4ft beginner scape

[Johnenrui]

tie like that will just grow into a messy bush. think you might prefer tying it around the rocks aggressively, trimming them down, to form those nice moss rocks. not sure if you know what I'm referring to.

buying narrow leaf fern, wait for good deal on AQ


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Actually I just want it to grow in between the cracks of the rocks pieces... Not really on the rocks.. Issit possible?
Also will the high temp (for the discus) be ok for the moss?

Haha as in marketplace of the forum?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johnenrui]

Im not sure if anyone sill reads this thread but oh well just to give everyone some updates!
I've decided no I'm not going to do a rescape... Too much work and time... But I've decided to do some modifications and additions!

Transferred the discus to the 2ft tank for a night while I make the changes... Worried that disturbing the substrate would affect the discus and stress them out. I couldn't be bothered with the tetras.. Impossible to net them out. Figured they would be hardy enough to survive the changes Anw.

I realised how good the discuses look with the carpet plants.. It really brings out their color!
Btw anyone able to tell me what species/breed or name these discus are?

So I decided that I would apportion some parts of the scape for a lawn! I had some leftover soil and a little by little carefully added it into the "back" side.. Where generally only myself would see... I was thinking since I've a dual viewable tank, I could explore having 2 "scapes" haha...

Here are the final product! I'm excited for the lawn to grow out! It has already seemed taller this morning when I took the photo!





I really like the look of it and it gives the tank some depth in perspective! I also used black plastic pieces to separate the sand and soil so hopefully it won't mix!

Front view:

Upcoming updates:
Adding some stones piled up on the left side in front of the driftwood...then will add some soil in front of the stones for a small patch which I will plant glossos... Just a small patch.. I don't really need it to carpet. Will plant just enough to fill up the part..
Will also have mid height plants in between the glosso and stones.

What do you guys think?
I also need to figure how to improve on the "path"

Really starting to dislike the look of the Amazon swords on the right side! Need suggestions how to fill the area!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johnenrui]

Delete: double post

[Urban Aquaria]

Really starting to dislike the look of the Amazon swords on the right side! Need suggestions how to fill the area!

Just remove it and replace with more stem plants that have smaller leaves... the smaller the leaves the better the scale perspective, helps makes the tank look even larger.

[jyn1989]

may i ask where you bought those discus from? and how much do they cost?

[Johnenrui]

may i ask where you bought those discus from? and how much do they cost?

Bro i PM you.

[Johnenrui]

An update: Added Glossos too!





I SPOTTED 2 "nymph-like" insects among the glossos! Anyone can identify and advice????

[Urban Aquaria]

I SPOTTED 2 "nymph-like" insects among the glossos! Anyone can identify and advice????

Yeah, those look like damselfly nymphs... they probably hitchhiked in as eggs or juveniles along with your introduced plants.

Those nymphs will hunt your smaller fishes and shrimps, so its best to remove them.

[angus]

how were the discus pair against the serpaes and red eye tetras during feeding time? Did they manage to eat?

[Johnenrui]

how were the discus pair against the serpaes and red eye tetras during feeding time? Did they manage to eat?

Haha I have to feed them strategically... Basically I will feed the tetras with pellets first then I will feed frozen blood worms using the feeding basket thing... So food don't float all around.
The discus are still quite aggressive and fast while going for the food! So they are well fed!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johnenrui]

Yeah, those look like damselfly nymphs... they probably hitchhiked in as eggs or juveniles along with your introduced plants.

Those nymphs will hunt your smaller fishes and shrimps, so its best to remove them.

Haha thank you.. As usual you are really knowledgable! I've learnt so much!
After that sighting of the 2 damselfly nymphs.. They mysteriously disappeared!

UPDATE:

The glosso carpet didn't really work out.. They were munched on and most of them were melting... I removed most of them and after doing some research I got riccia to try out! I honestly like the outcome and the glow of green! However I do understand the problems people face with riccia

Some photos






The hairgrass lawn is growing but slowly... At least they ain't dying.. I see a few new shoots! Just trimmed last night to promote spreading!

On a random note... I am a proud owner of a glosso carpet in my 2ft tank... I've since stopped dosing co2 excel or ferts for almost a week and hasn't seen the growth slowly down. Maybe because I added 50odd neon tetras that contributed to the CO2???





(Sorry you have to click on the photos for bigger images)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johnenrui]

YOU GUYS WOULDNT BELIEVE IT.
Now I have my very own damselfly... I woke up this morning and found a damselfly moulting on the cable of my heater.
Caught it and took some photos. Probably going to let it go later today.

Here is my very own lifecycle of a damselfly!
This hobby is getting very interesting.

Nympth stage:



Moulting:


Complete:




What's leftover:

[Ingen]

Most people flushed it away before it has a chance to molt haha.

[Gavan]

very cool! good that you released it too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johnenrui]

An overdue overgrown update.

Made some changes here and there...
I was hanging an old ugly 5ft T5 boys light beside my half working 4ft T5 light... And my parents decided that it was using too much of their utility and that the 5ft looked horrendous and out of place in my room they decided to simply buy an LED 4ft light...
Apparently they know nothing about specific light specs sufficient for plants and so when I saw the new light, at once I knew it wasn't so meant.
"Xiang Ting" was the brand... And I guess it was meant for lighting up arowana tanks.
But it has already been bought and I couldn't show my displeasure to the purchase which has their otherwise good intentions. They paid for it anyway.. And they pay the bills.
I replaced the 5ft with the LED to use along with the 4Ft (1tube with reflectors) T5. The LED has a yellow tinge but my T5 is more blueish... The combination was quite balanced.
I did abit of googling and the LED is modeled 5050... Different from the one I was eyeing to buy, 7020... With lower specs in terms of lumens. I found no information about color spectrum.

I do not think it is sufficient and might probably get the 7020 LED strip anyway....

Here's a photo of the LED along the T5.. On my overgrown messy tank with overgrown plants.. Haha..
Mixed feelings about how the tank look now...




On a happy note my hairgrass lawn is sending runners. Good sign! Considering adding more hairgrass around.. Not sure if they do well in the sand (mixed a little soil) substrate though.. We'll see...




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Johnenrui]

Haha haven't updated here for a while...
- trimmed the water sprite ALOT
- added one dwarf puffer fish (to try control the snail population- probably in the hundreds lol)
- added more red plants
- added more slow growing fern
- added downoi! Oh I love this plant! Hopefully it grows
- rearranged some of the plants

I am very happy with the current layout! Hope you like it too!

Front view


Back view


Can't decide which side I like more! Love both haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[juilian75]

Looking good. . I have a simple set of plants I use in most of my setups. Proven and low maintenance plants.
1. Cryptocoryne
2. Narrow leaves ferns
3. Rotala.var Japan
4. Mini-fissidens
5. Mini Nanas