2ft Low tech rescape. ideas?

[georgelam]

Hi everyone. This is probably my 3rd rescape. The previous scape had too much hair algae growing everywhere. So i removed most of the plants and decided to start again.

flora
Nana
java moss(at the back)
Monte Carlo
right side and middle plant unsure

fauna
4x ottos
4x galaxy rasbora
3x german blue ram
2x steel blue apisto

Im trying to think of ways to make some caves for my apistos. This is also the first time im trying Monte carlo as a carpet. Previously i tried glosso but failed. I hope this succeeds. I also feel that its lacking somethings but im not sure what yet. Ignore the breeder net. I was about to remove it.

Im open to suggestion for plants and scape!

[georgelam]

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[georgelam]

I have been reading up on using fertilizers such as excel.

http://www.sudeepmandal.com/hobbies/...-planted-tank/

Is there anyone who can recommend a simple fert regime for a beginner? I read that using excel can prevent algae(I currently experience hair and green spot) I hope that it will help my Monte Carlo to spread too. Can anyone help confirm? Thanks for any input.


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[jiajuen900]

Excel can help slow algae growth to some extent. Spot dosing has also been known to kill off algae. It is an alternative source of carbon for plans so it will definitely be beneficial for the plants.

Since it is a low tech, you could consider just dosing micros occasionally. Could use Seachem Trace and Iron. Dose weekly.

[mercur1al]

Middle plant looks like some form of Cambomba, possibly cabomba caroliniana.

For a low tech tank without CO2 injection, excel could help, but don't expect it to work wonders.

For my tank, I dose excel daily, and flourish twice weekly. Growth for stem plants relatively fast, slower for the carpet hairgrass.

Take note that excel lasts for roughly 12 hours, so I dose in the morning. What light are you using, and what's your lighting cycle like?

For green spot algae, I have it as well. What I do is to manually remove it by rubbing using a sponge. For hair algae, do more frequent water change, cut down on lighting duration and add a couple of Siamese algae eater.

[georgelam]

Thanks for the information. I think i will go with flourish and excel like mercur1al. How much of each should i does for my 2ft tank. Correct me if I'm wrong but trace and flourish both seem to be for trace and micro elements. I also have cherry shrimps and some fauna as mention above. Will dosing ferts affect them?

As for my lighting i am using up aqua pro z and i turn it on from about 10-6, about 8hours. I water change 20 percent every week.

Im not really bothered by the green spot algae as most of it are on the glass and i can easily scrape them away. But the hair algae keeps getting into my moss and plants.

What do you guys think of the scape? I rarely see people doing heavily planted tanks or aquascape for cichlids. Thus the lack of inspiration..

[georgelam]

Update! Here's the end result of my rescape! Comments please.

And I also found a new snail in my tank. Can anyone id the snail? Is it harmful? Should I remove it?

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1417939595.056198.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1417939608.881374.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1417939661.201407.jpg


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[limz_777]

the yellow/black snail ? aquascape for cichlids as in apistogramma ?

[georgelam]

Yup limz_777. The black and yellow snail. And yes aquascape for apistogramma. I can't seem to find many nice ones. Any ideas?


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[Urban Aquaria]

If you want to replicate the original apistogramma habitats (sand base, lots of tangled wood, few plants, tannin stained water, dim lighting), then blackwater biotope aquascapes would be ideal.

Otherwise most ADA nature aquarium style planted aquascapes can also house apistogramma too, since they are low pH softwater fishes anyways. Just look through the numerous competition and ADA gallery aquascapes for inspiration.

[georgelam]

Thanks UA again! I don't really want to replicate the apistogramma natural habitat. Thanks for the advice. I've been flipping through the galleries and forums for inspiration. The issue is that many of those scapes are high tech scape. I did come across cherabin's low tech scape which was really nice and green and tried to replicate it somehow. But i'm still new to aquascaping and have a rather tight budget so the results are far from his..

What do you think of my scape? I waiting for the monte carlo to grow out and the nana and java ferns to grow denser too. But it might take a while considering this is a low tech tank. But the good thing is low maintenance and less trimming

[CalvinTBC]

That is a horned nerite snail, good for algae cleaning and only capable of breeding in blackish water so no snail issue if is freshwater.


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[georgelam]

Thanks Calvintbc. UA cleared that up with me already so all is good. Snail is crawling around non stop.


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[Urban Aquaria]

Thanks UA again! I don't really want to replicate the apistogramma natural habitat. Thanks for the advice. I've been flipping through the galleries and forums for inspiration. The issue is that many of those scapes are high tech scape. I did come across cherabin's low tech scape which was really nice and green and tried to replicate it somehow. But i'm still new to aquascaping and have a rather tight budget so the results are far from his..

What do you think of my scape? I waiting for the monte carlo to grow out and the nana and java ferns to grow denser too. But it might take a while considering this is a low tech tank. But the good thing is low maintenance and less trimming

Yeah, it all depends on which aspect you want to focus more on, either the plants or the fishes. If you want fast and lush plant growth, then best to go high-tech. Low tech can also work, just have to wait longer for the plants to grow out.

For your setup, i guess you are focusing more on keeping and breeding the apistos, so the low-tech layout and use of easy growing plants is a suitable combination.

[georgelam]

Thanks for the encouragement Hopefully i find success in both breeding and growth haha. Will update as soon as there is progress.

[limz_777]

For apistos, there are plenty of ideas, but hard to balance both, if you see proper ideal setup is usually unkempt ones, not much disturbance , left alone for them to breed.

[georgelam]

Agreed. But i prefer the greens seen in many planted tanks. Too much poison. My apistos seems to doing well and rams are breeding.
Think i will get some basic ferts like excel and flourish to nurture my monte carlo carpet...

[Phillipians]

Breeding fishes and having very lush green/red aquascape is very conflicting. Often times you find yourself sacrificing one for the other. Choose wisely hahahah... If you are really into apistos then its best you focus on them not plants. Check out tropica site and look at the easy plants to have a feel of what you can keep to complement the apistos. Gut feel; probably nanas, ferns, moss, cryptocoryne species, and such.
With these plants, if you can do a great hard scape, I can still envision a nice aquascape.

[Gavan]

you FOUND a horn nerite snail in your tank? how lucky!! they're definitely a welcome visitor cos they are the only things that can actually rasp on GSA.

one thing, excel is not the be-all-and-end-all solution for non-co2. as mercurial said, it can help but don't expect it to work wonders. worst still, it can absolutely kill off some kinds of plants. search around in forums, there are compiled lists/discussions of what dies under excel dosage.

or, you could learn the hard way like most of us


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[fireblade]

Monte Carlo can grow well without CO2... I placed some BBA infested Monte Carlo in my guppy tank without CO2 and light and only beside the window, and guess what... BBA gone and Monte Carlo turned into a big patch of green floating plants..