2.5ft tank journal

[juggler]

For the last one year since 2005, this tank was in a mess. No maintenance, plant growing wild, CO2 ran out, no water change. Finally decided to do something simple. I removed all existing plants and this is the rescape. Hopefully it grows thicker and require less maintenance from me.



Plants: Java Fern, Hygrophila polysperma (behind Java Fern), Blyxa japonica, Blyxa aubertii, Crypts, Lilaeopsis brasiliensis.
Fish: over-populated with mainly X-ray tetra

I think the Blyxa aubertii may not be suitable in the long run. I see how it goes.

Any comments welcome.

A year before the mess, the tank had looked like this:



Thanks. Cheers!

[richietay]

is this the tank beside your five footer?
it won't be long before Blyxa aubertii takes it's shape, will be very nice.

[kemp]

it's certainly a pity isn't it? the sep tank certainly was nicely scaped!

[SmallFish]

i actually prefers your previous setup - better scape, more shape, more compact ...

[juggler]

is this the tank beside your five footer?
it won't be long before Blyxa aubertii takes it's shape, will be very nice.

That's right. But I have no photos of that setup before I tore it down. It's a disgrace. The Sep-2004 tank I had entered for AGA competition that year - 名落孙山.

I tore down the Sep 2004 tank as it started to grew wild too..

[eddyq]

IMHO, without any visible wood or rock, the new scape looks very neat,quite uniformed arrangement like a parade square. Maybe once the plants start growing, scape might change.

[juggler]

Update for 2007. Still looks yucky.
The crypts made maintenance easier. But I still do not have luck with the Java Fern turning black.

Suggestions welcome!

[zenscape]

KF, your sept 2004 setup with a touch of red plants was nice. Consider that?

[Aquaboyy]

Wow great tank!
Can teach me how you did it?
What are the steps?

[CK Yeo]

koah fong! How about a C. prava lawn?!
I find the balansae in the mid ground is a bit distracting.

ck

[juggler]

Just an update on this low maintenance setup. Main plants are now Java Fern, Crypts and Cyperus helferi.

Comments welcome.

[torque6]

wow, 2 major size tanks. Your place must be really big to house both of these beauties.

[Cpark188]

Hi Juggler, Koah Fong.

This was a very old thread and looking at today update of your tank, indeed it was well maintained. Really admire all the effort you put in and thanks for the update. Give us roughly how a mature tank looks like and the interesting journal. Cheers.

[Fei Miao]

Going the distance!

I like the wild look for thsi tank.

[juggler]

Update for Nov 2008:



The giant Java Ferns are not growing well. Have hacked away some of the ugly ones. Hope fertilisation will help.

Seems like some crypts have been covered by Giant Pellia. Maybe a rescape is in order.