Beutifull Apisto setup...my dream tank...

[Mez]

Hello all.
I currently have a spare 18x11x11 tank that i want to make into a very natural looking tank, my ideas are based around the tank setup seen below...
What i was wondering was, how could i use twigs, branches, leaves ect without having the sap leak out of them?
Any comments are very welcome.
Mez

[benetay]

Mez: you might want to consider getting driftwood, bogwood, stones , corkbark to actually try to make it as natural as it can be.

Boil your twigs, branches and later sun dry them will be quite safe to use.

[Mez]

Picture is working now...
Mez

[benetay]

Do you have Oak leaves over there? If so you may want to try it, just dry the leaves up and it shall work for you. For a safer way, soak the leaves overnight and again sun dry them before putting into the tank.

As i've mention you might want to try driftwood, bogwood, stones etc.

For the substrade you might want to use fine white sand which will look good too.

[Mez]

Yeah, the tank already has white sand...
Yes, we have oak leaves, but they are out of season at the moment...
i will add logs, wood and river pebbles, but i still wand that dark amazon effect like the one in the picture has..
Mez

[benetay]

Use a black background poster if not use peat to darken the colour or even blackwater extract so dark till you can't see anything ^_^

[Mez]

Yes, i will use a black background, and will try to get some blackwater extract...
Mez

[juggler]

Is this the sort of natural habitat where Apistos are found?

[Mez]

Something like that, they are from the Amazon...
Mez