Talk Aquatics



« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: SE Asian Biotope  (Read 831 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline coldcazzie

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 47
  • Gender: Female
SE Asian Biotope
« on: August 16, 2011, 08:57:29 PM »
This is my current project, it has been ongoing for a while.

Tank: 24lx12wx15h, newly resealed as it was previously used to house gerbils!
Light: 11w arc pod.
Filtration: none - using the plants  *::)*
Substrate: John Innes no. 3, covered with a mix of pea gravel and different coloured sands (if I can be bothered buying some grey next time I'm in town!)
Hardscape: 2 pieces of redmoor wood currently soaking, and 4 pieces of red stone which will soon become many smaller pieces of stone! (see pictures below).
Plants: various crypts, java fern, java moss, hopefully malay fern and some kind of marginal plant (was hoping to use my herringbone plant but it's from Brazil, boo! *:(* )
Inhabitants: 14 harlequin rasboras that I already have. May also add some sparkling gourami and/or cardinal shrimp.

I'm going to be attempting a Walstad tank, it appeals to my nature: minimal effort and simultaneously perfectly balanced *:)* I want it to look like a cross section of a stream. Marginal plants on the left edge, substrate banked to the left with the wood there with java fern growing on it, and crypts surrounding the base of the wood, reducing down to few/no plants on the right and an open swimming space. Wood will have moss growing on it at various locations. If anyone can suggest something else suitable that may grow emergent that would be fab! I may add a powerhead on the right side.

Anyway, enough waffle, here's some pictures:






thoughts, comments, suggestions?!  *;D*
Logged
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those that don't possess it" :: George Bernard Shaw

Offline frosties

  • Forum Owner
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7150
  • Gender: Male
  • Planted Tanks
    • Planted Tanks
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2011, 01:02:43 PM »
What stone is that? Is it some type of quartz?

I am interested in how this tank develops over the construction - so please take photos and update the journal frequently. I like biotopes and this will be interesting.
Logged

Offline coldcazzie

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 47
  • Gender: Female
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2011, 05:17:35 PM »
As soon as the wood has saturated enough to sink I will buy the compost and start to look at constructing it, but it's already been 8 days and it's still as buoyant as every so I think it will be a while!  *^-^* I'm not in a rush... have provisionally got the 2nd weekend in September in my head, but we'll see how it goes!
Thanks!
Logged
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those that don't possess it" :: George Bernard Shaw

Offline coldcazzie

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 47
  • Gender: Female
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2011, 06:29:29 PM »
Well, I promised pictures of the constructions so here they are:

Bucket of JBL Aquabasis plus which I removed out of my Rio 240 when I broke it down


Bucket of crypts, 58 individual plants in total, range from 3 cm babies, up to adults with leaves 20cms long


Construction









Filling








Since then I have added a HOB filter, couldn't stand the surface gunk that was going on  *:P* and the water looks much better. There was a lot of crypt melt at first, which I expected, and white gunk growing on the wood.

Has been setup since beginning of September. Last week I added about 70 cherry shrimp, which I received for free, and couldn't put them in my Rio 180 as I have a pair of Apistogramma cacatouides who are avid small invertebrate hunters! :D not my original plan, but I'll go with it. I've also started to move the harlequins over from my Rio 180, but have only managed to cathc 2 of 14 so far. Eventually there will be the full 14 in there.

Was hoping to put a plant order in soon, but have just spotted some wild skunk cories for sale, so plants may have to wait for a bit.... *;D*

Here's a quick phone pic from last night, will do a proper photo shoot tonight if I can *:)*
Logged
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those that don't possess it" :: George Bernard Shaw

Offline ghostsword

  • Donators
  • Hero Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 1572
  • Gender: Male
    • blog.ghostsword.com
SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2011, 11:43:10 PM »
I like the look of it. Maybe get some floating plants?


.

