Starting Amazon Style (journal perhaps)

[Henlek]

Hi All,

After all the good teachers and teachings at this forum, I thought I would like to just share a start to my 2nd tank, currently at the 3rd week of DSM. Idea is to create a natural amazonic look in the near future with tons of plants and weeping moss "weeping" down from the branches.

May any good teachers comment and advise....

[thebaldingaquarist]

Very nice. Good focal point. If you have some smaller rocks can consider to break the hard lines from the big rocks to the front.

Camping for more pictures!

[Henlek]

Thanks Erctheanda! I figured that midground plants will soon cover most if not all of the areas surrounding the rocks, smaller rocks would disappear.

Still minor adjustments before flooding due to HC & HG DSM. I will post more pictures for you!

(I don't seem to be able to attach clear stand alone pics like others can? Mine always have this grey bracket and the paperclip thing like above)

[thebaldingaquarist]

Haha! Will wait for it!

You might want to upload to sites like photobucket and put in the image URL into the post. Then it not be paper clipped.

[Henlek]

Here's another angle.



Thank you again Erctheanda! Did a photobucket like you said, immediately! I have some pics where weeping moss had been tied on the branches, will post. It's a real pain to maintain moss during DSM.

[thebaldingaquarist]

Looking good, looking good!
I tried dsm before. In the end, I threw a USB powered humidifier into the tank.. Haha.. Anyways the USB humidifier is a cheap china branded gift I got.

[Henlek]

I have done many DSM, many failed. Then.... I realised... Singapore is natural humidity already. My later DSMs, I never covered air-tight on the top, it kills whatever is inside, simply too hot, especially with T5 lights. I just use an 5mm plastic sheet suspended 1-2cm over the tank just to prevent over drying (ceiling fan right on top) and dust. Works wonders, never failed ever since. Air-tight wrap is only applicable to cold climates I suppose. I'll try post pics of my plastic lid and the progress of HC/HG DSM.

[thebaldingaquarist]

I have done many DSM, many failed. Then.... I realised... Singapore is natural humidity already. My later DSMs, I never covered air-tight on the top, it kills whatever is inside, simply too hot, especially with T5 lights. I just use an 5mm plastic sheet suspended 1-2cm over the tank just to prevent over drying (ceiling fan right on top) and dust. Works wonders, never failed ever since. Air-tight wrap is only applicable to cold climates I suppose. I'll try post pics of my plastic lid and the progress of HC/HG DSM.

I never bothered with wraps, my fat clumsy fingers seems to crumble them up even before using them. Hahaha.

So far, my dsm attempts have 50% chance of failure, primarily due to laziness. Oops!

[HeMan]

Thanks for sharing.
Very neat and nice layout.

Would be great to know your tank specs too

[Henlek]

Hello Everyone,

Tank: 2.5 feet, 75cm x 45cm x 45cm custom made (only front is crystal glass)
Lights: GLO 2 x 39w T5 6500k
Filter: Eheim Pro3 600
Chiller: Hailea HS28A
Co2: JBJ solenoid

Actually the tank is sitting on a 2 deck cabinet, the hole on the right is the lower deck meant for shrimps only tank.



I also added weeping moss recently, very very difficult to keep moist, spraying it forever;



Got fed up, decided to self help to keep moisture in;



And the gap at the top;

[kohanson]

Very nice layout. Wish you sucess for your HC and HG.

[jamonbutter]

How long did it takes for the growth at the branches?

[nicholasliao]

Subscribed. Awesome layout. Will be checking in for more updates. currently looking for ideas to set up a biotope tank for corys.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

[qngwn]

very nice hardscape? worried about the amount of lights, if they're enough to support the plants that you're growing.

[Henlek]

Very nice layout. Wish you sucess for your HC and HG.

Thank you kohanson. They are growing well, no melting or mold, just ocassional yellowing which I will trim off. HG is very easy though, producing new strands like daily.

[Henlek]

How long did it takes for the growth at the branches?

Hi jamonbutter, I just tied it, photo taken immediately after. My limited understanding is that emersed growth for moss is slow. Once flooded, it should grow wild fire with good ferts and Co2.

[Henlek]

[QUOTE=nicholasliao;735422]Subscribed. Awesome layout. Will be checking in for more updates. currently looking for ideas to set up a biotope tank for corys.

Thank you nicholasliao. Will post progress. Can't wait to flood it.

[Henlek]

very nice hardscape? worried about the amount of lights, if they're enough to support the plants that you're growing.

Bullseye gnqwn, I was silently worried my lights would not be enough. Now that you mentioned, I really need to do something about it. To add another hanging light is so ugly, do you have something in mind? My wife already complaining the living room look like stadium, don't know how she would react if I add another 2 T5.

[aquarius]

Nice hardscape ! Looking forward to the final result of how your tank will eventually look like.

[Henlek]

Thank you aquarius! Will require many more advise from you and others to make it! Like bro gnqwn pointed out, I can't run away silently with that little lights I have and hope for good plant growth. Sometimes I wonder if 2 X 39w T5 6500k is too little for my 2.5ft tank? It looks very bright, just that my camera pictures does show it in my posts.