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Originally Posted by donaldmboyer  You could switch the rock on the left with the rock in the center, and make that rock that was in the center point to the right.
I disagree with having a bright colorful plant in there! I would cram it full of java fern, anubias, moss, and some cryptocornes and leave it murky looking! I think it looks wonderful as it is, and would be great as a low light Lake Superior-looking trench. What type of fish do you plan to put in there? I would go with some sort of minnow or sunfish to keep the Great Lakes theme.
Very unique and terrific to see some people don't all go for an Amazonian or Malaysian look! I give you your due props! Keep us up-to-date......I'm very interested to see where this one goes! |
Thanks to everyone for your replies..but this last guy sort of nailed where I was going.
The wood, in my mind at least reminded me of some of the large, wind blown White pines that tower on the cliffs of Lake Superior..that you picked that cue up is amazing! I originaly wanted to go with all native flora and fauna, but I fear the native flora will be lacking...my intent was to almost exactly as you mentioned, to go with a "native" theme.
The angle of the wood was not an attempt to point in at anything, as I wanted the wood to be the focal point. It's too large to stand straight up..and besides, i just LIKE the "sweeping" look it has now. Again..the windblown shoreline/dark spruce forest aspect. The slate also was intended for that same aspect, the rocky shores of a far northern lake. I hope to get a good bunch of moss going on the wood, with a heavy low ground cover in front and on the far right " point" and have a "forest" look around and behind the wood. The mid will the the challenge here I think.
I may pull the 3 rocks, and possibly the large petrified wood...I love the petrified wood, but I cant' get it integrated into the layout to my liking yet. I may also try to find a more branch-type piece of wood to integrate into the "driftwood island" and perhaps break up the angular pointing aspect a bit..
Anyway...thanks again!
Oh, btw..the substrate is just plain ol' Lake Michigan littoral zone sand..complete with whatever critters were in residence when I harvested it! Approximately 75 lbs of dry weight sand.(I did let it dry out and then washed it a bit, to minimize die off). I actually had the sand and wood in before ever finding this place...so the idea of a commercial substrate was completly foreign to me!
I suspect I'll need to inoculate the sand or somehow get some nutrients into it..but the area I gathered it was heavily laden with emergent vegetation, so there must be some level of nutrients! I am both cheap, and fascinated with local "structure"..so would like to use as much hand gathered as I can.
As for fish..I'm torn. I want to use again, natives..so am considering a colony of stickleback, or a school of dace, or perhaps with some killies or central mudminnows(not sure yet..still need to study their habits), sculpins, or rainbow darters. Tank has a heater but it would not be needed for any of the above.
The fish will be added after the plants are established...so the first thing I need to do is decide those!