[hoppycalif]

I just finished converting my aquascape to a low light set up, by raising my 110 watts of GE9325K bulbs 6 inches. This gives me the equivalent of about 1.5 watts per gallon on my 45 gallon tank. I am continuing to use CO2, and dosing daily EI, with a continuous water change system installed. My plants are all anubias, Java Ferns and Crypt Wendtii, with a few more to be added in a couple of days. Here is what it looks like right now:

The wood "sculpture" is a screwed together arrangement of African bogwood roots I bought on Aquabid, with Anubias nana petite attached with rubber bands.

My goal is an aquarium I can enjoy and not just spend hours pruning and fighting algae.

 

[davemonkey]

It looks good, especially the bogwood. What type of substrate are you using?

 

[hoppycalif]

The substrate is SMS over a layer of river silt, with the two mixed up pretty well in the bottom half. It has been in use for a couple of years, so when I yanked out my fast growing stem plants this time I pulled up a lot of clay. Fortunately it all settled back down under the SMS. But for now it stinks.

 

[ghengis]

Lookin good, hoppy. Is that a wavemaker on the right side? Is that to distribute CO2, or simulate a river flow, or somesuch...?

 

[hoppycalif]

Lookin good, hoppy. Is that a wavemaker on the right side? Is that to distribute CO2, or simulate a river flow, or somesuch...?

It is a Koralia powerhead, the #2 size, 600 gph, as I recall. The purpose is just to ensure that the water circulates well all over the tank. The fish seem to enjoy the added water currents, and it doesn't bother the plants at all.