My First Attempt at Aquascaping

[soltari007]

Hi guys, sharing some setup pics of my new planted tank after 3 months. Starting to get green spot algae, but largely clear of the curse so far. Welcome any suggestions on my foreground as well, thanks!

First pose


Change background


Positioning wood


Tying moss


Current layout


Temperature: 27 - 29 Degree Celsius
Lighting duration: 7 hours*
Light: 39W x 2 = 78W
Fertilizer/Aqua Soil: ADA Amazonia
Sand: None
Rocks: Lava Rock
CO2: 1 bps
TDS: 110
pH: 6.8

[bluebubbles]

Very nice and wild looking. When I look at your first hardscape photo, my immediate suggestion is - GO FOR BUCEPHLANDRA. Your last photo with every pieces of the green is exactly what & where they should be. I got no more suggestion...hahaha

[soltari007]

Haha thanks for your kind comments. I think there's always something to learn from fellow hobbyists, please don't hesitate to give me pointers to improve my scape

[cobrafish]

Wow your water is so clear, Initially I was wondering why your shrimps and fish is inside when theres no water. Great job bro!

[HeMan]

Bro I like your concept of pasting the black oyama below
Really look like a water in the middle of a swamp forests.

Nice one

[soltari007]

Wow your water is so clear, Initially I was wondering why your shrimps and fish is inside when theres no water. Great job bro!

Bro I like your concept of pasting the black oyama below
Really look like a water in the middle of a swamp forests.

Nice one

thanks for your kind words, I'm lucky that somehow it's working out with minimal algae problems

Here's some pics:

[Orcishwarrior]

Nice! concept is there.
Fill up the Gap between rocks then probably plant E.Tennulus into the soil. The creeeping will blend into your aquascape well. You may consider Crypto Parva as an option for your foreground
Just my humble opinion

[bluebubbles]

hmm...now it is not about your aquascaping but the "poisonous" spread of your buce plants.

[barmby]

Ok. I am going to follow this thread : )

[soltari007]

Nice! concept is there.
Fill up the Gap between rocks then probably plant E.Tennulus into the soil. The creeeping will blend into your aquascape well. You may consider Crypto Parva as an option for your foreground
Just my humble opinion

Thanks bro I think the same! Yesterday I happen to come across really small-leaved hydrocotyle sp (sibthorpioides?) and I decided to put that in between the rocks to try out. The bonus is that hydrocotyle sp can be found in borneo too (did a quick check with a prominent borneo flora photographer ), and so i still maintain more or less borneo fauna and flora in this tank

hmm...now it is not about your aquascaping but the "poisonous" spread of your buce plants.

haha i'm a collector like you bro, other than new rhizomes nothing in the tank is repeated! It's really fun to see them grow, the immersed leaves look totally different from the emersed ones!

When I started collecting buce I shortlisted those that I wanted to see grow.. turns out that some of the plants look very similar, so I sold some and kept the others. I personally find it difficult to add them into a classic aquascape, like eriocaulon, how about you?

Ok. I am going to follow this thread : )

thanks bro! your tank's longevity is what I hope to emulate with this tank! everything inside can convert to low light low tech without dying (ok maybe a chiller or really big fan is needed to drop my ambient temperature of 31-32 degrees )

[soltari007]

Something came in the post!

[kuki]

nice plants

[barmby]

echinodorus uruguayensis????? hahaa...

[TS168]

Hi soltari007
So finally you got your Black Skeleton King. Look good. It will be very beautiful in your tank .

[soltari007]

nice plants

Thanks bro, I hope they don't melt into nothing under my care haha

echinodorus uruguayensis????? hahaa...

Where's the Echinodorus? I don't see it, but I want... Haha

Hi soltari007
So finally you got your Black Skeleton King. Look good. It will be very beautiful in your tank .

Yes my heart skipped a beat when I saw it, really black, and really beautiful! But as with many wild collected buce, there's much damage to the leaves and I can only hope that the new immersed leaves will grow to be just as big and lush.

My green Skeleton King had lost of its old leaves unfortunately, but this has also resulted in the immersed leaves growing out faster.. Interestingly the new leaves are red and stay that way for a while.. Here's a pic:

[barmby]

can you please identify the plants?

[soltari007]

can you please identify the plants?

Haha yes bro! Your wish is my command


Bucephalandra motleyana Brown "Silver Powder"


Bucephalandra sp. "Brownie Ghost Red"


Bucephalandra sp. "Blue Centipede"


Bucephalandra sp. "Brownie Helena"


Bucephalandra motleyana "Red Under"


Bucephalandra motleyana "Deep Purple"


Bucephalandra sp. "Green Skeleton King"


Bucephalandra sp. "Black Skeleton King"


Bucephalandra sp. "Keris"


Bucephalandra sp. "Lamandau mini"

[barmby]

tHANK YOU for the education. they are really new to me

[vreugy]

I don't think you can add to perfection. Love the tank. Love the look of the water down low. I too wondered how you were keeping your animals alive until I looked really good. Can you share what you used in the bottom of the tan?

Hope you have a great day

[mincedmeat]

I love the layout of the plants. The scape looks really natural!