Vinz's 15cm Cube Planted

[vinz]

Just started a 15cm cube tank with leftover plants from the recent 3ft.

Apologies for the bad photo quality. Handphone camera... The colour is horrible! I'll try to get better photos with a 'real' camera.


Plants
Java moss
Bolbitis heudelotii
Cryptocoryne wendtii 'Tropica'

Fauna
None (yet)

Equipment
Dymax Robot LED
Dymax Hanging Overflow Filter

Substrate
J. Arthur Bower's Aquatic Compost
Dennerle Crystal Quartz Gravel - Roe Brown

Fertilisers
Seachem Flourish
Seachem Excel

I'm wondering if the LED is bright enough. Plus I think it's in the wrong spectrum. Something to monitor and research.

Dosing is an interesting challenge... I have to dose in 1/10ths and 1/100ths of a ml. Fortunately, managed to score a free 1ml pipette from the LFS.

[Biotopeshop]

the leaves of the crypt looked big in relation to the rest of the leaves..

[vinz]

Yeah. The Bolbitis were the leftovers small ones. If it takes off, I'll have to trim away big leaves or replace it. Big IF.

[ArCtic]

just wondering if is possible for this 15cm cube tank to house 20 odd shrimps and some forktails... as I am planning to setup similar size tank in my room.

[vinz]

Hmmm... I wouldn't put that many fishes and shrimps. Maybe just the 20 shrimp.

[vinz]

Here's a better picture. I've just added some mini Anubias.

[barmby]

vinz, I think you are quite rusty

[StanChung]

Colin-give him some aquascaping WD40 then!

Vinz-no way bolbitis is going to fit a 15cm cube.
Some small piece of driftwood, moss, HC or hairgrass would be nice. The crypt would grow big so it should probably be the focal point and put in the golden section-

I think this is your very leisure tank so I'm sure you're taking it easy.

[vinz]

I agree with your assessment about the Bolbitis (if it grows at all) and the Cryptocoryne.

You are also right that it is a leisure tank. As I mentioned earlier, I tossed it together with leftover plants... so no real plan in there. I put the soil in the back half of the tank only, so the foreground may not support any rooted plants.

Hmmm... just thought of experimenting with Sagittaria subulata as a wildcard plant. But I haven't seen that weed in the LFS recently. Anyone got some to spare?

I was considering Blyxa japonica for the back, to replace the Bolbitis.

Anyway, this is tank is using Excel and no CO2... so that's a limiting factor for choice of plants. I've grown Blyxa sans CO2 before and they just stay really short and slow.

[StanChung]

HC grows well with excel. I wonder how many drops a day/week for a tank this size you think?

I'm tempted to put a small tank in my bedroom because it's got air-conditioning but from experience feng shui not good-

What are you going to keep? Some fiery sakuras?

[vinz]

Sakuras? No shrimp for me.

It's a 3l tank. If I follow Seachem instructions... 7/100th of a ml. :-p

Maybe Coral Red Pencil fish? But they are really expensive. Galaxy rasbora perhaps?

[StanChung]

Get something that will breed. hehe- extra fun.
Seriously 7/100th of an ml is like you dip your fingertip into the bottle and use it to stir the tank?

[barmby]

StanChung, just some banter. I am sure vinz knows what it takes to do a beautiful scape.

Vinz, many years ago you gave me some Sagittaria subulata. It is still in my low tech 2 feet. Let me know if you want them back =)

[StanChung]

I'm Vinz doesn't like us talking about him in the third person. haha.
Just some 'friendly arrows'* since this is in the aquascaping forum.

*rubber suction cup tipped

[vinz]

Colin,

I don't want those back. :-p But I wouldn't mind getting some of their off springs. I'll let you know. Thanks.

[barmby]

Vinz, just let me know. you need then i pull. I find it very difficult to pull plants out of mature tank. They root very inside especially they are in low tech tank. Their roots are widely spreaded to suck up the nutrients from JBL base fertilizer.

[vinz]

Exactly why I like this plant. An easy robust plant with an extensive root system that keeps the substrate healthy. Thanks for the kind offer. :-)

[eddy planer]

oops, Vinz! Dont mind if I hack through..

I also want this offspring...let me know , colin,