated!) you will see changes I have made as we progress and fish critters added...
After dosing this with fertz, feeding with 7 hours light I decided my riccia needed a boost. So I went out and bought a hell of a lot more. now Im beginning to shape and create a theme to my riccia with out it becoming un-natural. I have also removed the riccia rock and decided to replace it with some more scape. You can see I used metal mesh plates with green mesh sheeting to tie the riccia down. I had to cut and shape the sheets which was time consuming but im hoping it pays off (I have a vision of a white gravel path coming between the hairgrass and the new scaped stone on the far right to cause a beach affect...
(I just wanna say the photos really are not giving it any justice )
Ok... So now im up to date and I will try and keep a journal every week of the progress and growth of my tank. I will also post up problems for all you solvers to address!!
Just took a side shot of my tank set up. Pleased with the clarity of the water. I have also added 40 leopard and zebra danios and they work so well, so happy with that choice My cat Ezio was intrigued...
I managed to get a photo of my leopard and zebra danios clustering together. I think I have about 40-50 danios and they look stunning in such a great number
Today I have decided to make the surface area a little more busier.. I have a lot of riccia left over and a few dried sticks so threw them into the tank to see what outcome they would have.. to my surprise I actually really do like the affect and my cherries and fry love to hide underneath
what do you think?