Ajax

It's looks awesome at either angle, but I agree that the second shot gives you a much better feel for the depth of the scape. Your scapes are definitely convincing me to do a "minimalistic" scape next time around. They have a tranquility about them that seems to be hard to achieve with the constant trimming of a stem plant tank. I think I've had my fun with the stems for a bit

ReefJones

Very nice scape Jeff! I like it as much if not more seeing it from a normal view! I am eagerly waiting for you to make it out to Phoenix!
Reef

amitava

Hi Jeff,

Fantastic layout. I can see Hair Grass, Anubius, Vals out there. What is the plant in central position ?

Steven_Chong

Beautiful. :O

Is that Nile Sand? Seems too cool for bright

jsenske

Thanks all.

The central plant is a Hygrophila species from Japan. I have never seen it available in the US or even from any of the Asian nurseries and have no idea what the name is. Luis Navarro was not able to identify it either, and he's usually pretty good at that.

It was in many shops in Japan, but it always looked like cuttings brought in by a customer-- never in pots or formal bunches. It's really neat because it seems to have 2 distinct growth forms at the same time-- very broad, rounder leaves, but then with runner-like outgrowths that are very fine and much more pointed. Grows very easily.

Steven-- it is indeed Bright Sand. I added a fresh top layer before this shoot.

eklikewhoa

Hygrophila "wavy" is what Luis swears it is.....regardless though a rare and nice looking plant.

Nice layout!

carb850

"She is a beaut Clark!"

..very nice!

jsenske

Thanks again.

Honestly I could not do it without ADA substrate. I absolutely swear by it, and will retire from planted tanks if I ever cannot get it or something identical to it.

This tank used:
1- 6 liter bag ADA Power Sand Special "M"
3- 9 liter bags AQUA SOIL AMAZONIA normal type
1- 15kg bag ADA BRIGHT SAND
+ Tourmaline BC and extra BACTER 100 sprinkled eevenly over the bottom glass

FishandTurtleJunkie

I am anxious to see it after some growth to see how the plants fill in. Very well done.

Troy McClure

The tank is stunning in its simplicity. The mixing of plants is very natural when compared to other scaping styles of sharply defined groupings of plants It seems much more difficult to mix and blend in a way that isn't awkward and unbalanced but as Jeff and others have so exquisitly demonstrated, it can be done!

It's funny you should mention a rare Hygro species because when I was buying a new bulb at the LFS the other night, the owner asked if I could ID a plant for him. It was sent to him as Blue Hygro. The leaves had the very pronounced veins of Sunset Hygro, but the leaves where a darker green (most hygros are a light/bright green) and came to a point. It certainly looked like a Hygro species, but I had to admit to the owner that I was stumped. Now that you guys have brought this up, I may go back there and buy the two bunches they had!

BTW, I love how the ADA equipment is nearly invisible. Even the lights you hardly notice. And Jeff, I still haven't gotten around to using my ADA stuff yet but now that I'm a single guy again, I should have -a lot- more time to concentrate on getting them set up. Keep up the great work!!!