Photobiography of my tank (1.5 ft Tank)

[lifestory]

30th October 2008:
Plants:
- Anubias (Wood)
- Java moss (Mesh)
- Amazon Swords (I think..)
- Glossostigma elatinoides
- Some spiky stem plant (Not sure)
Description:
Used Nisso 600 Co2 to release CO2. Boyu Hangon Filter. Dymax Fan. 18W PL.


03rd November 2008
Description:
Added rocks to make tank a more realistic look. Glosso grew slow and uneven. All other plants growing well. For the next few weeks, this progress went on with moss growing better and better while glosso started to grow but was getting really uneven due to uneven distribution of light. Changed to a CO2 Tank as well but was using improper tubing and a ...... wooden diffuser which is suppose to be for air (hehe.. gimme a break.. I just started ).

[lifestory]

18th December 2008
Description:
Plants:
- Anubias (Retained)
- Moss (Retained)
- Amazon Swords (I think, retained as well, correct me if I'm wrong here)
- Cyperus helferi (New in the background)
Description:
Previous layout didn't give the fullness and amazon effect that I wanted. I rescape the tank to give a slope from back to front and also a valley in the middle. CO2 equipment changed to a proper diffuser and tubing. Added dazs glass bubble counter as well.. really like how my moss was growing..

[lifestory]

25th January 2009
Description:
Best result I got so far. Change to cardinal tetras after I went overseas for a while and got a friend to take care of it (.. things went bad). Changed my Dymax fan to a Dazs side fan maintaining the temp at 26-27.

All plants grew well after I changed my CO2 reg to one with a solenoid giving more constant CO2 flow. Especially like how the cyperus grew wildly. Added new small rocks to line the valley and also to block some of the roots spreading.

What's inside now is CRS, Oto, Cardinals, Yamato. Most of them are hiding.. but thats the best thing about this tank.. it jus keeps me looking for my pets longer.

[the_r0ck]

Hey, very nice base scape. One thing though, the plant at the back seem a little too big, would you consider long hairgrass (or maybe rotala sp "green") instead?

[rainman]

wow.. you're using java moss on mesh as your foreground? very nice growth!

[yakie_19]

Hi Lifestory,

can really see the improvement in your scaping since you started last year. Keep up the good work!

Good Effort!

[WiNd08]

really nice tank!

would love to see some stem plants at the back though

[lifestory]

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback. Greatly appreciate it.

rainman: Yes its java moss. It really took a long time. but once I got the parameters right, it just blooms.

I see what I can do with the background.. rotala really seem not too bad an idea.

Below are some of the inhabitants inside this small tank of mine.

Bee Shrimp


Bee Snail


Yamato Shrimp


CRS

[Xianghao]

wow.. quite nicely done for a small tank. Maybe you can shift the valley slightly off center to the left? I feel that it will look more pleasing to the eye. And I agree with the r0ck, use plants with smaller leaves in the back for your small tank to make your tank look bigger.

[WiNd08]

may i ask what's your water temperature?

another point to add, you may want to change the cardinals to maybe some boraras or other smaller fish, that will make your tank feel bigger!

[lifestory]

Xianghao, i would try to make the passage off center, think it would be good too. as for the plants i really have to think about it, because the amazon swords has been spreading its roots deep, to remove it would be a hazard.

Wind08, my temp is about 26-27C. Thought about boraras but just preferred the tetras for its luminous blue it adds to the plant backdrop. but its a consideration.

Thanks again for the feedback guys.

[torque6]

Good scape. well done.

[Xianghao]

oh another thing is, you sure you want to keep crs with fish? the baby shrimps would probably end up as fish snack and that would be such a waste..

[lifestory]

oh another thing is, you sure you want to keep crs with fish? the baby shrimps would probably end up as fish snack and that would be such a waste..

hehe yeah its a concern, i just contemplating on a fan for my another even smaller nano tank. u think CRS might survive a temp of 29-30?

[JadeIceGreen]

Nice scape! There is a lot of improvement in 2 months. I like the placement and how your wood stands out.

[yakie_19]

Hi Lifestory,

29-30 degree is too high to breed CRS. Since you have a smaller tank, i would suggest that you use that tank solely to rear shrimps. This way, you will be able to appreciate the beauty of the shrimps better. I just set up a 30 by 30cm tank just for my shrimps, and I also set up a 1 ft tank also for shrimps. both are in the process of cycling.


Hope to see more pictures from you soon.

[lifestory]

Hi Lifestory,

29-30 degree is too high to breed CRS. Since you have a smaller tank, i would suggest that you use that tank solely to rear shrimps. This way, you will be able to appreciate the beauty of the shrimps better. I just set up a 30 by 30cm tank just for my shrimps, and I also set up a 1 ft tank also for shrimps. both are in the process of cycling.


Hope to see more pictures from you soon.

Think you read my post incorrectly. 29-30C is my smaller tank. 26-27C is this tank im posting.

good luck with your shrimps.

[lifestory]

Nice scape! There is a lot of improvement in 2 months. I like the placement and how your wood stands out.

Hey Jade,

Thanks for the comment. It was through lots of browsing and looking at inspirations from many sites including this forum. Have checked out your tank some day ago, very impressive equipment, hope your glosso grows well. Mine was really messy and unsightly due to my photo period.