dennis

Finally got around to setting up my 50 gallon last weekend. Took me about 10 hours as I had to break down two 10 gallons, move a 15 gallon and finish wiring the new hood with the old ballasts and bulbs. Lots of work but I am pretty pleased with the results.

First, the specs:
-50 gallon AGA, 36x18x18
-Custom stand and hood with 2x36 and 2x55 PCs (72watts-9 hrs, 182watts-4hrs) Will increase lighting durations as tank breaks in
-Eheim 2217 with DIY inline reactor, 5lbs cylinder and SM122 controler
-50lbs Black Beauty, 40lbs used Eco/Onyx from exhisting tank, 40lbs Eco cap
-Shale rock and manzanita wood hardscape
-13 Black neon tetras, 6 harlequin rasboras, 5 corydoras pygmea, 3 platies, otocinclus affinis and 4 cardinia japonica

Critique away

Stand setup and water testing:


Peat base with thin cap of Black Black Beauty blasting grit:


Ring of Black Beauty with old substrate added:


Basic hardscape added with new Eco-Complete cap:


Initial planting, 11/06/2005:


Side shot:


Full tank shot:


Updated shot Day 7 11/12/2005:

tsunami

Nice, Dennis! I like most of your choices. You've made a good choice by using manzanita driftwood. I am glad to see that you have purchased a 'big' tank!

However, the rock hardscaping is too heavy set and seems unnaturally stacked side by side. They seem like flat walls that block the view toward the currently short stem plants. I don't forsee such a midground helping to connect the background to the foreground.

The driftwood branches, at this moment, seem to be more of a background feature.

In short, work on that midground as it will form the backbone of your layout.

Sorry about being a little harsh.

Keep us updated!

Carlos

|squee|

Great work, but the two branches on the left stick out imho. Otherwise the rest of the tank has a nice flowing feel to it

standoyo

very nice work dennis,

have to agree with terence. darker plants behind these two branches may help reduce this sticking out effect. but will reserve comment till the full effect of your tank is realised..

dennis

Carlos, thanks for the criticism. Its the aquascaping section and your honest impressions is what it is all about Honestly, I see what you are saying, however that is exactly what I was going for. I was hoping to try something a little different and I am of course seeing it as I hope it will look in the future. I am hoping that as the anubias and HC fill in it will soften the rigidity of the rock

regarding boththe wood and rock, I am trying to exacagerate initially so it does not disappear as the tank fills in. In the back left corner are P stellata, Ludwigia cuba and I am looking for a 3rd, strong leafed plant to complete the "triphector"

Thank you both for you honesty and feel free to keep the advice comming.

Update regarding ferts and tank balance:
I dosed from day one (day 2 actually since I completed the tank late at night) NPK 10:0.5:10, dosing that amount 4 times a week. Micros: 15ml Flourish+15 ml Flourish Fe 3x week. Tank kH on initial setup 4degrees, controler set to pH 6.5.
there was a slight white. cloudyness that lasted about 3 days and is gone already. I cleaned the glass at today's 50% water change and there was bit of green fuzz on the glass and a slight bit visible on the rocks the plants seemed to take a few days to acclimate and start growign after the change, I assume this is the reason for the coudyness and algae. Plants are really showing signs of growth now and the slight paleness on the new growth has disappeared. As teh plant mass increases I may have to increase the micro dosing but the high fish load should not case a need for higher macro dosing. If anything I may cut back the macros a bit once as the tank seettles in.

Stay tuned for updates!

dmartin72

Looks good...I like the massive rocks and I agree with you, Dennis, that the tank will look different when things grow in. It seems like a lot of unbelievable hardscapes get swallowed up by great plant growth. I can't wait to see how it looks when things fill out.

fishfry

Any more pics of the hood? I really really like it.

turtlehead

I think some moss on the rocks would soften it up a lot, so it won't look like walls, and the wood I think should be a main feature and not a much as a background. Hope this helps, looking forward to the updates!

Phil Edwards

Dennis,

I think that's going to be a wonderful aquarium. You're right on track with your hardscape in my opinion. People let their hardscapes get overgrown far too often these days. What's the use of beautiful wood and rocks if all you see are tiny peeks of them around the plants? The slate makes a bold statement that will be softened just enough by the Anubias and Blyxa as they fill in. Finally, I'd like to commend you on going with what you like vs. what might garner the most points in contests and public opinion. It's not always easy to do.

My only criticism would be to replace the low growers near the thick end of the largest piece of slate with more Blyxa or something similar. It's going to stick out like a sore thumb otherwise when things are grown in.

Regards,
Phil

dennis

First, thanks for the nice words and encouragment

Are you refering to the very fron right corner of the aquarium? There is a small stand of Ammania sp Bonsai (know known as Rotala something-or-other I think) in front of some Bylxa. Behind that and behind the rock is a stand of H. micranthemoides and behind that is P. stellata and L. var. Cuba. Or, are you refering to the HC planted on the slope between the standing stones?

The stem plants in the right side of the tank will get culled for only a couple species as the tank breaks in and as I get some more plants from a friend. The Ammania Bonsai or whatever it is will probably move to the right side as the Tonina does not really seem to be doing all that well. The fluviatalis is al but gone, and either the Belem or Manus is dieing off also. the other is keeping its color and starting to grow nicely, but slowly so maybe it will get to stay. If it does make it, I will probably use it as some sort of transitional, accent plant. Not a large stand. In the back right corner I wouldlilke to have a stand of Ludwigia arcuate, Rotala macranda Green and maybe some Rotala sp green or R. najansen (spelling).

We'll see how it looks as it grows in though. Nothng is set in stone

Keep em comming!