My Two Feet

[geoffrey]

Had a close AQ kaki help take these photo yesterday after I did my maintenance on Sunday. I thought the actual tank looks good until I see the photo. Boy, I am a long, long way from scaping a decent looking tank : (

Personally, nothing is there to capture attention. What do you guys think?

- Tank: 60cm(L) x 30cm(D) x 40cm(H)
- Lights: 2 x 36W PL 65000k
- Filter: Eheim Ecco 2231
- CO2 : Pressurised cylinder with internal reactor; coral as pH buffer
- Cooling and heating: none
- Substrate: JBL base with Europet gravel
- Fertilisers: LushGro Aqua; KH2PO4
- Maintainance regime: water change 50% fortnightly; 10ml of LGA and 0.5ppm PO4 weekly.
- Flora:Echinodorus tenellus; Cryptocryne wendtii; Cryptocryne nevilli; Bacopa caroliniana; Alternanthera reneckii; Hydrocotyle leucocephala; Anubias barteri var. nana; Echinodorus quadricostatus;Gratiola sp.
- Fauna: Harlequin rasbora; Cardinal tetra; Cherry barb; High-fin sepae tetra; Angel; Oto; Corydora
- Any other information: Setup in June 2003. No water parameters measured since.

[vinz]

Geoff,

I think the E. tennellus is overwhelming the rest of the aquascape, yet at the same time, they aren't dense enough. Their height make the tank look shorter and smaller then it really is. The lance-shaped leaf detracts from the similarly leaf-shaped plants in the background.

Changing to a shorter, denser carpet plant will improve things and allow the taller plants to stand out. Perhaps the other ET (Elatine triandra), Glosso, or hairgrass. I think the first 2 will look better due to leaf shape.

[Sleepy_lancs]

I think Alternanthera reneckii is a little weird in that location (my eye keep moving towards that section). I think you might want to put it near to the right focal point (golden intersection).

Perhaps you would like to move your pennyworts to the extreme left at the back. would make a nice contrast to your tank. Giving the tank some depth and in its place something light and green and compact.. maybe Micranthemum umbrosum and flowing towards the front of the tank... that should do the trick.

The foreground.. a little too distracting. Try something like what Vinz suggested. Or Stargrass if you don't mind trimming...

[chua]

Hi

Maybe you can add a black background.

[juggler]

Can't see the Crypts!
I like using smaller plants for small tanks. Gratiola is a bit big.
Angels are also going to grow big for this tank.

[Sleepy_lancs]

The angels will be eyeing on the Cardinal tetras too. expensive food though.

[geoffrey]

Thanks gentleman, will get it fixed. First to go will most likely be the tenellus. Crypts are small, very small.

I prefer without back-drop leh. It makes it brighter albeit less contrasting. Will get to work right after CNY. Ta.

[mordrake]

hi guys

how to make e. tenellus grow densely?
thanks to advise

[d2hpeter]

[quote:2b98115004="geoffrey"]Had a close AQ kaki help take these photo yesterday after I did my maintenance on Sunday. I thought the actual tank looks good until I see the photo. Boy, I am a long, long way from scaping a decent looking tank : (

Personally, nothing is there to capture attention. What do you guys think?

- Tank: 60cm(L) x 30cm(D) x 40cm(H)
- Lights: 2 x 36W PL 65000k
- Filter: Eheim Ecco 2231
- CO2 : Pressurised cylinder with internal reactor; coral as pH buffer
- Cooling and heating: none
- Substrate: JBL base with Europet gravel
- Fertilisers: LushGro Aqua; KH2PO4
- Maintainance regime: water change 50% fortnightly; 10ml of LGA and 0.5ppm PO4 weekly.
- Flora:Echinodorus tenellus; Cryptocryne wendtii; Cryptocryne nevilli; Bacopa caroliniana; Alternanthera reneckii; Hydrocotyle leucocephala; Anubias barteri var. nana; Echinodorus quadricostatus;Gratiola sp.
- Fauna: Harlequin rasbora; Cardinal tetra; Cherry barb; High-fin sepae tetra; Angel; Oto; Corydora
- Any other information: Setup in June 2003. No water parameters measured since.
[/quote:2b98115004]

sorry, this may be a side-track, apologise. But would like to consult Geoffrey of your opinion about yr Eheim ecco filter. Am thinking of getting a canister filter. thanks.

[Aeon]

I agree with vinz about the E. tenellus. Glosso will be a better carpet plant.
The overall layout does make the tank look small, probably due to the wrong carpet and angelfish.

Here's what I mean...

[Fei Miao]

IMO you need more mass at the right corner(the area near the reactor), right now the plants are healthy but gives me sort of the stringy feeling... you know sort of most of the plants are narrow and long, you need mass at the background. The mid-ground seems ok.

As for the forground, you have a nice open area, but the tenellus are too big and stringy, replace with Glosso/APP would be good, maybe APP as it is easier of the two.

The angels look like giants in the tank, keep just the harlequins, these will balance out the layout... hope that helps.