[daryn]

This is my first attempt for an aquascape, its been ongoing for about 8 month or so and the rocks have always been in the same position but i mess about with different plants sometimes. I dont know what im doing when it comes to layout and stuff so all advice appreciated. Tell me what you think.

 

[Tex Gal]

That's nice. How about some lower plants in front of the rocks? Maybe trim the wisteria some. Good start.

 

[daryn]

Im stripping it tomorrow to add a proper planting substrate and was thinking of laying a carpet of Glossostigma elatinoides and building a mound inbetween the middle and left rocks for the Hydrocotyle verticillata thats there to be about just under half the waterline and the Glossostigma following it up, i was trying to get the Ceratopteris thalictroides (is this wisteria) to grow along the back pane creating a kind of overhang but keeping it close to the back glass so as to not block too much light out. How does this sound, i want something spectacular but im not good enough and sometimes i can go out and waste alot of money on plants that i change a week later.

 

[thereefsedge]

for me, and this all depends on whether u are going to go the natural aquarium way or the dutch way... but that rock in the center!!!!! the sharp or harsh edge to it. its all i see.its what my eyes focus on, and as i look at your tank that edge keeps pulling my eyes away from the rest of the tank. its good that you are using the rules of odds, but switch it up. try putting 2 or the rocks closer together, and the 1 rock on the other side of the tank... always play with your hard scape, and most of the time it will just fall into place.

 

[daryn]

Thanks thereefsedge thats exactly what i was needing, someone to tell me what to do, whats the natural and whats the dutch, ive been looking through past threads for some sort of guide on what the different techniques and styles are but cant seem to find any, id love to actually know what im trying to do rather than just random experimentation until it looks ok. Ive rearranged the hardscape a bit and im pretty happy with it but im really not happy with any of the plants, selection and positioning. I know its a nano but id really like it too look full with loads of texture and contrast with a proper sense of scale, but dont know how to achieve this.

 

[PlantsAndMe]

Nice tank! Yeah that center rock is very...attractive . What sort of lights are you using?

 

[daryn]

Its got 2 arcadia arcpod 9W. I would like it brighter but cant find anything.

 

[thereefsedge]

oh ok, a dutch aquarium= large amounts of plants with contrast of colors the reds and greens. and the o natural way, is to think of it like a little bonzi garden.

 

[Chuppy]

That's a nice nano tank you have there, Just checking, what are the kelvin ratings for the bulbs you're using? Im seeing a lil blue..

Drew

 

[daryn]

I cant find the box for the lights Chuppy so dont know im afraid, im new to this so all i really know is its got the supplied arcadia original tropical lamps and there 9W each. Im sure the box had more info on the side, ive had a look on the net but cant find anything other than wattage. Thereefsedge i want a dutch aquarium, the problem ive got is it houses a Betta splenden and if the tanks too open he will mutilate himself and take huge chunks out his own fins so the sides and back glass must be heavily planted anyway,so the fish is kind of demanding a dutch aquarium, the tanks 14-8-8 inch, could people please recommend some plants to try and some tanks for inspiration, i will be looking myself but in case i miss any(i love the look of some of the mossy tanks on here). Ive got a book called 'mini encyclopedia of aquarium plants' by Peter Hiscock, from interpet publishing, so i am trying myself but not really getting anywhere. Will i be needing to upgrade the lighting before i can put any demanding plants if so could i please have some recommendations. Thanks for all the help and opinions everyone i will put a pic up of how the rocks are later today.

 

[daryn]

Well heres the way the rocks are now, never mind the plants they will get changed when ive got an idea what to replace them with.

 

[daryn]

Well ive added some more plants and adding more moss soon to, what do you think so far, the white stones are getting covered with moss and some more slate will be added too.

 

[daryn]

Well i got round to doing some more of my scape, so what do you all think.

 

[cs_gardener]

The slate looks a little awkward right now, at least the 2 pieces that you mostly see the narrow edge of toward the left. I don't know if you really need them as the moss covered rocks were looking quite good on their own.

Have you thought about getting plants with smaller leaves? A nice stand of Rotala rotundifolia or Rotala green would provide plenty of cover for your betta but would be more in proportion with the size of your tank. Some other good plants are Hemianthus micranthemoides, Ludwigia arcuata (leaves are a bit longer but very narrow), and I think Anubias nana petite would provide some nice contrast without getting too big.

 

[daryn]

Thanks for the advice. Ive got a small bunch of rotala rotundifolia at the back between the two red plants, im hoping it will grow over the moss so you see the pink tops sticking up, i was also wanting to change the red plants to something like giant rotala and keep it trimmed to size but dont know if this will work and i know its tall but dont know the leave size, i wasnt sure of the slate myself but thought once the plants start to grow over it it might tone it down and help make it blend in, im wanting it bright and full looking, like one of the dutch style scapes.

 

[volkracing99]

Hi darynm,

what kind of light you using?

 

[daryn]

The lights are three Arcadia arcpod 9W PC, giving 27W of T5PC, they are decent but i feel it could be a bit brighter in the tank so want to buy the starter unit to power 2 36W PC bulbs but you cant get any reflectors for this type of bulb for a decent price in the UK and am unsure how to DIY one. The Glosso is going a bit leggy so think it could really do with the better lighting. Ive also just mixed my first batch of DIY TPN+ so the plants are getting better ferts compared to before.

 

[daryn]

Well ive added some plants with smaller leaves in the background, the local shop had a poor selection of unhealthy plants but i got some anyway just to see what it looked like with leaves of a better size for the tank, the DIY all in one fertiliser is working great, and there is loads more pearling off the plants with much faster growth, im not happy with the background plants and think i need to mail-order some and replant, what do you all think, all advice appreciated.

 

[daryn]

Thought i better put some shape in the background plants

 

[daryn]

Well the background plants are still a mess and im struggling with them but at least the glosso and moss are both growing and pearling like mad, overall the scapes not very good but im not changing it till i can get all the background plants healthy, they are showing signes of calcium or boron deficiency but ive heard poor co2 distribution or levels could cause the same things, the leaves on the background plants are much larger now compared to what ive seen before and there is supposed to be alot of pink in them as well but they have been getting larger, paler, out of shape and some leaves seem to be melting.