Errrm...'Woodlands' biotope?

[sea_maestro]

Yelo fellow fishians! Just finished landscaping my small 1.5ft tank. Appreciate all comments ya.

Flora :
- 5 types including 1 java fern on driftwood
Substrate :
- Not too sure of the brand but the shop uncle told me that it has CO2 injected, so i was told not to get any expensive CO2 bottle or tablets.
- Mix with some gravel
Fauna :
- 2 ottos
- 2 leopard corys (cute lil fellows)
- 8 neon tetras (bought a total of 13pcs actually)
- 5 tiny malayan shrimps (1st time invested on this fellas)
Filter :
- 1 external hanging filter
Light :
- 1 fl clip lamp with moveable head (should be 7watts..i think)
Food:
- Pellets and flakes

So far so good....i hope i did a good job on the landscaping as a newbie..keke

[Verminator]

For a small tank there quite big plants, try to focus them toward the back, having a focal point toward the middle. Perhaps some smaller plants toward the front. More rock/wood to contrast the green would be good too. You thought about adding a backing to give it depth?

Nice little set-up

[sea_maestro]

really appreciate your comments - good advise for a newbie like me...thanks! But I've a question though;
- when can i change my landscape (since i just started 2 days back) ? Can i do it now?
- can i start to add my liquid fertiliser (easylife brand) ? add in when my fishies are in the tank or need to separate them??
Hope my newbie queries can be answered.

[Verminator]

You can change your landscape whenever you feel like it, obviously the less interference the better for the tank but really maintenance and/or changes can be made whenever you desire to.

Adding a background can be done whenever (if by landscape you refered to this - slight confusion on my part)

Liquid ferts can be added whenever you want, personally i'd wait till the 7/8th just to let things settle down and give the plants the chance to adapt to your tank parameters. Most product fertilizers are generally fish safe, always check though to be sure. So adding it whilst your fish are in the tank should be perfectly fine. Just follow dosing to the label, don't think adding more will increase growth. It will only give excess nutrients that plants cannot use and therefor you will have an algae bloom, which can be very hard to get rid of once started.

As with your fish, algae eating fish can be added after the first week of set-up, adding all/some fish before this is generally frowned upon. Although if adding bacteria enforcing products they can be added soon, but even then after maybe 3-4 days. We do this so that the tank can mature, giving the biological bacteria a chance to grow and enable life to be supported within your tank. Too many hobbyist buy a tank, set it up and add fish virtually that day...patience is very rewarding, and beneficial.

Opologies if that sounds very patronising and you already know this. For all i know you could have been in this hobby for many years and this was your first scaping project. Hope this helps. Any other questions feel free to ask, i shall do my best to help...or atleast point you in the right direction.

[sea_maestro]

You are good! I really need those tips yea. Merci! Well, I'll draft up my revised landscape at the moment..will take note of your previous comments. Hmm, maybe a 'Spongebob' theme! My mum got hold some pond pebbles for me yesterday..maybe will incorporate that to my new theme. Ok 'verminator', will keep you updated