Zenscape's 4ft Mid 07 update

[zenscape]

Hi folks, below is an update and development of my tank over a span of about 1.5 years. The moss had grown out of proportion in the interim and I recently tidied it up. Looking forward to hear your comment for improvement.


Early 2006



Late 2006



April 2007



Mid 2007

[richietay]

Been a while since last seen your setup.
i like the patches of moss on the bogwood.
Very nice, thumbs up!

[juggler]

Hi Maurice, tank still looking good. You submitted it for the ADA 2007?

[zenscape]

Been a while since last seen your setup.
i like the patches of moss on the bogwood.
Very nice, thumbs up!

Hi richie, great to see you around. The patches are fissidens and I like it too

[ronald_t80]

Hi Maurice, nicely done up scape....must be very very tiring trimming the moss. Great work bro!!!

[zenscape]

Hi koah fong, thanks for doing a great job last year by helping us to submit for the ADA contest. Most AQ participants had done well last year. This year is online submission and easier for us to submit individually. However, we do not have the statistic on how many AQ members have participated this year.

Yes, I had submitted. Just try my luck and also, hopefully ADA will give me the contest result book. I really enjoy looking at the winning layouts in the result book 2006. Will they this time?

[zenscape]

Hi Maurice, nicely done up scape....must be very very tiring trimming the moss. Great work bro!!!

Hi Ronald. Ya, very tiring and I hate trimming moss.

[ronald_t80]

Maurice, I think got to pay 2000yen for the book right?
BTW why not you start a thread regarding the participants for ADA07. I got submitted for this year....

[Plantbrain]

Zenscape,

You did a super job here, you just may want to consider a few details.
The Java fern in the front could be fluffed up and doing better. Give it time etc.
The right side could be tidied up some. More red plants poking out of the rear.
Trim that ball of moss on the branch, mow that down to 1 cm or less.

Balling out of moss is fine in the lower reaches etc, but on branches it can look bad vs the well trimmed(use scissors).

A few water changes, like 2-3 x week for 2 weeks, cleaning the glass well each time and then a water change early in the morning and then a good photo shoot will really pull this tank off nicely in the final display.

Try these things and see.
You may also consider adding Anubias wondering through the mid level also for a different effect.

You might also pull the sand back from the glass some to give better depth perspective.

Give these ideas some thought and see if they help.
I like this tank, very good job.

Regards,
Tom Barr

[zenscape]

Hi Ronald, when should i pay the 2000 yen? Ok, subject to the objections of the moderators, I will start a thread to ask who has participated and hopefully they will show us the pic of their entries.

Hi Tom, great to hear from the renowned planted tank guru's comment on my humble tank.

I agree that the java fern on the sides is a bit of messy. It would be nice to have the centre piece of java all fluffed up but i need a bit of patient and luck. The ball of moss on the bogwood is getting thick. I get what you meant. Moss look their best when they just begin to bloom, thereafter, it just get thicker and more messy. Trimming moss is a headache for me because they keep dropping downward.

I have no luck in red plants. Just can't get it redder than i wish. Tried without success for many years all methods discussed before, like high light, more iron fert and just learnt from you, lower nitrate (which is risky). Really wonder how all those hobbyists with inspiring red plants in their tanks do it.

I have lots of Anubias and will try planting it at mid ground to see the effect.

As for photographic skill, I am still very lousy. I am considering getting an entry level Canon EOS 400D and learn from there.

Thanks again for your comment.

[ranmasatome]

Maurice,
Nice to see your tank again.. it looks really good...i'm definitely enjoying your post.