Planning 2ft cube tank

[Star-flog]

Following is my planned 2ft cube tank set-up and any comments to make it 'perfect'?

Thank you.

[crandf]

How about replace the riccia with something else.?
And it may be very hard to see your hairgrass, so either raise their substrate level, or use the taller eleocharis whatisname?). And expect your HG to start growing all over the foreground too, so you may want to consider inserting a curved divider at substrate level.

[vinz]

Keep it simple... forget the hairgrass and stick to riccia and sags. The similar colours of riccia and sags may not contrast enough... Alternatively, replace the riccia with Glosso or moss.

[Star-flog]

How about replace the riccia with something else.?
And it may be very hard to see your hairgrass, so either raise their substrate level, or use the taller eleocharis whatisname?). And expect your HG to start growing all over the foreground too, so you may want to consider inserting a curved divider at substrate level.

Thanks for the comment.
I was thinking to use hairgrass to fill up those gap under the my 3 branchy driftwoods. Aso the hairgrass might able to hold down the Riccia?
Isn't it true that these two plants live together in the wild...

[Star-flog]

Keep it simple... forget the hairgrass and stick to riccia and sags. The similar colours of riccia and sags may not contrast enough... Alternatively, replace the riccia with Glosso or moss.

Right, Keep It Simple..both Riccia and Sags are bright green colors, right? If I would to add another plant, what would that be? Taiwan moss tie on the branchy driftwood? OR...

As Glosso might a little problem with lighting because this is a 2ft height tank!

Try to achieve the "Zen" look..

[Fei Miao]

Thanks for the comment.
I was thinking to use hairgrass to fill up those gap under the my 3 branchy driftwoods. Aso the hairgrass might able to hold down the Riccia?
Isn't it true that these two plants live together in the wild...

I assumed since it's a 2ft cube, the height will be 2ft feet as well, will you be having MH?

...make sure you have enough light penetrate to the base, especially the hairgrass you intend to have under the driftwoods as they will be in the shadows.

[Star-flog]

I assumed since it's a 2ft cube, the height will be 2ft feet as well, will you be having MH?

...make sure you have enough light penetrate to the base, especially the hairgrass you intend to have under the driftwoods as they will be in the shadows.

Yes, it's 2ft Cube so the height will be 2ft. The water volume approx. to be ~225L/60G.

I plan to use 3 x T5 light (24W x 3 = 72W) and the LFS people said it enough because it's a T5. The usual WPG rule can not apply to T5 lighting? I don't know but have to wait and see when the equipment all in place to test.....

Considered MH before, but the heat generate can be too much and not ready to invest a chiller yet!

[Star-flog]

After taking in some members advice, I re-designed my 2ft cube tank layout as following picture (top view).

Lighting Plan: 3 x T5 = 24W x 3 = 72W
Complete CO2 Set-up

Further comments?

[vinz]

I'm wondering in the hair grass is too short for its location.Also in my minds eye, the back will be too bare despite the hairgrass and driftwood. Too much space between the branches.

As for the riccia and glosso... try not to make the boundaries too neat in the actual setup, else it'll spoil the natural look.... but usually its afactor of how they grow in.

Maybe fill the gaps between the branches with Java ferns. Make sure they are tied to the base of the wood, so that the branches still stick out. I imagine in nature, plants like java ferns will get snagged at the forks of the branches and then grow colonies there. The wood looks balanced in your drawing, but they will be drowned out by medium/large plants(if you take my suggestion) or bareness. Try getting wood that are longer and spreads wider... almost reaching the opposite walls.

Just my 2 cents worth .

[Rugrat]

Agreed with Vinz that you should forget the hairgrass. Its a difficult/expensive plant to maintain.

[|squee|]

I vote to keep the hairgrass. Get the long variety ones, somehow all I've been buying are the short varieties. Your driftwood arrangement will have to be very strong.

I personally don't like Riccia, so I'd say take that away instead, and use Nanas scattered around the bases of the woods. The glosso is good.

The most important thing is the driftwood arrangement.

[Star-flog]

I vote to keep the hairgrass. Get the long variety ones, somehow all I've been buying are the short varieties. Your driftwood arrangement will have to be very strong.

I personally don't like Riccia, so I'd say take that away instead, and use Nanas scattered around the bases of the woods. The glosso is good.

The most important thing is the driftwood arrangement.

Thank you all for the inputs, look like I need to change something on the plant selection!!

Squee, you're right. I plan to get the long variety hairgrass to use its as background plant. It should go well with root-like wood.

I like Riccia because of the pearling effect and it make the water looks very clean and clear. As for the glosso, I never get this plant right in my 3ft and always grow upward instead of sideway. Therefore, this time I'll use ADA aquasoil and hopefully it will grows nicely.

Regarding the Nanas, don't know what is the plant and has to get more information.

Vinz, I probably use the height different between Riccia and Glosso to create the boundary. The Glosso will be on the substrate whereas Riccia tie to rock/granite.

As your recommended Java Fern, the leaf can be a little to big to go welll with Riccia & Glosso and therefore thinking thin & long hairgrass to be better option.

The thing I concern most is the lighting needs for all this plants and hope the 3 x T5 is okay!