Logged
Luis E.
======================
Flickr page
My Flickr

Offline coldcazzie

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 47
  • Gender: Female
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2011, 03:08:37 PM »
My hope... (fingers crossed) is to have all crypts in the substrate, some taller ones at the back and shorter down towards the right. Then java fern on the main lump of wood. Then other ferns growing on the emergent branches of wood, and moss on the other branchy bits. Then 2 marginal plants on the left pane in line with the water level - think I know what these are going to be but as yet 100% sure. Not sure if floating plants would make it too dark underneath? The light is only 11W, so anything blocking it would essentially mean no light at all... this is the risk I'll be taking with the microsorum, unsure if I want to add further plants blocking light as well... :/
Logged
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those that don't possess it" :: George Bernard Shaw

Offline coldcazzie

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 47
  • Gender: Female
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #6 on: September 21, 2011, 12:06:47 PM »
Ok, so, more pictures  *:)*








Logged
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those that don't possess it" :: George Bernard Shaw

Offline Noshalot

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 146
    • FB
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #7 on: September 21, 2011, 07:30:28 PM »
Amazing, a tank to be proud of.
Logged

Offline frosties

  • Forum Owner
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7150
  • Gender: Male
  • Planted Tanks
    • Planted Tanks
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2011, 12:09:23 AM »
That is going to be an impresive tank in the very near future - have patience with the crypts... they will recover and always come back stronger...
Logged

Offline Alex

  • Global Moderator
  • Sr. Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 982
  • Gender: Male
    • www.plantedtanks.co.uk
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #9 on: September 22, 2011, 12:33:23 PM »
Crypts are great plants, only had mine in a few week and already bushing out!
Logged

Offline coldcazzie

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 47
  • Gender: Female
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #10 on: September 22, 2011, 11:57:19 PM »
Quote from: frosties on September 22, 2011, 12:09:23 AM
That is going to be an impresive tank in the very near future - have patience with the crypts... they will recover and always come back stronger...
I know, I tried to show in the pictures - they already have new growth on them, and the shrimp are keeping on top of any melt that is occurring now. I've added some more Christmas moss to some of the other branches and some java fern plantlets which I removed from the motherleaves in another tank.

Quote from: Alex on September 22, 2011, 12:33:23 PM
Crypts are great plants, only had mine in a few week and already bushing out!
I know, I love crypts! *;D* can't wait to get some different types in, looking at balansae for the back and parva for the front perhaps.

Thanks for all the lovely comments  *:)*
Logged
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those that don't possess it" :: George Bernard Shaw

Offline coldcazzie

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 47
  • Gender: Female
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #11 on: October 05, 2011, 10:21:15 AM »
Ok, few more pictures. I bought some crypt beckettii petchi, which I have added around the back, but I also bought some P. helferi which originally I intended on putting in my 180L but thought I'd give it a go in here first. If it struggles with the low light and ferts I will move it over to the other and continue with my original plan for crypt parva in here. I also added some more christmas moss and some java fern plantlets not long after my last post. Crypt regrowth is good already, so I'm very pleased. Lost count of the number of berried female cherries, and I'm hoping to add another shrimp species at some point, but thus far am undecided between tigers and greens *:-\*





Logged
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those that don't possess it" :: George Bernard Shaw

Offline frosties

  • Forum Owner
  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7150
  • Gender: Male
  • Planted Tanks
    • Planted Tanks
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #12 on: October 05, 2011, 04:56:00 PM »
I love this tank... I really cant wait to see it mature... Are you entering a competition with it??? By the time next years comps come round it will really nice!
Logged

Offline coldcazzie

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 47
  • Gender: Female
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #13 on: October 05, 2011, 05:16:11 PM »
Quote from: frosties on October 05, 2011, 04:56:00 PM
I love this tank... I really cant wait to see it mature... Are you entering a competition with it??? By the time next years comps come round it will really nice!
Thankyou, you're too kind!  *:-[*

I hadn't planned on entering any comps (except for TFF's TOTM competition), I will see how it develops. I would love to have a go, if nothing else to get some constructive critique on my scaping. *:)*
Logged
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those that don't possess it" :: George Bernard Shaw

Offline coldcazzie

  • Newbie
  • *
  • Posts: 47
  • Gender: Female
Re: SE Asian Biotope
« Reply #14 on: October 25, 2011, 12:41:59 PM »
Another update. Scape is now 7.5 weeks old.

from the end:


fts from an angle:


fts:


and a video:
South East Asian Biotope Aquarium
Logged
"The power of accurate observation is frequently called cynicism by those that don't possess it" :: George Bernard Shaw
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »
 

Copyright © PlantedTanks