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First proper scape

Fisher2007

Member
Joined
19 Feb 2018
Messages
430
Location
Warrington
Hi all

So, finally my Aquariums4life tank arrived and I'm super happy with it - 1400 x 420 x 450 high in 12mm optiwhite. Sits on top of an oak side board I had and replaces my old 100 litre aqua nano

Pics as of a minute ago. This is my first ever proper aquascape, so be forgiving! I'm happy with it either way and the plan is to order plants from Aquarium Gardens for delivery Friday and then I'll be planting and filling it this time next week

Thanks to Dave and Stephen at Aquarium Gardens for all their help and advice so far
 

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Looking good, will be interested to see this planted. I'm guessing high tech?


If you can, add the spec of the equipment as it help others when planning or offering advise when asked

Edit, just seen this isn't a journal so no bother with spec

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
 
Looking good, will be interested to see this planted. I'm guessing high tech?


If you can, add the spec of the equipment as it help others when planning or offering advise when asked

Edit, just seen this isn't a journal so no bother with spec

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Plan is high tech, although never done that before so a little apprehensive!

Kits is;
Twinstar 1200
2 x oase 350 biomaster thermo filters
CO2 art se series regulator with inline diffuser
Aquascaper glassware, with a single surface skimmer at one end
Backlit with a multi colour (changeable colour) led strip from Amazon
30kgs dark mini landscape rock
Probidio soil x 2 bags
Redmoor root
ADA la plata sand in the foreground
 
Few updates on the tank

First lot are immediately post planting the tank almost 3 weeks ago now
 

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Next a week in....
 

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And as of a few mins ago. Nearly 3 weeks in
 

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Stock wise right now it's 30 amano shrimp, 35 cherry shrimp and a dozen nerite snails

Thinking some cardinals and harlequin rasboras. Not sure how many of each. Open to suggestions re numbers. Also other alternatives to those as well

Cheers
 
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Harlequin and cardinals are a good choice. I also like ember tetras if you wanted to have a smaller fish than the Harlequin and stick to South American fish.
You could also then get sat some Bolivian Rams or another dwarf cichlid.
Pygmy or panda cories jump to mind for a bottom dweller. And my go-to for the surface is dwarf Pencilfish.
 
This is an amazing tank and the length allows for some less usual species that appear too big when viewed in smaller tanks

Water are local water parameters (or are you mixing with RO etc?)?

For inspiration
Aquarium Glaser FB photos

Aquarium Glaser Website which often includes summary information on species behaviour and several of Frank Schäfer‘s outstanding photos

(FWIW I’ve never been a fan of the combination of harlequin rasboras and cardinals :p sure the colours standout but I don’t see them as complimentary in terms of behaviour or appearance :sorry: )

If you do choose smaller fish, I’d add ~100 of each main species, then a few focal fish
 
Harlequin and cardinals are a good choice. I also like ember tetras if you wanted to have a smaller fish than the Harlequin and stick to South American fish.
You could also then get sat some Bolivian Rams or another dwarf cichlid.
Pygmy or panda cories jump to mind for a bottom dweller. And my go-to for the surface is dwarf Pencilfish.

Would the rams not make a buffet of my cherry shrimp?

Yesterday I added 20 Espei rasboras. They are tiny but they'll soon grow I'm sure
 
This is an amazing tank and the length allows for some less usual species that appear too big when viewed in smaller tanks

Water are local water parameters (or are you mixing with RO etc?)?

For inspiration
Aquarium Glaser FB photos

Aquarium Glaser Website which often includes summary information on species behaviour and several of Frank Schäfer‘s outstanding photos

(FWIW I’ve never been a fan of the combination of harlequin rasboras and cardinals :p sure the colours standout but I don’t see them as complimentary in terms of behaviour or appearance :sorry: )

If you do choose smaller fish, I’d add ~100 of each main species, then a few focal fish

Thanks for the links, I'll take a look

As per the above post, I added 20 rasboras yesterday but right now I can barely see any. They're tiny and seem to love the plants

I know what you mean about cardinals with rasboras and I'm in two minds at the minute

Do you really think I could get away with that many small fish and still maintain a happy, heathly, algae free plant mass?
 
Gives a really calming effect, if that makes sense and that's just by looking at a picture of it. Honestly think it looks great.

Define aquascaping though, yes you can replicate nature etc but I personally think it all just comes down to personal taste and what's pleasing on the eye for that individual.
 
Gives a really calming effect, if that makes sense and that's just by looking at a picture of it. Honestly think it looks great.

Define aquascaping though, yes you can replicate nature etc but I personally think it all just comes down to personal taste and what's pleasing on the eye for that individual.

Thanks again

I agree on the calming effect. I can sit and watch it for ages, and that was even before any shrimp or fish were in there. I even find the maintenance quite therapeutic but maybe that's because it's all still a bit new. I'm sure I'll get bored of it soon!
 
I like the idea of pencilfish maybe but never kept them before so not familiar with their behaviour

Ideally I want something that will stay small (max 1.5 inches), relatively shrimp safe and a species that I won't see all the time. I like the idea of seeing fish every now and again and one that has a bit of character. Probably asking for too much
 
added 20 rasboras yesterday but right now I can barely see any. They're tiny and seem to love the plants
those are a few tiny fish in the big empty (dangerous) place - not enough numbers for a shoal to feel confident on its own ... depending on the fish species sometimes they settle in and sometimes they won’t until you add more fish

I’d look for some of these rasboras
https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/trigonostigma-heteromorpha-wild-2/
https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/trigonostigma-hengeli-2/

Shops may/may not know what their fish source is



Once tank is established, and following the rasbora (location) theme, some type of chocolate gourami (they are very sensitive to water conditions so wait until tank is 2-3 months old)

https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/sphaerichthys-osphromenoides-2/

https://www.aquariumglaser.de/en/fish-archives/sphaerichthys-osphromenoides-4/

These are the easiest choco’s to keep and they’ll transition over to eating most anything (though I still prefer to feed good quality frozen foods regularly (bloodworms, brineshrimp, daphnia) unless you want to maintain live cultures)
They’re fine with large water changes as long as parameters are a reasonable match (pH, GH etc, temp is fine to drop a few degrees)
They are very interesting to watch - I’d add 20-30 for your size tank as they do better longterm in bigger groups
When buying look for young/juvenile fish as they seem to adapt better to the whole capture/hold/ship process
(most chocolate gouramis are wild caught)
Note if your water is very hard, I’d avoid the choco’s


As to numbers of fish in a planted tank, I suppose it depends upon your maintenance and filter ... I’ve never noticed an algae increase even when I have more fish than I’d like in a tank (impulse buys :oops: of fish rarely available locally - but then a good excuse to set up another tank :cool: )
 
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