Small and simple

[pariahrob]

Question for you all. I have a load of manzi and can't decide if I should use a (very) small amount in this tank? I'm a fan and it looks great with moss but could be more trouble than it's worth given the limited access to the tank.

Persuade me one way or the other!

 

[pariahrob]

Popped a little heater in today, ready to start planting tomorrow. I think this hard scape is my final. I keep coming back to it or something very similar.
Think I'll forego the wood for now but not discounting entirely.

Anyway ignore the bio balls. They are from my old tank along with some sera media which is in the filter.
Next time you see it there should be plants!

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[Deano3]

I like that layout looks good mate and would have persuaded you against wood for such a limited access tank but didnt see ur post like you say I think best thing to do is keep it simple and low maintenence mate

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[pariahrob]

I've started the planting process. So glad I'm keeping this pretty simple. The edge is lovely but my tweezers are a bit long for easy planting! Must get some smaller ones.

I've started off with the micranthemum and have left some spaces.
Front left and just in front of the right hand rock will be left bare.
The gorge between the middle and left will be planted but still can't decide. Probably pogo or staurogyne repens. Something with some body but not too much height.
The small black pebble is there just to block some flow from the Monte Carlo while it settles in.

I have some fertilizer tabs in the sand and I will be dosing liquid carbon and ferts directly as well. I'm using a syringe to measure. Got to be careful with such a small tank.

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[Four50]

Gorgeous looking scape that and good luck with the micranthemum, I will be watching this one as I have just planted some Monte Carlo too and will be keen to see what you do with yours

 

[Robert H. Tavera]

really nice 300 liter aquarium, i really like the contrast between the huge dark leaves of the anubias and the small lemon green leaves of the rotala !!

 

[pariahrob]

Thanks Four50. It's not been long but I'm starting to see some growth now. A few leaves appearing here and there. I've been giving the lights a boost for three hours during the day, with and extra few watts of light.
Thanks Robert. I was happy with that scape. It's all gone to a new home now though.




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[pariahrob]

I've just added some eleocharis mini. I want keep a kind of dune look but play with some texture and the hair grass seems like a good balance to the MC.
I was expecting it to be a pig to plant but wasn't so bad. I started with the smallest possible pieces but turns out slightly bigger tufts were easier.

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[pariahrob]

Small update. Thanks to using established filter media with bit of a boost from sera nitrovec the water seems great. It's a little high on ph for the CRS I'm planning but today I've added some catappa which should help. I've not used it before but heard and read good things.
Thinking of ways to some height at the rear along with giving some cover for the shrimp. I'm think flame moss that can mask the heater and filter too.
I'm open to suggestions though.

Final addition today are a couple of ramshorns. They are a first for me but I like them. These are red body blue shell. I'd like couple of the reverse too.
Anyway. Plants looking healthy so far. MC is settling in and not seeing any melting (yet).

I'll wait a couple more weeks before shrimp and hopefully the plants will have bedded in and spread out.

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[aliclarke86]

I have kept CRS in neutral water. It won't kill they where active them but they did breed very slowly

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[pariahrob]

Time for a quick update before I head off to Texas for a week.
Steady plant growth and all looking healthy. Not as fast as previous tanks but it's to be expected as lower lights and no co2 injection.
I have some flame moss and shrimp on order. Will be added once I'm back.

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[pariahrob]

Hi all. Well I'm back from Texas. Sxsw was awesome!

Tank is doing well. Added some staurogyne for a little mid ground height and texture, plus some moss but that's more for the shrimp.
Today I added a handful of crystal red. Pictures below.

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[pariahrob]

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[TallDragon]

Rob, how about an update on this tank?