gene's planted 3 ft rescape

[genes]

Finally got down to do a rescape after procrastinating for sometime.
This was my previous scape. Got tired of the controlled look and the high maintenance involved and also some algae issues.



Tore down the whole tank, threw away most of the plants, and top up with new a layer of new gravel since my ADAsoil have broken down after almost 3 years of usage.



After cycling the tank for afew days with the new soil, in goes the hardscape with mosses tied onto them. Arranging the dritwoods for a wilder look then before.


After the driftwood and rocks placement is finish, planting begins. Low maintenance plants are chosen and i'm using 2X39W T5HO instead of the previous 4X39W T5HO. Decided to put a solitary plant on the right hand end of the scape. Scape is not yet complete, Still missing...right at the back of the "island" will be a row of cryptocoryne balansae. Around the base of the island will be christmas moss tied onto small pieces of wood.

Plants in this scape includes
1) Anubias nana
2) Bolbitis
3) Java fern
4) Cryptocoryne balansae
5) Echinodorus "rubin narrow leaf"
6) Weeping moss
7) Taiwan moss
Anchor moss
9) Christmas moss

[Simon]

hope to see the tank as it mature, but I still like the old layout :P

[tcy81]

ya i also think your old scape is very nice

[danbryans]

I like the latest layout. Lot's of potential.
Although the echi..looks out of place IMO.

[KeIgO86]

No offence, but the amount of rock and wood seems to be too equal. Its hard to find a focal point in the scape. Maybe you can try to add more and taller pieces of wood to it or remove some taller pieces of rock to shift the focal point clearly to the wood, or vice versa.

Just my opinion, sorry about my picky eyes.

[genes]

No problem, all comments are welcome... to busy to take care of the previous scape, plus the broken down soil and the abundance of staghorn algae prompted me to redo the tank.

I agree the rocks seems wierd. Too many of the same size i think. But once the christmas moss laid around the base starts to creep outwards, giving a carpet effect around the rocks, it should soothe the scape alittle as i intended, giving the focus on the woods and plants instead.

Actually, the echinodorus do not suit the scape at all. I purposely bought the echinodorus as a solitary plant. Because these plants are damn majestic when they are full grown.

[valice]

Actually, instead of a Echinodorus, why not a lily species?
I've seen a scape a couple of years ago where the lily was used superbly as a solitary plant beside a mount of plants. It gave a very interesting, serene, bonsai look to the tank. At first I thought you were trying to pull of that effect.

Btw, instead of using granite rocks, lava rocks might be a better choice. As the lava rocks generally are rock, it creates a rounded moss mount nicely.

[genes]

I feel the lily's big rounded leaves will spoil the overall look of the tank when the it matures, especially when the C. balansae grows tall with their long narrow leaves at the back of the island.

Chose granite rocks because of the texture. Didn't want to cover the whole of the rocks with moss. The christmas moss will be used as a foreground plant and will let is creep out around the island.

[valice]

Wouldn't the Echinodorus spoil the effect then?
Understand where you are coming from with regards to the rocks with the use of the moss then.

[genes]

Chose the narrow leaf variant of the Echinodorus so that their leaves matches the C. balansae leaves.

[Simon]

honestly, I quite like the position of the rubin narrow leaf. Although separated from the rest but still joined to the base (rdecoration layout)

[LoNgFei]

Are you going to do anything to the foreground or the surrounding?

Will the Xmas moss, do a nice foreground? actually i personnally do some trail with moss, I do think Mini-taiwan moss have the best foreground effect.

[genes]

The foreground will be christmas moss if i can find them. But it will not cover the whole foreground, the moss will be placed around the base of the island.

[andrephua]

looks pretty good. can't wait to see how it will look when the tank matures.

[genes]

Did some slight shifting of rocks and woods.
Added the C. balansae at the back. Still can't see them since they are still too short. Laid christmas moss around the island. Now too wait for all the plant to grow.



Side view

[LoNgFei]

Actually now I see it, I kind of like it as it gave the jungle effect..

Cool do update..

[V31]

Hi, I really like new setup. Especially the sideview is very impressive to me.

I'd remark all the tubes on the right.. i don't think it's necessary to have thermometer there. Also the rest of tubes could be arranged in less disturbing way. That;s my point
good luck

Regards

[Brian]

All the plants growing healthy green!

[genes]

Update on the tank. 1 month from setup.

[illumnae]

wow the moss ground cover has spread well!