fish dork

Well, long time listener, first time caller... Been here for a while but never posted any pics of my tank. This is my first attempt at a planted tank and I am actually going to tear this down soon for a new scape. This one did not have much of a hardscape, the DW in the left corner was added in about 4 months ago. The tank is about a year and a half old. The specs:

Tank: 80 US gallon
Lights: 4 x 54 T5 HO
Filtration: Pengiun 350, Rena XP3 just added, I have a second XP3 that will be switching out the HOB
CO2: pressurized, 3 BPS through a DIY reactor fed off the canister filter
Substrate: Peat moss and sand with clay (kitty litter balls) added in later, capped with black gravel.

Fish:
Cardinal, Black Skirt, Rummy Nose Tetra
German Blue Rams
Aus. and Dwarf Rainbows
False SAE
Otocinclus
Amano and Ghost Shrimp
Tiger Barb (1 remains as a lone survivor from the once strong pack that all got sick, I miss these guys)
Varying snails

Plants
American Vals
Java and Fissiden Moss
Anubius Coffeefolia
Aquatic Fern
Unknown Crypt
Hygro Difformis and Polysperma
Java and Windelov Fern
Microsword
Rotala Macrandra
Rotala Rotundifolia

Also varying types of algae I'm always attempting to keep at bay.

The idea was really to try to learn how to grow plants. I've had success with some and with some, not so much. Here's some recent pics.

Full Tank


Left Side




Right Side


Some Fish Pics

davemonkey

That's a great looking scape. Thanks for posting.

I'm kinda liking the not-so-much-hardscape-look. I've got a huge "chunk" of driftwood and I've been toying with the idea of taking it out and only putting plants in it's place. My problem is that I have a narrow tank, so it would take some tinkering to get it to look good.

Anyway, you've got a lot of talent and I can't wait to see what you do with the 'new look'.

-Dave

pmk00001

Looks really good to me. Did you start out with co2 or put it in at some point?

fish dork

I started with minimal plants and no CO2. Then I went to DIY CO2, 2 2 litre pop bottles. The pressurized went in at around the 10 month stage.

Tex Gal

What is that big cave-like thing on the right? It looks kinda like a broken egg?

Great healthy plants.

fish dork

It's a pot... with holes in it. I've got java moss growing on it and the vals have sproated inside it and are growing plants up from the center. It's part of the 'decoration' phase that is slowly getting changed out. When i break this tank down I have a nice big piece of DW that will be the centerpiece... it's about 3 feet long and is sort of a root structure.

fish dork

The Otto tree!



I left the second bank of lights on all day after a water change... ooops, oh well the macrandra seemed to like it!



I thought the moss on here had melted! When the water was lowered I could see it still has a chance!

fish dork

Well a reset seem to be in order. I've been planning this for some time. With this go round I want to build a better hardscape from the beginning and with that in mind I found some rocks and wood in the fall of last year. I seem to be having compaction problems with the substrate in the tank as it is now... roots are dying and I'm going to start losing plants if this isn't done soon! Here's the plan for the hardscape. Let me know what you think! The tape shows the height of the tank, the outside of the red scissors show the edge of the tank. And thanks for looking!

Tex Gal

Rocks are awfully round. Are you gonna put riccia or moss on them. Are you gonna keep your plants low so that your DW won't disappear?

FishandTurtleJunkie

Nice driftwood. Any updates on placement and re-planting?