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Hi Tetra,
Please, loose the white background. It screams cloudy water
but then one notices that everything in the tank is clear
and visible.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Hi Tetra, Please, loose the white background.

Well, I am sure tetratech knew that and added it only for the shots. And I have to say that for the first of the two pictures it is a truely great background color as it gives the impression of a landscape and not an aquascape, I just love that picture (well, there is one small area that is not so good, the righter half of the back end of the bottom of the tank, if you know what I mean).

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well, I am sure tetratech knew that and added it only for the shots. And I have to say that for the first of the two pictures it is a truely great background color as it gives the impression of a landscape and not an aquascape, I just love that picture (well, there is one small area that is not so good, the righter half of the back end of the bottom of the tank, if you know what I mean).

I knew your keen powers of observation would not let me down. LF is quite right, so don't worry Frank, the background isn't staying. It's really not even attached in fact I pulled the tank away from the background and let the suspended light fall between the back of the tank and the background to get that sky-type effect. That was a good way to put it LF that it looks like a landscape and not an aquascape. I'm far from a good photographer, but it gives a little glimpse into what these photoaquascapers do to get these great shots. Afterall aquascaping in our online communities including contests is probably 50% photo skills if not more.

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Afterall aquascaping in our online communities including contests is probably 50% photo skills if not more.

So true, and the rest is talent and the knowledge on how to manipulate your plants for the shoot so that the tank looks 100% better than it does on an "average" day, like "sure, my stems grow in bunches that allow no light in the lower halves but they don't loose any leaves down there anyway". And "I have never even one dead or dying leaf in my tank".

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Yes, there are shrimp in there.

Shrimp Heaven?



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Look closely what do you see?



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Riccia right through the belly?

Very nice shots BTW! Chery Reds are pretty sweet.

Speaking of breeding them from Matty's log. I have found that I never see my older really dark red females with eggs. It is normaly the little bit younger brighter red ones with eggs.



55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Look closely what do you see?

A hair net holding down the Riccia

And of course a very nice shrimpster,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Riccia right through the belly

Hadn't thought of that one, but yes you are right.

A hair net holding down the Riccia

Yes that was an easy one for LF, also did you see the bubble on the snout of the shrimp.

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Nice, I didn't see the bubble . Good to see there's actually some shrimp in there. I'll try to encourage mine to breed and grow faster for you.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

That's not a bubble, that's snot

This shrimp has a cold and it shows revers from humans, by expelling air bubbles.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

That's not a bubble, that's snot

Pretty gross LF!

A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!



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Really cool shot Tetra!

I reminds me of the Lion King!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Pretty gross LF!

Sorry

Anyway, that is a very nice shot (albeit I am not a fan of the Lion King )

It makes the shrimp look like a giant as all plants generate the impression of size (that does not exist). Perfect for a small tank

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I reminds me of the Lion King!

That's pretty fun, cause it really does look like that.

Anyway, that is a very nice shot (albeit I am not a fan of the Lion King

So in other words you don't like my tank.

My Scapes

Hey,

If you quote me the quote all the parts:

Perfect for a small tank

I like the tank, and yes - I confess - I see the reference to the Lion King. I just don't like that book/play/movie/musical/whatnot

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I like the tank, and yes - I confess - I see the reference to the Lion King. I just don't like that book/play/movie/musical/whatnot

Did the circle of life upset you?
Anyway, first hendrix,than, monkey skulls, crab legs, now lion king.



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Decided to rescape the nano. Here's the latest look.



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Hi,
Is that a fish in there, near dead center, top?
Or is it a reflection of something?
Frank



-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Looking very nice tetratech,

You created some great depth for a small tank and it sure looks larger than life. The only thing that I noticed is that, for my taste, something is off with the stem group. Maybe it comes forward just a tad too much, or maybe the stems are simply a little too thick (I know, they aren't thick at all, the rest is just very skinny).

And yeah - albeit I don't think that is a fish in there, I am with Frank, it sure looks like one. So it it is one, would that be a guppy or a galaxy rasbora?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

It sure does look like a fish. I would have to guess that it is a guppy. If not then it would probably be a shrimp.

The rock and riccia work in this tank is really great! You have done a great job with it.

I also think that the group of stems is too big for the tank. I thnk you need a smaller plant.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Thanks for the comments. Yes it is a guppy, I have about 4 fancy guppy fry swimming around in there temporarily.

The rotala leaves are a little big, but I used leftovers from the 72g and didn't buy anything specifically for the tank. Acutally the placment of the rotala is a little different but it's supposed to be the edge of higher ground over looking a lower area. Maybe that's not communicated effectively. Otherwise the rotala would have been placed more in the left back.

