The new 60cm

[celticfish]

ha, i see you were a busy bee after i left too. all the HC is in.
thanks for the cheapie fishies.
they are all doing fine and eating already.

[ranmasatome]

Yeah those buggers are greedy.. probably why they did so well in my tank.. lol.
Anyway.. Yeah was busy planting the moss and HC after you left. For the moss had to custom cut that grid piece i showed you and then tied moss to shape.. then placed at the back.. you cant see it now. As for the HC i dug out a patch of soil so there was an indentation.. put the HC in the "hole", then covered over them TOTALLY with the soil that was removed.. After that.. just slowly "fan" above the substrate, using the water movement to remove excess soil. So teh covered parts are covered and the exposed parts are exposed.. Its like instant HC!!..

[kemp]

ranma, i like your new layout of mixing HC and B.Japonica. Can't wai to see it matured with another updated picture ya!

[ranmasatome]

Its been a week but i've been busy tinkering with this tank cos i see it everyday... its just a itchy finger disease i have..haha..
Managed to get some fishes today and made some rock changes.. i think it looks much better now..
Pictures are crappy but just here now to give a general idea...
So what you guys think??


I'm considering a VERY light blue background, then taking the shot in high-key when its prime.. flash placed high up on background so that the top will appear white while the rest of the background will diffuse into the light blue colour..Any opinions?
sorry for the crappy pics.. just no motivation to take good pic when tank is not even ready..

By the way.. which picture you prefer?? the first or second one? its just fish positioning actually..i'm kinda mixed but am starting to waver towards the first photo.

[celticfish]

the first lah.
fills out the empty space on the top left.
i can just picture you trying to herd them to where you want them for the pictures!!
oh, same direction too...

[|squee|]

Are those ember tetras? If you use a light blue background you have to be careful, imho I tend to always see embers against a black/dark background to have a good effect.

Nice rock positioning

[grey_fox]

Hey Justin,

The embers compliment the scape really, really well.

look like little hobbits running around the hill in LOTR.

[kemp]

i would prefer the first picture. Hey! your scape looking good. I like your rock placement too, can't wait to see your foreground covered with HC!

[StanChung]

Hi ran,

I'd probably move the middle blyxas to the backas they kinda block the space. Don't you think so? In their place some small Erioucaulon cinereums would be nice [I'm not sure which are the small ones though, Roland may know]

Regards

Stan

[ranmasatome]

Actually i didnt heard them at all... it was just a case of adjusting which direction the current was flowing in order to get your fish there. They usually swim against current and where its strongest.. if i move the lily pipe above to blow clockwise (view from top) they would swim in front and to the right. If i position it so that it blows current anti-clockwise, they swim to right but at the back of the tank.

would the embers be too washed out in a high-key background Squee? Think i gotta do a test shot the next time and see what happens... you mean you've never seen them in a light coloured background b4? or jsut that the effect wasn't as good?

I also agree with the blyxa thing Stan.. when viewed from a sitting standpoint of view where your eyes are a little higher they work fine.. however when taking photo the camera is same level as the tank and they seem to block out some of the rocks.. think i'll change them to something else.. OH ya.. can you point out which blyxa you're talking about? i have a feeling i know which ones it is but just want to get your opinion. Do you think the 2nd stand (from left to right) is a bit too much?? like lessen that stand and remove the 1st stand and maybe place it further back or at the left corner?
What do the others think?

[StanChung]

Hi ran,

The Blyxa will eventually get taller and bushier. I've seen them reach height of 8-10 inches with an even larger diameter.

So these are the few which i think should be at the back. Hope you don't mind my squiggles.

Regards

Stan

[SmallFish]

Great looking tank !
i definitely prefer the First pic! The fishes fills up the left space nicely .. plus that lone yamato/malayan (cant see clearly) overlooking the "cliff"
also, after the fishes moved to right, the reflection on left back of tank seemed more glaring

[SmallFish]

by the way, wat hap to all the APPs .... i want !

[celticfish]

squee,
you should see the "pathway" behind the rocks. quite neat.

ranma,
ah, now i notice where your outflow is pointing.
maybe a shot of the back so they can see the stuff you've planted?

[ranmasatome]

smallfish, they are floating in another tank.. got quite a lot.. can come get them for a small token if you want...dont reply here.. just pm me.

Thanks for the suggestions Stan.. i'll see what i can do about those blyxas.. i cant plant in some of those areas as mentioned because i already have moss on the back area. However, i'll see what i can do.. perhaps change them to eriocaulon or something since they are smaller... but not necessarily easier..lol. But definately will shift those blyx.

Celticfish.. the back pathway already covered with moss jsut awating its exploding growth..lol

[celticfish]

ranma,
exactly, so the rest can see the before and after effect!

[andrewtyr]

very nice, Ranma, what are those reddish plants on the left?
Would be even nicer if you could cultivate some algae on the rocks!

[ranmasatome]

those red plants i dont know called what.. they look like bacopa furcata but they creep on the floor and dont grow tall.. i'd like to use it for a red foreground but dont think i have the time to do that.

Algae?? choi!! dont curse me ah..

[richietay]

Algae?? choi!! dont curse me ah..

like the sloping scape , good placement of rocks, you intend to add anymore plants?

[ranmasatome]

Dont think i'll be adding anymore.. in a small tank like this adding any more plants would simply be cluttering it.. i already find it a bit cluttering..will just let the current scape grow out and see what i get. Will update again when things have grown out a little more.