My 1st attempt on a 4ft tank - The Path

[lantian69]

Hi All, just to share my recently completed 4ft project - The Path.

Welcome all comments, and let's exchange ideas & learn new stuffs everyday!!

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[mUAr_cHEe]

The setup has alot of potential. Are you trying to grow Japanese Mini Hairgrass as a carpet?

Maybe you can consider planting more to hasten the carpeting procedure.

[magpie]

Are those black lava rock, nice scaping. Any mid or background plants will you be adding?

[lantian69]

Ya, was trying hair grass. Any suggestions for mid or background plants?

[mUAr_cHEe]

I would not plant anything for the background, it really is very nice as it is. Your only problem is keeping the water pristine and glass panels clean.

I would recommend plant red bushes as a mid ground to provide more contrast. You can consider Alternanthera 'Rosanervig'

[lantian69]

Okok, will lookout for this plant. Me using crystal glass, so quite clear & clean to see... just have to maintain my algae level low.. hahaha..

[lantian69]

Hi Magpie, Yup those are black lava rocks.

[AQMS]

How many rocks are in there total?
and roughly what is the total weight?
i'm just curious,anyway the layout is superb.

[lantian69]

Eh.. total weight is abt 70+ kg, think abt 20pcs of rocks.

[lantian69]

Me started from this 2ft shrimp tank 2yrs ago.. in the end, I ended up with this 4ft....

[lantian69]

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Bro mUA cHEe, is this the plant you referring to?

[tureblue82]

Wow....4ft rockscape!...super grand looking!

Maybe if you want to emphasize/highlight the "path" in the middle more, can try to put some matching looking tiny rocks sparsely at the sides of the path,especially near the "entrance" area.

[lantian69]

Thanks tureblue82, have tot of that too. But black lava & my ADA soil can't really see the contrast. The other way is to put white sand on the path. But I'm still in dilemma abt the plants infront. Dunoe what to grow there to enhance the whole effect. Any suggestions from Bro shadow & Bro UA? 😄

[Phillipians]

Wah ! 70kg meaning your spent the better part of $500 on them! Your budget must be really on the high side; you are also using a chiller i presume since it 24.5degrees. Just a thought, why use T4 when there are so many types of LED in the market nowadays and judging from your stuff, you clearly do not mind spending a bit on the tank.

Haha, but I love the rock placement on the left. Very natural. There is a particular one on the right pile which seems a little unnatural. It is the 3rd rock from the sun... ahem... I mean from the left (the ones on the right section. Your left section is very good). However, of course we must also see how the plants grow into the blank spaces.

All in the all, I agree with most that the rock placement is really good. Just that you need some reddish/orangish plants for contrast which would help bring the focus to the pathway.

You can find Alternanthera Rosanervig, Reineckii etc. Gives it a splash of colour. However, I would be careful not to make it look too much out of place also as yours is clearly a mountain type of scape.

Kudos on the effort. I just just cant seem to do "rocks only" scapes right. I usually add some wood here and there.

[lantian69]

Yes Bro Philippians, running on chiller. Prefer T5 due for plants growth leh.. LED for plant growth is gona be expensive
The 3rd rock was added to prevent the soil from sloping down. And this is the best rock I can find in my collection -_-!!
Ya, agreed that I have to carefully select the plants as I am super noob in this. Hopefully can get some advice from the gurus here ;-)

[lantian69]

Bro Phillipians, does it look better now?

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[Phillipians]

Hahah you dont have to ask me. But i do like the new rock better.

[kurty]

Yes Bro Philippians, running on chiller. Prefer T5 due for plants growth leh.. LED for plant growth is gona be expensive
The 3rd rock was added to prevent the soil from sloping down. And this is the best rock I can find in my collection -_-!!
Ya, agreed that I have to carefully select the plants as I am super noob in this. Hopefully can get some advice from the gurus here ;-)

yo bro,

go to banggood and get yourself the up aqua U series, 7000k and energy efficiency.
definitely win win situation.

I'm using that for now.

[lantian69]

Yes Kurt.. Nice lighting.. But I will get some music from my wife if I am gona buy anymore accessory.... Wahahaha...

[Phillipians]

Just curious. Did you spend 500 plus on the rocks ? From fishybusiness?