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Well, as politely demanded by Tetratech, I hereby share with you all a few pictures of my tank for the first time ever (and by the way Tetratech and Little Fish, it has nothing to do with shame, just shyness).

This is a 96 Litres or about 25 gallons tank. It's been through several phases until it came to be what it is today which I'm pretty content with. So here we go...

(Before we start, I have to apologise for the quality of the pictures as I have never really mastered the art of photography or the art of buying a proper camera)

First Picture
Second Picture

These are the oldest pictures I still have of the tank and they are from when it looked it's best, in my opinion, and it's from the first post-CO2 phase of the tank. The first pictures shows the left-side of the tank with Eusteralis stellata (taking notes, Tetratech?) and also showing how I began failing with HC. The second picture shows a wider view of the tank with some Ludwigia inclinata "Cuba" on the right. The leaves were actually pink, but I was never able to show that in pictures. As you can see it's also not very focused.

Well, about after that time things went down hill and the inclinata in particular started showing signs of not being happy. As this tank wasn't originally set up with the intentions of a seriously planted tank I decided to start from scratch and set up a whole new tank with plants in mind. This will be my 200L/50G tank which I might talk about later.

Third Picture

When the CO2 was moved to the other tank I rearranged the tank similarily to a tank I've had and liked in the past. The idea was for the anubias to grow on the V shaped wood with the Blyxa aubeertii growing so tall that it would float on the water and shade it. The right hand side was supposed to be left open with low growing plants (Echinodorus "Tropica", Hygrophila "Compact) and the rear right hand side of the tank a star grass. This had lasted for a wee while and things grew slowly but nicely until the day came when I've had enough of the white gravel and decided to change it. While on a visit to the fish shop I was introduced to a piece of wood which I thought was perfect for what I didn't have in mind, and so we get to:

The tank as it looks today

Meet the wood. The substrate was changed from the pea gravel to ADA's Power Sand Special and Aqua Soil Amazonia. I've utilised most of the plants that were there before and added three types of Java ferns: (from the right) Windelov, Undulata and Narrow (Tropica Java Fern is on order, and might get the red one as well) and Anubias nana petite on the wood itself. There's a little bit of Eleocharis in the front, don't know if you've noticed it, and the most important thing: the annoying Juwel filter was changed in favour of the lovely green Eheim.

This set up has been going on for about a month now and I'm pretty much happy with it.

Plans for the near future:
* As I have a spare pressurised CO2 set I'm going to set it up on this tank to supply about 15ppm of CO2 as those plants don't need more than that.

* Remove the stem on the right and fill that corner with the aforementioned Tropica java fern.

* Wait for the everything to grow some more and then tweak the scape.

* Enjoy it.

(* And learn how to take pictures properly too! Perhaps)

That's it. I hope you're happy now, Tetratech.

Cheers.

Untitled No. 4,



What are/were you shy about? All these pictures show really beatiful tanks (or the same tank in different stages). You clearly have a design talent that is levels better than mine.

I can't wait to see pictures with the grass all grown in.

If tetratech can get you to show your tanks for the first time then I hope to be able to convince you to show them again and again.



Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Thanks for the compliments Ingo.

To be honest, I decided to begin with the better tank of the two. The other tank might be coming up as well. It might be more interesting to you Tank Log people as the design hasn't changed much since it was set up 6 months ago and the worst bits of it will put your worst bits to shame.

I really don't think that my design talent is better than yours, I simply think that your tank is harder to scape than mine due to the proportions of it.

Thanks again for your kind words.

Very Nice. Where did you get the driftwood, It looks wonderful... Also the quality looks pretty good and is that a Jewel Cichlid in there?

Chris

Thanks you Chris.

The driftwood I got from the fish shop I usually buy my stuff from. I liked it the moment I saw it as I've realised it would look impressive in the tank (which it does much more in real life than in pictures).

As for the fish, I think you are referring to the Bolivian rams? Other than that couple there is another female german ram, three ottos and a couple of tiny tiger shrimps hiding somewhere.

Cheers.

Untitled,

It was long overdue that you showed us some pics.
Not sure what you mean about the photo skills the first too pics look great and I really like the Estella and Cuba in those shots even those it's not colored up. I would have like to see the whole tank in those shots, but I'll take what you've given.

As far as the today shot. I think you have a nice foundation for a full lush scape eventually. It kinda reminds me of my 12g in which I have a piece of DW down in the middle with wisteria wrapping around it in a sort of boomarang shape. Nice Job!



My Scapes

I believe this is the first time I've seen your tanks, and they look great. Can't wait until that the 'claris starts filling in.

they look great.

and I am not remotely jealous.

do you still use that shop in Bethnal Green?

must STILL go and investigate.

am now going off for a sulk.

one tank is cloudy cos of meds, my other tank? all the plants have died except the crypts

_______________________________________
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.
Harvey S. Firestone

Thanks everyone for your kind words...

Tetratech + Cup Of Lifenoodles: This tank is still young but even without CO2 the growth is really good so it might fill up quicker than I expected. I think it's thanks to ADA substrate as the plant never grew that fast in the tank in the previous substrate and only the substrate has changed.

GFG: Yes, I still do shop at Wholesale Tropicals in Bethnal Green. It's a good shop with a very good selection of fish. However, everything to do with plants (except of the DW) I get online at:

* AquaEssentials: everything for the planted tank except of the plants themselves. Worth checking out even if you're not in the UK as it's really nice. Great service!

* Birstall Garden Centre: This is where I get 95% of my plants. They stock Tropica plants which means you'll never be disappointed (well, perhaps during check out) and their service is also very good.

As for your plants and meds, are you using the London tap water in your tank? If you do it would be a good idea filter them before putting them in the tank as it kills everything. I've had so many problems before resorting to RO and since then the only problems I've had are my fault.

Cheers!

Untitled No. 4 and GFG,

You folks live in London? How I envy you, my favorite city in the whole wide world (at least as a tourist) .

Untitled No. 4 - I followed your link (broken, but I figured how to get to the site) to Birstall Garden Centre, very nice plants. I liked the "checkout" comment you made . While I was there, I saw some description of a floating plant that surprised me a little:

Azolla caroliniana is a small floating fern housing blue-green algae in its leaves - Wow, does that mean that the owner of this plant would introduce BGA on purpose to the tank? Just curious.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Little Fish,

Firstly, I fixed the links. It wasn't my fault but I fixed it. Have a look at the Aqua Essentials site as well, you'll drool!

Birstall are very nice but I don't know why they don't bother to put the whole Tropica catalogue and get it done with, because everytime I want to buy plants I have to go through the process of making my own list, and so on.

As for the aforementioned plant, the Azolla caroliniana, I have not experience with it but logically it does mean that if you put that plant in your tank you're adding some blue green algae, although it is probably a symbiotic thing that goes between them and the plant makes sure it doesn't get out of hand. Would I put that plant in my tank? No, thank you. I don't like floating plants anyway.

Yes, I do live in London, and I'm quite sure that GFG does as well, or else she's travelled a very long way once for just one fish...

Yep, I do - well just on the outskirts now used to live in London most of my friends still do.

and the fish is doing well! he is one of two I couldn't catch and they seem to have fun.

I have used aqua essentials before I like them, they re a lot cheaper than a lot of LFS's.

I have to go eat.

GFG

_______________________________________
Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.
Harvey S. Firestone