Wong's Experimental Low-Tech Tank

**wong1979** · 11th Jun 2005, 19:12

Here are some shots taken with my sis's Sony Cybershot 2.0 meg pix. Yucks, I can hardly hold it properly

Anyway, this tank is constantly undergoing renovation. Future layouts may differ depending on my mood

It just underwent a partial renovation today and still not exactly what I want.

Anyway, just to share some basic facts about this tank:
Non-Co2ed, internal filter (taken out during photography), Temp: 27-28 by fan, lighting 36 watts (PL) (during photography 2 X 36), Dimension: 60X40X50cm (LWH), Fauna: 10 rasobras,2 swallow-tailed fish, 1 fake SAE, 10 yamatos, 8 Cherry shrimps plus a dozen micro red shrimps that came from the mother

, some snails. Flora: Normal & Narrow-leaved java fern, anubias nana, 1 X red tiger lotus, glosso, mosses and a type of crypt.

**wong1979** · 11th Jun 2005, 23:10

Here's another shot at the same tank, same day with some micro adjustment as at 11-06-05 1030pm

**benny** · 12th Jun 2005, 08:43

Actually, it looks like a simple no frills tank. Easy maintanence and effective.

How long have you had it?

Cheers,

**wong1979** · 12th Jun 2005, 09:17

Hi Benny, weren't you the one who supported me in getting a DSLR

Well, I hope and I think I'll get one soon.

No frills? Many frills actually

In fact, I treat it like lego. Except for the lotus, crypt, the anubias nana at the front center, glosso lawn and the driftwood foundation, all others can be manipulated and placed anyway I like.

The plants have at a least one year lifespan submersed, less the potted glosso, which I just added 2 weeks ago. I had this 2 feet tank custom made about 2-3 years ago. It's high-lighted initially with DIY CO2, but I was succumbed to green dust algae and had a hell of a time killing it. Now, all is well with the current parameters kept.

**|squee|** · 12th Jun 2005, 12:36

Darn nice driftwood.

**budak** · 12th Jun 2005, 12:45

nice mix of wood and stones... i would tempted to insert more anubias/crypts under the wood, but looks great as it is.

**juggler** · 12th Jun 2005, 13:21

Very refreshing. Nice!

**wong1979** · 12th Jun 2005, 18:57

Originally Posted by budak

nice mix of wood and stones... i would tempted to insert more anubias/crypts under the wood, but looks great as it is.

More anubias? ummmm....it took me more than 6 years to gather that much only from a couple of plants. Give me another 2 years to grow more

**wong1979** · 19th Jun 2005, 23:30

Testing out link from photobucket.com

**wong1979** · 22nd Jun 2005, 14:55

Picture taken with sony cybershot U, with flash covered by index finger. Gory

**loupgarou** · 23rd Jun 2005, 10:22

hmmm: nice layout.. BUT i think the substrate would look better in black/ada. hehe

as it is now, its wanting to be covered up by plants, but not sure what would go well, glosso?

**wong1979** · 23rd Jun 2005, 11:17

As suggested, with black sand, it may look nicer. But I'm thinking that the black and the brown of the DW may not bring out the contrast, everything may just turn out BLACK

**anttz** · 23rd Jun 2005, 12:04

Overall simple and nice. But IMHO I think the plant on the front right-side don't blend into the rest of the setup.

**wong1979** · 23rd Jun 2005, 13:12

I'm still working on the right side. I intend to grow the pearl grass vertically so as to cover the filter from view. I've now removed the aluminium pot and tranplanted them onto the sand. I've also added rotala rotundifolia hoping to achieve some reds, but i think that's gonna be difficult considering only 36 watts of lights are used without CO2. But I'm starting to see some orange which isn't bad at all

**wong1979** · 27th Jun 2005, 01:14

Viva Convertible?

Doing a 50% water change at 1200 am

**|squee|** · 27th Jun 2005, 08:23

Can try

, Java fern emersed looks darn nice.

**wong1979** · 27th Jun 2005, 12:26

Added some twigs for fun. Looks cluttered doesn't it? yucks

Testing out eriocaulon sp. from Singapore (Tampines mountain biking track) without co2

**wong1979** · 4th Jul 2005, 19:16

Here's an update as of 04-07-2005. Taken by Canon EOS 350D using beginner's AF mode

Comments on photography greatly appreciated! How do I eliminate the whites on the leaves? Auto white balance off?

Cheers!

**|squee|** · 4th Jul 2005, 20:13

Cycling on those trails have paid off, looks natural indeed.

**wong1979** · 10th Jul 2005, 01:21

Yet another rescape

Water is a bit brownish tinited due to the fact that I did not treat the driftwood properly. Just a simple rinse only and I'm regretting it now

I removed most of the glosso lawn, I think I'll try hairgrass for a softer foreground look. As for the right side, after due consideration, I've shifted some of the ferns over in place of the stemmed plants, thereby creating another focal point. The main focal point, by chanced arrangment, is actually following a rule which Amano calls it the 1:1.618 rule. No wonder I always feel that I need to have a striking plant or feature there. But as of now, it's empty as I've shifted the narrow-leaf java fern to the right side to hide the filter. Now what can I place there? Grow another piece of fern?

Shot with 36 Watts PL

Shot with 72 Watts PL

Right Close Up

Left + Center Close Up

I think it's almost there now. Just need to cheat a bit and buy a whole lawn of hairgrass to grow