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The minor thing that somehow makes the intend of the Rotala dissapear is maybe the 2 foremost short stems. I think if you would remove them (or better the taller ones behind them and then place the short ones in their position) you would have somewhat of a gap between the front rock and the group. But maybe this is just my thinking without actually seeing the tank.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I think I'd like the rotala in there if they were overlooking the larger rock behind them. I really like this tank though. Very interesting.

Did the nana petite go?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Thanks for the comments. Yeah still playing around with it. I think this tweak below talks more to the edge of cliff over meadow I was kinda going for:



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That was almost exactly what I was thinking. Looks great

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

That does look better.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

That is a very nice shot, it could be easily made of a 20G Long

It looks very good, with one exception: The rock in the back left seems to fall backwards out of the landscape (aquascape). It somehow feels detached from the rest (to me, that is).

Otherwise, just beautiful

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

It looks very good, with one exception: The rock in the back left seems to fall backwards out of the landscape (aquascape). It somehow feels detached from the rest (to me, that is).

So hard to please!

Are you talking about the middle rock or the long one toward the front?

Here's a closeup shot of rock and shrimp:



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So hard to please!

Yeah, it drives me nuts too

I mean this rock in the picture. Do you see how it appears to be behind everything, even the lawn? As if it would not be part of the scape.

Ingo

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Behind The Scene

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I mean this rock in the picture. Do you see how it appears to be behind everything, even the lawn? As if it would not be part of the scape.

O.K. I would have never guessed that was the rock you were talking about, but now I could understand why you would mention that. When looking at the pic of the whole scape it appears that rock is sitting out there detached from the other rock group, but in reality the riccia valley runs through the gap and creates more depth. I'll have to show more pics I guess.

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I'll have to show more pics I guess.

Shweet. Good job LF

Very nice shot of the shrimp there tetratech. BTW, I'm (they are) still working on getting you some more shrimps. It looks like the second batch hatched out.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

Shweet. Good job LF

Very nice shot of the shrimp there tetratech. BTW, I'm (they are) still working on getting you some more shrimps. It looks like the second batch hatched out.

Everyone's got baby shrimp but me.

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Shweet. Good job LF

Very nice shot of the shrimp there tetratech. BTW, I'm (they are) still working on getting you some more shrimps. It looks like the second batch hatched out.

Everyone's got baby shrimp but me.


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I've only ever seen pics of females from you tetratech, so either you like to take pics of the red one, or you only have females, which is possible, because in stores they tend to only sell the red ones, the females. That could easily contribute to your lack of baby shrimps.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I've only ever seen pics of females from you tetratech, so either you like to take pics of the red one, or you only have females, which is possible, because in stores they tend to only sell the red ones, the females. That could easily contribute to your lack of baby shrimps.

Your spot on Matty. Both of my cherries are bright red. I was actually going to buy a batch online.

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I wouldn't mind if tetratech shows us more pictures, I haven't seen the big tank in quite a while now

Yeah, I guess having only females doesn't help in the reproduction scheme

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Yeah, I guess having only females doesn't help in the reproduction scheme

There are programs out there to help with such thinigs...

Tetra,
If you want we could work something for some shimp. PM me if you want to.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

To watch a slideshow of the latest pics, click the link below. I made some adjustments with the rock arrangement and I'm starting to really like it. Here's the link to a pic. Sorry I have to pull a Wings on yeah. Wings, tempting offer on the CRS.

http://community.webshots.com/slideshow/559047676FRonaT?mediaPosition=2&track_pagetag=/page/photo/goodtimes/friendsfun&track_action=/Owner/Shortcuts/Slideshow

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Very psychedelic tetratech!

Looking at the slide show zooms in and our made me dizzy

Otherwise, is that the process on how we are going to see your tanks in the future or is it only temporary?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Sorry I have to pull a Wings on yeah. Wings, tempting offer on the CRS.

Hey! I am known for something around here! Just let me know if you want some shrimp. It would be my first shrimp ship but I think I know how to do it.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Looking at the slide show zooms in and our made me dizzy

I think if you click on a pic in the slideshow it will go to still images of the album.

Wings, thanks I'll let you know about the shrimpsters...

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Nano Update.

A little beach action!

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2541117040048205226sSmhrQ

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2702410190048205226jKYnpD

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A little beach action!

I actually expected a surf board,

Anyway, I think the beach makes the tank look smaller than the full green area. Somehow, the rocks seem larger (and what is that gray rock on the right?) than before as well.

Otherwise, still looking rather large for a 5G, and healthy on top of it. Did you strip some Riccia of some of the smaller rocks?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Anyway, I think the beach makes the tank look smaller than the full green area. Somehow, the rocks seem larger (and what is that gray rock on the right?) than before as well.

I think the gray rock isn't as "water aged" as the other ones so it appears lighter.

