Second attempt, low tech

[gregl]

So I decided to rescape my first attempt at a planted tank. It had been running for a year and a half or so but (aesthetically) neglected for a few months due to time constraints/health issues.

The tank is a 38L Marina Lux with its associated LED strip which I am sure falls into the low light category. The tank is 51.3cm L x 26cm W x 32.8cm H. Filter is a double sponge filter off ebay attached to this VLike air pump. Heater is Newa Therm Mini 20W K.

Here is it a couple of months back, you can see the right hand side had died off quite a bit (used to have some Bacopa monnieri and Helanthium tenellum there):

The three rather spoiled shrimp were put with their plants, filter and heater into a tub whilst I broke down the tank and cleaned it. I swapped out the ecocomplete for some tropica aquarium soil mostly for my own sanity with planting. Then it was time for the hardscape. I had bought 3 smallish stones in addition to the mopani wood that had been running with the anubias since I set up the tank and the moss for 3/4 months.

Next up was planting. I'd ordered some more plants so I'll list what was in there before and the new and where I got them.

Old:
Anubias 'mini mini' - Aquarium Gardens, Online.
Cryptocoryne becketii - Aquarium Gardens, Online.
Cryptocoryne parva - Aquarium Gardens, Online.
Salvinia auriculata - Pets at Home, Leamington Spa.
Taxiphyllum barbieri, Java Moss - Aquatic Design Centre, Balham.
Vallisneria sp. - The Aquarium, West Wickham.
Vesicularia montagnei, Christmas moss - Aquatic Design Centre, Balham.

Mopani Wood - Broadway Market Pet Supplies, Tooting.

New:
Bucephalandra 'Theia' - Aquarium Gardens, Online.
Crinum calamistratum - Aquarium Gardens, Online.
Hydrocotyle verticicillata - Aquarium Gardens, Online.
Marsilea hirsuta - Aquarium Gardens, Online.
Microsorum pteroptus 'Narrow Leaf' - Aquarium Gardens, Online.

Unspecified Stone - Aquatic Design Centre, Balham.

Then just had to fill her up. Pictures from immediately after:

This little guy made it through a few hours of being messed around, he's earned his place in the tank.

And a couple of days later:

Plan to introduce more cherry shrimp (give me a shout if you have some available in South London) and probably some Espei Rasboras.

It may not be much but I'm fairly proud of it, let's see how it grows in. The marsilea will be interesting in my lighting conditions and I'm excited to get some greater density round the back of the log when those remaining vals get back in shape and the crypts and ferns fill out some. Plan to see if I actually need any ferts before dosing them.

What do you guys think? Any advice?

 

[Keith GH]

gregl

Looking at this photo it looks like all the plants are very healthy. Personally I would remove most of that floating plant it will eventually block out all the necessary light from above and this will not be very good for all of your plants.

Aquascape wise it is looking good but there is one massive concern all those white rocks just do not work with your Aquascape. They look out of place compared to the natural looking dark rocks plus, they are a huge distraction causing a non natural eyeflow across the tank.

Keith

 

[J@mes]

remove most of that floating plant it will eventually block out all the necessary light.

those white rocks just do not work with your Aquascape. They look out of place compared to the natural looking dark rocks

Fair point about the light, I’ve seen another member has put a ring in the middle on the waters surface to control the floating plants.

All the rocks are light but the original ones have plant growth on already, the new rocks will blend in time if the moss grows on them.

I like the well laid out thorough approach to the journal. Looking forward to seeing the planting hopefully grow in.

 

[gregl]

gregl

Looking at this photo it looks like all the plants are very healthy. Personally I would remove most of that floating plant it will eventually block out all the necessary light from above and this will not be very good for all of your plants.

Good job I took the photos before the melt began then haha.

I take a bunch of salvinia out every few days, I agree there were too many whilst I was taking the pics. There are far fewer in there at the moment but they grow very quickly. The filter outflow is set up so the floaters keep to the sides and back primarily so no need to corral them (I have tried the floating airline tubing to mixed success in the past). With the current heat wave I'm fairly happy with them there soaking up extra nitrates etc before any algae can get set.

Aquascape wise it is looking good but there is one massive concern all those white rocks just do not work with your Aquascape. They look out of place compared to the natural looking dark rocks plus, they are a huge distraction causing a non natural eyeflow across the tank.

I'm not sure which dark rocks you are comparing them to. But I concur they are currently looking out of place.

All the rocks are light but the original ones have plant growth on already, the new rocks will blend in time if the moss grows on them.

I agree with J@mes on this point, the rocks are brand new whilst the mopani wood has had over a year to develop algae on it (with very little scrubbing). As the tank develops they will dull and the epiphytes around the rocks will (hopefully) draw the eye a bit more. If this doesn't work I can always get some moss on them down the line to break up the white. I have to point out that my awful photography skills may be playing a part here, in person they stick out less than the pics posted.

Thank you both for the praise.

 

[Keith GH]

gregl

You are at the stage now just a few jobs to be done and then its a regular trim and tidy up otherwise it will become just another overgrown planted tank.

Keith

 

[gregl]

1 Month update:

I bought 8 Trigonostigma espei and a few more shrimp 2-3 weeks ago. One of the rasboras likes to hide under the filter and is occasionally joined by mates but comes out to feed and I see him hiding less as time goes by

Following a couple of shrimp deaths I added Hygrophila polysperma a week back to help lower nitrates. Couple of deaths later and I am now concerned it is a combination of old age and possibly high KH. More investigation needed here, they also aren't breeding so water parameters are clearly not ideal for the shrimp, though the males may all be too young.

Hygrophila, rasboras and shrimp all from Aquatic Design Centre, Balham.

In terms of plant growth , it's unsurprisingly slow given my light levels. The java moss had a much needed trim on 08/08 and Salvinia are being removed frequently otherwise growth isn't too noticeable. The hygrophila is my first stem plant so am partially using it as an experiment in terms of trimming to see what produces the best results, a couple of new heads are growing from where I've topped stems so all positive there. Crypts at the back and Marsilea at the front are gradually showing new shoots and I think the Hydrocotlye and Crinum blend in a bit better with the stems at the back. Once the Hygrophila grows in a bit I'll try shaping it a bit more as well.

 

[Edvet]

Maintenance and patience now