Modular Aquascqping

[azman_haron]

I didn't know you could grow hc without planting into substrate? How does it carpet then?? Can It work with glosso and is Co2 required? Haha I have too many questions..! But I'm now excited to try it out!

Btw what is the plant in your last pic? The brightest free on the top right side of the "island"?

Hi..there's no HC in this tank. It is one plant that I have given up on, as I cannot successfully grow it in all my previous attempts. It is the same with glosso I think it needs much cooler water than what I use, as well as stronger lights.

My favourite is carpeting plant now monte carlo. That's because it has been my only successful carpet!! It grows into a beautiful carpet, and with regular trimming, its leaves remain tiny just like HC. Here's my monte carlo grown at room temperature; CO2 at 0.5 bps. It's a 16 in tank, and it was grown submersed, and about 4 months to reach this stage:

monte carlo tank.jpg

Sadly, an irritating plant found its way into the tank as well, so it requires 2-3 times weekly clearing out. See this thread: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...wth?highlight=

The bright plant is hygrophila difformis. It is just wedged and squeezed into cracks and tight spaces. Surprisingly it grows very well despite not being rooted into the substrate.

[Johnenrui]

Hi..there's no HC in this tank. It is one plant that I have given up on, as I cannot successfully grow it in all my previous attempts. It is the same with glosso I think it needs much cooler water than what I use, as well as stronger lights.

My favourite is carpeting plant now monte carlo. That's because it has been my only successful carpet!! It grows into a beautiful carpet, and with regular trimming, its leaves remain tiny just like HC. Here's my monte carlo grown at room temperature; CO2 at 0.5 bps. It's a 16 in tank, and it was grown submersed, and about 4 months to reach this stage:

monte carlo tank.jpg

Sadly, an irritating plant found its way into the tank as well, so it requires 2-3 times weekly clearing out. See this thread: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...wth?highlight=

The bright plant is hygrophila difformis. It is just wedged and squeezed into cracks and tight spaces. Surprisingly it grows very well despite not being rooted into the substrate.

Thanks for the info! I might want to try out the hygrophila! May I ask where did you get yours?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[azman_haron]

Thanks for the info! I might want to try out the hygrophila! May I ask where did you get yours?

it's a pretty common plant, but I got mine from SeaView

[Ryan Peh]

I just started this hobby a month ago and I'm starting Low tech modular aquascaping in my 4ft too! But one thing I don't get is how you make your tank look so dense! If every plant is tied to wood or rocks, shouldn't there be small gaps between one bunch of plant to another?
My tank looks pretty pathetic LOL but I'm still in the midst of finding more plants to add in!
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1445749271.342078.jpg

[azman_haron]

But one thing I don't get is how you make your tank look so dense! If every plant is tied to wood or rocks, shouldn't there be small gaps between one bunch of plant to another?

Hi...welcome to the dangerous world of aquascaping!!!

The trick to letting it looked filled in and dense is to create volume. For this, in the 'island' of plants in the middle, I created volume by dumping old rocks and driftwood in the middle of the tank and then cover it up. But the fact that I have old rocks and driftwood is a sign of many failed previous aquascapes, that thankfully I learnt a lot from! But you can use alternative materials to create volume. Dennis Wong demonstrates how to do so in this video (thanks, Dennis!!) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OqRwjZIzhU

I also added plants that added volume as they grow, much like how a balloon expands when it is filled with air. And they will cover gaps in between the plants. These plants d include monosolenium tenerum (commonly called the seaweed moss), hygrophila difformis and blyxa. These are relatively cheap plants, and in this tank, they cost less than $20

My estimation is that all the plants in the 'island' cost $60. But if you prefer to have the immediate effect of a filled in tank, you can buy the bigger portions of ferns and nanas and place them in the tank. They will cost a bit more though.

My tank looks pretty pathetic LOL but I'm still in the midst of finding more plants to add in!

It will look great once it starts to get filled up. And yup, getting more plants to fill it up is unavoidable.

A trick I learnt very early on is that it is better to plant a lot of a few varieties of plants, instead of only a few plants from a lot of varieties. As it stands now, there are only 6 types of plants in the tank: blyxa, nanas, normal javas, long, narrow leaf javas (great for volume!!) seaweed moss and hygrophila

You also have got to play around with the positioning of the plants till you get one that is pleasing to your eye. So as long as you keep you plants tied to wood and rocks, it will be easy to make the adjustments. I have maybe gone through at least 8 variations in this tank. The last picture isn't even the latest one!!

I like your contrast of white sand and dark substrate. I am now experimenting with the same concept...so let's see where with both go with it!!



i did this yesterday, digging out the front portion and replacing it with white sand...so here's hoping for the best!!

[Ryan Peh]

I can't see your photo! It's broken..
But anyway!! Just sharing, I added some plant in the foreground that I have no idea what it is but I think it's buce..? Can someone help me identify?

[Ryan Peh]

Okay nvm for some reason my tapatalk app keeps saying I exceed my quote so I can't post the photo...

[Johnenrui]

Okay nvm for some reason my tapatalk app keeps saying I exceed my quote so I can't post the photo...

You may use a fee photo uploading host service from the Internet then post the photo here


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Goalkeeper]

Hi..there's no HC in this tank. It is one plant that I have given up on, as I cannot successfully grow it in all my previous attempts. It is the same with glosso I think it needs much cooler water than what I use, as well as stronger lights.

My favourite is carpeting plant now monte carlo. That's because it has been my only successful carpet!! It grows into a beautiful carpet, and with regular trimming, its leaves remain tiny just like HC. Here's my monte carlo grown at room temperature; CO2 at 0.5 bps. It's a 16 in tank, and it was grown submersed, and about 4 months to reach this stage:

monte carlo tank.jpg

Sadly, an irritating plant found its way into the tank as well, so it requires 2-3 times weekly clearing out. See this thread: http://www.aquaticquotient.com/forum...wth?highlight=

The bright plant is hygrophila difformis. It is just wedged and squeezed into cracks and tight spaces. Surprisingly it grows very well despite not being rooted into the substrate.

Very nice and compact MC!!!

[LaVsy]

Nice
Tempting me to tie all my plants to rocks.

will stem plants even work ?

[Johnenrui]

Quick question... What if I leave the plants in the plastic pots and Cotton? So I can just shift then around... Most of the roots are sticking out. Is it possible for the plants to survive and grow?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johnenrui]

Hi hi need some advice... I just bought MC tied to a rock... Quite a big pc and I'm wondering how it propagates?
Does it spread to the substrate? I'm using gravel mixed with some soil and sand actually... It isn't completely inert but i heard MC could adapt to absorb nutrients from the water


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Urban Aquaria]

Quick question... What if I leave the plants in the plastic pots and Cotton? So I can just shift then around... Most of the roots are sticking out. Is it possible for the plants to survive and grow?

You could do that... just that the plastic pots and sponge/wool wraps are meant to be temporary holders for the plants, they are all bunched up together so there isn't as much space for extensive root growth and efficient uptake of nutrients for all the plants due to the overcrowded environment. Its also doesn't look so nice when plants are still inside their pots in the tank.

I have kept plants in their pots for weeks before in my holding tank and i noticed some of the inner parts that don't get enough water flow will tend to rot, so its not really a viable long term planting method. Still better to either separate and plant those plants into substrate or tie them to objects so that their roots can get ample circulation to grow and get nutrients from the water column.

Hi hi need some advice... I just bought MC tied to a rock... Quite a big pc and I'm wondering how it propagates?
Does it spread to the substrate? I'm using gravel mixed with some soil and sand actually... It isn't completely inert but i heard MC could adapt to absorb nutrients from the water

The MC can actually grow attached to objects (thats how it grows in the wild and at plant farms too), it can grow water column or soil roots depending on the environment. It will naturally send out runners and creep along covering your substrate and objects as it grows.

[fireblade]

no problem with that...
if you trim the plants abit and leave it floating, you will see it turn to a floating football field soon if your tank condition is good for them.

Hi hi need some advice... I just bought MC tied to a rock... Quite a big pc and I'm wondering how it propagates?
Does it spread to the substrate? I'm using gravel mixed with some soil and sand actually... It isn't completely inert but i heard MC could adapt to absorb nutrients from the water


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johnenrui]

You could do that... just that the plastic pots and sponge/wool wraps are meant to be temporary holders for the plants, they are all bunched up together so there isn't as much space for extensive root growth and efficient uptake of nutrients for all the plants due to the overcrowded environment. Its also doesn't look so nice when plants are still inside their pots in the tank.

I have kept plants in their pots for weeks before in my holding tank and i noticed some of the inner parts that don't get enough water flow will tend to rot, so its not really a viable long term planting method. Still better to either separate and plant those plants into substrate or tie them to objects so that their roots can get ample circulation to grow and get nutrients from the water column.




The MC can actually grow attached to objects (thats how it grows in the wild and at plant farms too), it can grow water column or soil roots depending on the environment. It will naturally send out runners and creep along covering your substrate and objects as it grows.

no problem with that...
if you trim the plants abit and leave it floating, you will see it turn to a floating football field soon if your tank condition is good for them.

The MC was like this when I first put it in.
Some of the shoots have already grew taller towards the light.

UA thank you for your advice! I only leave them in pots because it is tremendously difficult for me to reach the bottom of my tank. The height of the tank is 2.5ft. With the stand it is already 1.83m high. I require a ladder everytime I need to change something. Even with the ladder my hand isn't long enough. I could try reach certain parts but most of the time it is hard.

Any solutions? Haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johnenrui]

Here is how my tank roughly looks now. I managed with much difficulty to plant some clumps of red lotus.

The plants in the back are mostly tied to wood or still in pots. I used a "rubbish picker" thing to adjust them into place.

Even the S repens are "modular" because I just squished a bunch of them between some rocks. I'm not even sure if they will spread and grow.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Urban Aquaria]

The MC was like this when I first put it in.
Some of the shoots have already grew taller towards the light.

Its natural for MC to grow taller to search for more light... especially so in taller tanks whereby light intensity tends to diminish alot nearer to the substrate.

You'll just have ensure it doesn't to get shaded too much by the other taller/larger plants and trim it regularly to maintain shorter growth.

UA thank you for your advice! I only leave them in pots because it is tremendously difficult for me to reach the bottom of my tank. The height of the tank is 2.5ft. With the stand it is already 1.83m high. I require a ladder everytime I need to change something. Even with the ladder my hand isn't long enough. I could try reach certain parts but most of the time it is hard.

Any solutions? Haha

No choice... with combination of tall tank + tall stand, the sturdy step ladder will be your best friend.

The only alternative is to switch to a shorter stand and/or shorter tank.

[AQMS]

Even with the ladder my hand isn't long enough. I could try reach certain parts but most of the time it is hard.

Any solutions? Haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You need a long tweezer..... i used a 60cm tweezer to do minor adjustment in the tank... mine is only 2 feet deep..

[fireblade]

can try something like this... if you need to move small rock or wood..

$_12.JPG

[Johnenrui]

can try something like this...

$_12.JPG

You need a long tweezer..... i used a 60cm tweezer to do minor adjustment in the tank... mine is only 2 feet deep..

I use something like this bros haha.. Thanks for the suggestion. Just that I don't yet have the skills to plant with this haha.. Plant doesn't stay in the soil when I lift and let go


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk