Planted 40 breeder log (56K no no)

[JustOneMore20]

I started this tank earlier this month (around the 8th) and I have been letting it mature before posting pics of it.

I'm going to start this log from the beginning and post updates when I can.

This tank is an AGA/Aqueon 40 breeder (36"x18"x16")....the perfect footprint IMO.

Other specs:
2x96w Coralife fixture 1 6700K bulb and 1 10,000K bulb
Pressurized CO2 via a glass diffusor
Rena XP3 filter
200w Stealth heater
ADA Aquasoil Amazonia II - ~27 liters worth
manzanita driftwood

Pics 1/8/08:
Stand my grandfather made me:

Driftwood layout dry

darker

1/17/08:

whole tank (this was probably a few days after the initial planting)

the mound


Plants include:
Rotala wallichi
Stargrass
Didiplis diandra
Rotala sp. colorata
HM (Hemianthus micranthemoides)
HC (not gonna try)
Dwarf Hairgrass
Giant Hairgrass
Ludwigia arcuata
Fissidens fontanus

No fish yet. But plans include ~15 Rummynose tetras, pair of Apistos, Otos, 10 Corydoras hastatus, 10 Corydoras habrosus

 

[JustOneMore20]

1/27/08:

everything is filling in nicely.........this pic is a little blurry...should have used the tripod

mound

HM

didiplis diandra

view from above

I know all my stems kind of look similar, but I wanted to try plants in this tank that I haven't tried before, so that explains my plant choices. I frequently rearrange plants, so they may not stay where they are.

Updates to come!

 

[mattrox]

Really stunning aquascaping!

 

[blazeyreef]

were do you get your plants? is their an LFS near you that you get them? if so PM me the address I NEED to go there LOL. Your tank is amazing, WOW!!!!

 

[JustOneMore20]

Thanks!

Blazey, I got those plants from http://www.aquariumplants.com. I buy all mine online (lfs has little to no plants and in bad condition) and usually get them from aquarists, but sometimes I buy from websites when I need alot.

 

[blazeyreef]

I understand, thats why I get my plants at petsmart, which is why I have been growing the same plants for 2 years... I need to plurge and buy online, I just dont want to pay shipping... oh well! Once I get my algae issue settled maybe...
where did you get that piece of wood? Its awesome. My LFS overcharges (shock... ) for a small piece... I need a new piece of driftwood (or bogwood)

 

[JustOneMore20]

It's manzanita and its about 7 or 8 pieces. I got it from a seller on Plantedtank.net. He has driftwood packages every so often. His prices are great too for all the wood you get. I've used it in my 40g, 20g, 29g, and still have some left for the 55. All that for $40.

 

[rkilling1]

VERY nice Kristin. I really like the layout and also the plant choices.

 

[mom2reds]

absolutly stunnig Ihope to have my tank planted like that one day

 

[An t-iasg]

The tank looks great! I think the plant choices are great too. I like how they all fill in around the center of the driftwood, but the color and texture differences are visible. I love the Didiplis diandra picture!

 

[Purrbox]

You have an excellant eye for layout and color. I look forward to seeing how this tank fills in.

 

[Zagz]

Great looking tank and growth! I also buy from aquariumplants.com. Shipping is cheaper for me with plants than I can purchase from local lfs's.

 

[happygirl65]

Nice work! I like how the focus is all in the center around your driftwood. It is quite beautiful!

 

[Zezmo]

What an awsome looking set up.

I really like the use and placement of the driftwood.

 

[marchmaxima]

Beautiful. Just beautiful.

 

[bs6749]

Is it okay to be jealous? That tank looks AWESOME! I wish someone would show me how to set up a tank like that! Mine look "good" but not like THAT. I especially like the driftwood and the plants, along with the substrate. The tank has a very "natural" look to it and that is what I try to create when setting up my show tanks.

You are most likely going to want to discard my clay pot idea for the apistos that you wanted (in another thread) as they would take away from the beauty that you have already created. You may want to rearrange some plants if you get apistos and rams like you were planning on doing as that would establish more boundary lines for the fish.

 

[GlitcH]

Kristin.........tank looks awesome.........how's the HC fillin in?
Have you stocked it yet?

 

[JustOneMore20]

Is it okay to be jealous? That tank looks AWESOME! I wish someone would show me how to set up a tank like that! Mine look "good" but not like THAT. I especially like the driftwood and the plants, along with the substrate. The tank has a very "natural" look to it and that is what I try to create when setting up my show tanks.

You are most likely going to want to discard my clay pot idea for the apistos that you wanted (in another thread) as they would take away from the beauty that you have already created. You may want to rearrange some plants if you get apistos and rams like you were planning on doing as that would establish more boundary lines for the fish.

Thanks! I might be able to use atleast a few clay pots in the tank, but will hide them amongst the plants. I can try to rearrange some plants as well, but I don't want to take away from my mound look.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Kristin.........tank looks awesome.........how's the HC fillin in?
Have you stocked it yet?

Thanks! The HC is filling in great. Some of it has some fuzz algae growing on it though, so I'm trying to get rid of it by using Excel directly on the HC.

I have some fish in the tank now: 7 Rummynose tetras and 11 Corydoras hastatus. I plan on getting about 6 more Rummies, a trio or 2 of Apistos, and possibly a school of Ember tetras to finish the tank off though. I am not in a hurry to stock it, as I'm having to buy alot of the fish online.


I took some pics today, but none turned out very good of the full tank. I did take a pretty cool pic of the plants though:

The Rotala sp. colorata, Stargrass, and Didplis are very overgrown, so I have to trim tomorrow. I'll hopefully get some better pics then!

 

[blazeyreef]

if you ever pass through this way I will take some stargrass off your hands

 

[JustOneMore20]

More pics:

FTS (not a good one though!)

Stargrass

Rotala sp. colorata on the surface

HC pearling

Corydoras hastatus posing