75 gallon open forground - Page 3 - Journals

Navarro · 09-08-2005, 11:34 AM

Thank you all for your input! but I will not make any changes , the tank will change with time and time is what makes the difference when it comes to aquascaping, Moving things around when you have two substrates is not a good idea so I will hold my ground, as for the rocks, well, I don't have access to different rocks but even if I did I will stay with these. I have used them before and they look much better with time.
Again thank you for your advise I will keep it in mind for the next one.

plantbrain · 09-08-2005, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Navarro

Thank you for the advise Tomas! Just for the record there is lot's of plants in the back, they just need to grow a bit more =0)
I will take pictures every week to show the progress of this easy to maintain layout.
Please keep me posted with the results of your test.
Cheers,
Navarro

Sounds good.
I like the grassy feel in the rear, that will look nice over time.
I recently did a little 4 gal with a lazy foreground.

It's a non CO2 tank though.........something I have not tried this approach in scaping with. My moss died back a little in the changeover but is still nice.

About them rocks up front, they will be covered with moss, Anubias, so we don't need to worry, they are there for good now

They just keep the sand seperated.

You can also wrap the mossy branches with 50% Riccia and then the Ricca lets loose on it's own and you do not need to trim it! There is always some entangled in the moss to grow back out.

This design is very well suited to client tanks also, many of which you can only work on from the rear(which is where all the plants that need pruning are).

Regards,
Tom Barr

aggie_67 · 09-08-2005, 07:55 PM

Really like the white sand in front. What did you use and where did you get it? I am also from Houston, recently joined NASH and have been looking for weeks for a coarse white sand.

Aggie_67

Paul Higashikawa · 09-08-2005, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aaron

We get it, you love Luis's and Jeff's tanks and I do not doubt that they kick butt in person.

You got that right! And I'm sure many will too, once they have the chance to see the tanks in person. I'm not making any advertisements for them, but merely speaking from my own experience, which has been nothing but positive. My point was simply that, having witnessed these hardworking people set up the tanks in person, I would think they at least deserve the credits for wanting to share these experiences with others on-line, including photographies. As for the hardscapes, I realize it is purely a matter of personal preference. Heck, not even everyone agrees on the winning contest entries. End of my discussion with this topic.

All in all, I like this tank. The rocks were arranged very nicely and did well in obscuring the boundary between the sand and the substrate. Perhaps more pictures of this tank at different angles should have been taken to show how all the different factors tie up; the rocks, the plants, the wood, etc... I think that would've given people a better understanding on its design methodology, thereby giving a more complete critique. Of course I know when people look at a tank on-line they only see it from one angle and in two dimension. My suggestion, therefore, is for others to take pictures of their tanks in at least 2 different angles; top view, front view, and side view. I will also do that from now on.

Good job, Luis!

dmartin72 · 10-13-2005, 09:56 PM

Looks great. How about an update!

FazTeAoMar · 10-20-2005, 08:59 PM

Luis muito bonito! The composition is very well balanced. I love those little details, such as the small rocks completing the big ones, or the small rocks covered with moss between naked rock. The rock type is also good. It is very natural, with little holes and different forms and textures. With time, some green algae will give it an even more natural feeling. I noticed, from some previous setup tanks, that you are training this type of layout. From what I saw, you have been improving your skills and this one is by far the most impressive layout you have made in this type.

As for the plants, you said it yourself. More time is needed to let them show their beauty and compose more the layout. Time is the key factor but, a good setup from the start like this one is a great help for things look nicer when " judgement day" arrives.

Regards,
André

Navarro · 12-02-2005, 06:20 PM

Not ready yet but much better at list.

Urkevitz · 12-02-2005, 06:29 PM

What a change. The tank looks so different now with the plant growth. The rainbows add to the scape too, looks like the are flowing with the hardscape.

Piscesgirl · 12-02-2005, 06:33 PM

Luis, I love that tank -- it's beautiful!

tsunami · 12-02-2005, 07:22 PM

Just testing something for Luis:

There we go.

Carlos