Otherwise, still looking rather large for a 5G, and healthy on top of it. Did you strip some Riccia of some of the smaller rocks?

Actually the smaller rocks were taken out of the 72g where the rocks had been somewhat shaded. They should green up nicely within a week or so. This tank for some reason is very difficult to photograph. I don't know if it's the curved cheap acrylic or what, but it looks really good in real life.

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but it looks really good in real life

I know how that feels tetratech, I also think that the distortion form the curved acrylic and the surface of the water do not favor the tank's true look.

So, how often do you change the layout of this tank, at least partially?

And how often do you have to trim the Riccia?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So, how often do you change the layout of this tank, at least partially?

Well let's see, the tanks been up since Mid March and I've changed it about 4 times, although none have been complete changes just moving some stuff around or replacing rock for the wood, etc.

And how often do you have to trim the Riccia?

I haven't yet, so that riccia's been growing in there for about 2 1/2 months. Obviously much slower than in the 72g.

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That's a nice low tech low maint tank then. I'm jealous. Nice work tetratech

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I really like the looks of that little tank. It's hard to believe it's only a 5g itty bitty thing. I'm just wondering whether evaporation isn't a big issue? The volume isn't that big and with a lamp right on the surface and no hood to speak off I can imagine that the water level drops considerably over a few nights? I just have to look at my own 65g tank and even with the top of the tank covered for 95% with glass, I can still see a lot of water evaporation, with the waterline dropping nearly an inch per week (I do have a couple of fans active there to get the heat out of the hood, they take a lot of the water out). Do you top it off every other day or so?

Thanks for the comments Dr. Bonke and Matty. Well the tank is in my kitchen within a few feet of my big tank, so I usually just take a large cup of water and top it off whenever I start to hear the HOB waterfall, but it's pretty much good for a week between topping.

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Just out of curiosity, tetratech:

Once you add sand to a tank, I assume the only way to revert back to a full set of the partial substrate would be a complete substrate redo, is that right?

I agree, in particular for a low low low maintenance tank this one is a beauty

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Once you add sand to a tank, I assume the only way to revert back to a full set of the partial substrate would be a complete substrate redo, is that right?

Not necessarily, if your able to keep the two substrates separate via rocks, etc. you can just suck out the sand with a thin hose and replace with the original substrate. Also bottom dwellers that dig will mix the substrates somewhat as my kuhli loaches do.

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ah, makes sense

So, you divide your substrate from the sand with rocks all the way to the bottom of the tank?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

So, you divide your substrate from the sand with rocks all the way to the bottom of the tank?

Now that being said, you will still get some mixing as I said from bottom dwellers and if your not careful during maintenance, etc. The kuhlis are the worst they poke through every hole between the rocks like eels and mix/stir things up. I clean my sand up once a week with a small hose as mentioned. The pool filter sand is so cheap that I have a bag in the garage and I just add more to freshen it up, as does all the advanced scapers before a photo op, so you get to see their pristine beachfronts.

O.K., here's another tweak and I'm pretty happy with it. I might experiment with a more grassy background plant. and yes it's pool filter sand.

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/aquarium-pictures/files/1/8/9/5/IMG_9714crop_original.jpg




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You really didn't have to change much to make it much better. I really like it. The picture is much easier to see too!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Ah,

Very nice, that is a sweet picture and even the counter top seems to fit in the overall arrangement. Lot's of depth, the big rock in the left back does not seem to be "behind" the scene, the beach looks good, all done!

Now, have you considered an even "thinner" stem plant for your forest on the left? Nothing specific comes to mind here though.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Very nice, that is a sweet picture and even the counter top seems to fit in the overall arrangement. Lot's of depth, the big rock in the left back does not seem to be "behind" the scene, the beach looks good, all done!

One of the ancillary benefits of having granite in the kitchen. You could match it to the rocks in your tank.
Anyway the additional rocks on the right I think really made the beach area more attractive and provided the extra detail.

Now, have you considered an even "thinner" stem plant for your forest on the left? Nothing specific comes to mind here though.

It's gonna have to be something really easy to maintain, maybe a tall chain sword or something, not sure yet.

Funny thing is I really didn't intend on starting this tank. I had so much riccia that I just took it out of the garage and threw in some clippings of rotala and it's just evolved.

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Tetratech , wow what a sensational little tank . Its given me some ideas about how I can convince the wife to let me have more tanks I love the scape as well very classy .
Garry

thanks Garry,

Here's the latest pic of the tank. Although I might change the background plant in the near future for now I added moer rotala to the right as well.

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/aquarium-pictures/files/1/8/9/5/IMG_9865crop2_original.jpg

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I like it. Very nice!

I think the rotala on the right really added something that was missing.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients