Plug & Play Aquascape

**michael lai** · 21st Sep 2006, 09:32

Hi folks,
Sorry for the bad pictures,

want to share with you my 4 footer which is a plug&play tank. Basically, both the javafern hill and the moss DW in the centre was bought from the farm and place into position. The only plants that required a period of time was the tenellus lawn, which covers about one third of the foreground. Therefore I can change scape as and when I like but only for the mid and background of course.

**mikhail** · 21st Sep 2006, 10:07

Nice concept indeed

I use to have something like that... moss wall and tenellus lawn... then bolbitis, moss and fern tied in 3 pcs of branchy DW. If I get bored of the arrangement, I just change positions of the DW and the look will change almost instantly.

**michael lai** · 21st Sep 2006, 10:54

Hi Mikhail,
Thanks for your kind comments, precisely what I had in mind( shifting those DW around, fast and easy ).

I also admire those folks who keep huge tanks and the discipline and hardwork that goes into maintaining them. Sometimes, I can be quite lazy...

**Quixotic** · 21st Sep 2006, 12:04

How come so dark? What is the fauna in there? Any CO2?

Interesting concept, easy like changing clothes, so everyday different pattern? Muahaha...

**michael lai** · 21st Sep 2006, 13:11

Hi Quix,
To answer your question, I'm a aspiring photographer so standards are kind of low

. Water is heavily stained as the DW is new and yes Co2 is present. Fauna is Torpedo barb, Barilius bakeri( what's left of the batch anyway ) and rasboras tri....something. Algae crew 1no SAE and 2nos x Gan's plecos which is displaying some very interesting body markings and colouring.

As for the changing as the name implies, no fuss.

**Happy Camper** · 21st Sep 2006, 18:10

Hi Michael

Hope you don't mind, I adjusted your pics a bit so that they were more visible. At least you can see the fish now

**Happy Camper** · 21st Sep 2006, 18:11

Oops double post, please delete.

**michael lai** · 21st Sep 2006, 19:38

No worries, cameron.

**Justikanz** · 21st Sep 2006, 22:49

That is one nice and thick tenellus lawn!... I know it is usually considered easy but then it still deserves a

...

And what are the crypts used?

**Puffer** · 22nd Sep 2006, 09:04

Hi Michael,
Nice tank. Just a question from me a novice - are those fish with black and red line Florida Flag Fish?

**Justikanz** · 22nd Sep 2006, 09:15

Puffer, do you mean the 4 biggish fish in this picture?

If so, then the answer is 'No'. They are commonly known as the 'Denison's barb' or 'Red-line torpedo barb'. among other names... Puntius denisonii is the scientific name. They are barbs.

The Florida Flag Fish (Jordanella floridae)looks that the fish in this link: http://www.aquahobby.com/gallery/e_J...a_floridae.php

**michael lai** · 22nd Sep 2006, 11:51

Originally Posted by Justikanz

That is one nice and thick tenellus lawn!... I know it is usually considered easy but then it still deserves a

...

And what are the crypts used?

Thanks for the compliment, Justikanz

. Growing it is easy but maintaining it is

, they are everywhere! The crypts are Undulata 'red' on the left of the tank and tropica in the mid ground. In between, there are wendtti brown scattered around and griffiti if I'm not mistaken.

Puffer, as Justikianz replied, it is the Denison's barb or 'Torpedo' if you like

**Justikanz** · 22nd Sep 2006, 16:48

My tenellus would-be-lawn died off suddenly... after I tried to pull some to thin the lawn and to remove some algae infested pelia and moss in between the plants...

I so envy you...

Undulata 'red'... Hmm... That is 1 new crypt I can try... haha...

... if I can get my hands on them...

**michael lai** · 22nd Sep 2006, 17:16

I don't know, man. If you see me trim you'll probably freaked out. They grow everywhere so I literally pull and cut, real messy stuff and I cut the leaves by half, they can get real tall. Worst, they trapped alot of debris as they are very compact.
Undulata red is readily available, mine just changed leaves from emerse to submerse culture. It's quite a beautiful crypt but must be patient and wait for them to mature. If you need some, I might have some left in the 'Kraken' somewhere.

**ahaetulla** · 23rd Sep 2006, 16:08

nice tank! like the moss wall.

**valice** · 24th Sep 2006, 08:49

Micheal, I agree on the ET lawn being a PITA... So you just do a lawn mowing of the lawn?

I really hate to pull them up as they are creeping everywhere! and slowly the whole plant becomes fat...