First Planted Tank - 4' Low Tech Set-up

[Valjean]

Hi all, as some of you know, I've just embarked on planted tanks and have been setting up a 4' low tech tank. Here are some pictures of it. Pointers and advice welcomed.

Overview of 4' tank:


Left Side (Narrow leaf java fern at the back and c. wendtii at the fore):


Right Side:


E. tenellus 'lawn' and Taiwan moss on driftwood:


C. wendtii (variant unknown):


Tank Specs:
Dimensions - 4' x 1.5' x 1.5'
Filtration - External cannister (Eheim)
CO2 - Nil (Excel supplemented)
Temperature - 26.5-27.5 (Fan-cooled)
Substrate - Lapis sand
Fertilisation - Rootmonster, Florapride, Excel

Flora:
Taiwan moss, Narrow leaf java fern, C. wendtii, E. tenellus

Fauna:
Neon, Black and Gold tetras, Harlequins, Otos, Cherry shrimps.

[grey_fox]

Nice simple layout, looks very organised Like it a lot, very natural looking. However your right side (back) is a bit bare. Maybe can add Vallis?

[Valjean]

Thanks for your comments.

Actually the entire rear-centre section, behind the driftwood, is bare because it is difficult to plant (obstructed from the top by the driftwood) and I ran out of tenellus. :P

As for the rear-right, I was considering more narrow leaf java fern but I'm not sure whether planting there would spoil the diagonal lines of the driftwood. Hmmm.. And also not forgetting that java fern has been a pain to plant for me (what with keeping it rooted and the rhizome above-ground. Argh!).

[benny]

That's some very impressive wood arrangement you've got there!! Can't wait for the foreground plants to grow and make the lawn compact.

Keep us posted.

Cheers,

[hirowen]

I love your DW and the arrangement. Good job. I believe it would be better if you can add in more plant at the right to cover that suction inlet.

[Valjean]

Thanks all for the encouragement. I'll try to lay my hands on more narrow leaf java fern to plant in rear-right and see how it looks.

The next thing now is to hope the plants flourish in this low-tech set-up. Ever since I brought the water temp down with a fan, the moss has been looking real good with light green tips everywhere.

The c. wendtii, however, is melting fast. Is this just part of the growing process for newly planted crypts? One forummer thought that these crypts may be in their emersed form. Or, are my crypts just dying already.

Perhaps I should have gone with nanas. Heh.

[valice]

Your crypts are in emersed form... So don't worry... Just snip off all the leaves and wait patiently for the submersed leaves to grow... And really patiently since yours is a low-tech tank...

[XnSdVd]

Badass driftwood you got there

[Fei Miao]

Thanks for your comments.

Actually the entire rear-centre section, behind the driftwood, is bare because it is difficult to plant (obstructed from the top by the driftwood) and I ran out of tenellus. :P

As for the rear-right, I was considering more narrow leaf java fern but I'm not sure whether planting there would spoil the diagonal lines of the driftwood. Hmmm.. And also not forgetting that java fern has been a pain to plant for me (what with keeping it rooted and the rhizome above-ground. Argh!).

Nice wood placement! ...mine experience with java fern is they grow better tied to driftwood than planting them in the substrate, Get them higher in the water current, they will do better there.

[RuiEstrelinha]

Nice tank, I am a lowtech tank lover!!

What is the light of this tank?

Best regards from Portugal

[Valjean]

Thanks for the advice. This will make them much easier to plant but then I prefer them planted directly into the substrate and there'll be the problem of placement of the driftwood they are planted on. Unless I partially bury the driftwood... or use some shorter plants to obscure the driftwood.. Hm...

Any suggestions for suitable midground plants? I like crypts but they seem harder to grow. The only alternative I can think of is a. nanas but these also need to be tied onto driftwood for easier planting and better growth I suppose. :/

Nice wood placement! ...mine experience with java fern is they grow better tied to driftwood than planting them in the substrate, Get them higher in the water current, they will do better there.

[Valjean]

Currently total wattage is unknown. I have 3 x 3' FL tubes temporarily but by end of this week my 2 x 54W T5s should be up - making it about 1.6wpg.

I hope my low-tech tank works out!

Nice tank, I am a lowtech tank lover!!

What is the light of this tank?

Best regards from Portugal

[Fei Miao]

Thanks for the advice. This will make them much easier to plant but then I prefer them planted directly into the substrate and there'll be the problem of placement of the driftwood they are planted on. Unless I partially bury the driftwood... or use some shorter plants to obscure the driftwood.. Hm...

Any suggestions for suitable midground plants? I like crypts but they seem harder to grow. The only alternative I can think of is a. nanas but these also need to be tied onto driftwood for easier planting and better growth I suppose. :/

Not true, crypts generally are not difficult plants, they just need time to settle in and they don't like being up-rooted too much, nanas can be tied to small stones and place on the substrate other plants for mid ground can the Blyxa japonica and many others to choose from.

[Valjean]

Updates.

DIY 4' T5HO (2 x 54W):


Overview of tank with T5s (much brighter than the 3 FLs previously used):


Moss is growing extremely well. Tenellus and narrow leaf java fern appear more or less the same (only a week or so since planting). Crypts are more than 50% melted! Waiting for new leaves to grow. *twiddle*

[valice]

You might wanna consider putting HM in your midground... Or stargrass...
In low tech tank, it would not grow so quickly...

[Valjean]

You might wanna consider putting HM in your midground... Or stargrass...
In low tech tank, it would not grow so quickly...

I'm still looking for plants, esp for the right background. What's HM?

[|squee|]

Here're some thoughts of mine:
Tie clumps of Riccia to flat stones and place them around the driftwood where it meets the ground. Helps me make the driftwood more settled looking.
You might want to get more Narrow Leaf Java fern along the back of the tank.. diminishing in quantity as you go from left to right. Bulk up the left side of the tank where it looks empty.

You have a darn nice driftwood, I say it again

[Fei Miao]

I'm still looking for plants, esp for the right background. What's HM?

Hemianthus micranthemoides, pretty strong lights for low tech set-up... IMO if you want to use these lights, must as well invest in CO2 system as well