saintly’s LFS iwagumi

Bunbuku

Could you elaborate on the "HC Oliver Knott way". I assume the HC you get in the UK comes in pots. So you break each pot up into 6-8 clumps and plant with a bit of wool remaining to hold it in place?

#2  

niko

Great! These are the things that will help this hobby expand!

A real aquascape in a store makes the LFS stand out. In our area at least 2 stores invited ADG to setup a full blown ADA tank for them. But both stores fell into the trap of thinking they can take care of the tanks. Both shops don't even have the tanks any more.

I think that what's even more important than setting up the tank is to make sure that the maintenance is good too. That's what will make the tank stay there forever and attract more people to our hobby.

--Nikolay

#3  

saintly

thanks guys,

the oliver knott way i believe is as you desrcibed. it's planted in the rockwool in small clumps. i do it different ways, but this way was quicker for the amount i used.

the whole display is to make awareness and i'm taking full control over it. the staff add ferts each day and i come at weekends to trim etc....

i'm guessing but this is a week or so in to the tanks life....





thanks again niko and Bunbuku

#4  

hooha

I really like this hardscape, well thought-out plan.

It's great to see how an aquascape matures, from the initial planning stages to the mature product. Keep us posted, can't wait to see what it looks like as it progresses

#5  

houseofcards

It usually comes down to money with LFS. They simply don't have it so they try to get by. I setup a few tanks in some stores but the tanks were usually compromised by having to use lighting, equipment and hardscape that they either had in stock or promoted so it was very limiting some times. And on top of that to pay someone from the outside to dose and maintain the tanks was tough and as you pointed out once they start to dose and/or maintain it themselves it goes downhill. I only work with private and/or commercial entities that are willing to let me do it my way and maintain. Even if thas they agree on maintenance that can be tricky since almost no one will pay to have you come by twice a week to dose, etc. so I end up going once a week and dosing everything.

#6  

saintly

thanks hooha it's my best rock scape to date, but the new 120cm is becoming my fave.

My local lfs have been brilliant, they offered everything i need. even JBL supplied some equipment. infact JBL want to sponsor my next scape in the shop i'll be scapeing a 120 x 50 80 (h)

anyway, the staff dose all the ferts and carry out water changes. i come in at weekends to gauge the tank health and trim plants.



after the trim....

#7  

chadly

Great lookin tank! what fish are you planning on putting in there?

#8  

saintly

good question. I've actually got the final fish choice in the tank, but i'll slowly get to that point.

initially i had 24 cardinal tetras in the aquarium, but they were shy fish so they had to come out. no matter what we did, they just wouldn't swim without eventually hiding in the rotala....very annoying!

this was several weeks in to the scape. the rotala made a quick recovery and filled out brilliantly!....







the last image really shows how far the tank had come, and shows that the staff had done a great job in dosing the tank

#9  

Kozy

Convince my boss to let me do that in the store?

Looks great. How often do you anticipate trimming?

#10