29g hardscape...commentary?

[KaylNeko]

Hi guys. Setting up a new tank, 29 gallon. It will be planted. I'm doing something a bit different for this one than I usually do and not going for a natural look. Or rather, aiming for a "reclaimed by nature" type look, I suppose you could say? I still want it to look balanced (and hide the filter and heater *lol*), so--comments? Suggestions?

 

[SpaceFish42]

Java moss would be great for a "reclaimed by nature" look. Maybe also a school of some kind of small silver fish. It looks great so far!

 

[KaylNeko]

Java moss is definitely in the plans! Lots of that and Java fern, some anubias, and one my favorites, elodea. Also, a couple sword plants, some crypts for the front. I have some wisteria in another tank that's taking off, some hygraphilia compacta that's not, and I'm thinking of trying to cultivate some of the pennywort for a floating plant. Either that, or give that job to the elodea and plant some moneywort. I have a lot of plants to choose from already (all my tanks need thinned out except for the goldfish tank--they thin it out for me), and I'm hitting up my store this weekend for the 30% off sale.

The planned stock list so far is:
a pair of apistos--one of the reasons for the driftwood "cave" (that, and I like driftwood. Don't judge... *lol*)
a school of hatchetfish (been wanting some forever! Just never had a tank that was right for them)
and loaches, probably kuhli since dwarf chain loaches are nowhere to be found.
Also, otos--eventually.
The last "middle area" school is still up in the air. I'm currently debating between pygmy corys, ember tetras, strawberry rasboras, pristella tetras, or neon tetras. I know most neons aren't particularly hardy so they're almost out of the running immediately, but I've thought they'd look nice against the planted background for a while, and I don't want to go with cardinals due to size.

The pristellas are a nice flashy silver, but then so are the hatchetfish. Hmm.

 

[friscuba]

I'd definitely try to find some big rooted anubias to work into that collection of stuff on the right to try to make sure the roots are a visible feature as they grow.

 

[New2me]

Love this and haven't seen it in many tanks at all. I think it looks a bit like a lost world Very cool.


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[Pseudomugil]

What about glowlight tetras? They have a different neon-colored stripe than neon tetras, but they're much hardier and easier to take care of.

 

[KaylNeko]

Thanks guys. I'll have to look at the glowlights. And there will definitely be multiple species of anubias--it's one of my favs. So easy to take care of.

I had it suggested by someone that I take the gate out, so figured I'd toss up a pic without the gate with the cubes rearranged a bit.

 

[kmny34]

Thanks guys. I'll have to look at the glowlights. And there will definitely be multiple species of anubias--it's one of my favs. So easy to take care of.

I had it suggested by someone that I take the gate out, so figured I'd toss up a pic without the gate with the cubes rearranged a bit.

Love the look!!!! Where could i get cubes like that??? What are the called???

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[KaylNeko]

No idea. Petco is carrying them in my area.

 

[KaylNeko]

Hardscape with plants added.

And now with plants.

 

[New2me]

Looking good Did you glue the cubes in their position or are they just balanced together? Do you know what they are made of? This has really made me want a new tank to do something similar :-/


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[Pseudomugil]

For fish you should do:

6 silver hatchets
8 glowlight tetras
1 pearl gourami
4 kuhli loaches
1 cockatoo apisto

 

[SpaceFish42]

Wow! That looks amazing! I bet the fish will love that.

 

[KaylNeko]

The cubes are a plastic from Petco, same as most of their decorations. I zip tied the top one that's leaning to the tall one. The rest are stable enough that they won't move. Once the plants grow in and around them, I may remove the zip tie.

I'm planning on pearl gouramis in another tank sometime in the near future, so none in here. It'll be 6 hatchetfish, 2 apistos--either cockatoo or apistogramma trifasciata, 5 or 6 kuhlis, 4 or 5 otos once established enough, and a school of something. Not really a fan of the glowlights. Thinking pygmy cories, ember tetras, pristella tetras, strawberry rasboras...something like that. Depends on what apisto I get and which type of hatchetfish I get.