My 2nd noobie low tech planted tank

**Goththug** · 28th Mar 2011, 14:58

My itchy finger could not resist the temptation to try out new scapes and since I cannot afford to have another tank, i had to decommission the old one.

Here is a pic of my old tank before tearing it apart.

Photo Mar 28, 2 40 29 PM.jpg

Just finished cleaning up the tank, and tried some arrangements with my newly purchased driftwoods and old stones. It will be a low tech tank, without any CO2 supplement, powered by Aquazonic's LED light and the trusty 2213. Room temperature is always around 26 to 27 degrees.

Photo Mar 28, 2 38 30 PM.jpg

First try, and felt that the wood on the right would look better if it was set higher.

Photo Mar 28, 2 35 55 PM.jpg

After a few tries, managed to achieve what i wanted.
Will be getting some narrow leaf ferns to cover the ugly gaps between the driftwood and stone. Other plants that i have in mind are mini nanas, and crypts if possible.
Will be placing a Java coconut husk and a clay "cave" as i intend to keep some Apistos in the future.

This is my second attempt at scaping, and i hope everything goes smoothly.
Opinions and comments are most welcomed.

A long day ahead of me to get things done!

**Shadow** · 28th Mar 2011, 15:35

You might want to add rocks on the left hand side as well to balance it out.

**Goththug** · 28th Mar 2011, 15:46

Originally Posted by Shadow

You might want to add rocks on the left hand side as well to balance it out.

Hi Shadow, i intend to place the Java Coconut husk on the right side just below the driftwood, and add a few stones around it to mix it in.
Thanks for pointing that out, will be keeping that in mind when i'm working on it.

Anyway, i got a question. I will be reusing my lightset which is the Aquazonic LED light (2 Ft), i know we can't calculate the WPG when using LED, but will it be enough if i were to add a CO2 system?

**Shadow** · 28th Mar 2011, 16:19

I never try LED light set yet but since your plant is crypt an nana, it probably OK. Furthermore you are injecting CO2.

**Goththug** · 28th Mar 2011, 17:33

Originally Posted by Shadow

I never try LED light set yet but since your plant is crypt an nana, it probably OK. Furthermore you are injecting CO2.

Thanks for the advise, might consider upgrading it with a co2 later after i have set up the tank.

**Goththug** · 29th Mar 2011, 11:31

It was a long night yesterday, but none the less i have managed to finish the scape.
Tied some mosses to the driftwoods, placed some ferns and nanas to cover up the ugly gaps. Planted some crypts and also Hydrocotyle verticillata together with my old E.tenellus.
Encountered a major problem when i started filling the tank. The driftwoods floated!!! It was a pain trying to get it down, i ended up using some old pebbles to weigh it down, hopefully it gets waterlogged soon enough.
Intend to add more ferns and plants after the tank starts to establish itself.

Here are some pictures that i took after the water cleared this morning.

Photo Mar 29, 10 46 01 AM.jpg

Photo Mar 29, 10 42 00 AM.jpg

Might consider adding a pressurized CO2 system to this setup to speed up the growth of the mosses.

**julian_lim** · 16th Apr 2011, 12:10

I really like your set up

**v_nod** · 17th Apr 2011, 22:51

Hi, what's the plant with the circle leaf in the centre of the 1st photo? and can I know what substrate you're using? Thanks!

**Goththug** · 18th Apr 2011, 15:42

Thanks julian_lim! got lots of improvement to make.

Originally Posted by v_nod

Hi, what's the plant with the circle leaf in the centre of the 1st photo? and can I know what substrate you're using? Thanks!

The round plant i think is Hydrocotyle verticillata, i bought it from seaview and there was no name written on the bag. Substrate im using ADA Amazonia II.

Updates to my tank:
• Added pressurized CO2
• Added a couple of Christmas moss walls on the back of the left corner and the right side of the tank
• Added some riccia stones on in the center of the tank

Will update with some pictures in the near future!