55 gal, lower light trial continues, 9/24/07, new pics! - Aquarium Advice

newfound77951 · 05-10-2006, 04:49 PM

...after winning a bout of GW that some of my plants liked and some did not! It's interesting to see how much some plants have grown (esp the R. rotundifolia on the right). I liked the way it looked before, I think I to create more "levels" now, which is hard to do in a narrow 55. Any suggestions are welcomed!

Here's the tank a couple of months ago, after I "finished" aquascaping it...

And here it is last night, after a major cleaning, pruning and replanting...some of the plants are a little pale after a month of GW, I may have to remove a few completely but i'm waiting to see if they make a comeback.

Glenc · 05-11-2006, 01:03 AM

Tank looks great, Lots of growth. Gained some, lost some. What is the red plant on the left, just off center? It must feel great to get rid of the green water. I've had my problems with it as well. How long has the tank been clear? Hopefully the tank will stay clear for you, good luck!

Tiffi · 05-11-2006, 01:05 AM

The tank how you first had it looked wonderful!

First thing I've recognized are the root thingies that grow into the water from the top. I would take them out, because they disturb the flow how your eyes wander over the under water landscape.

Second, I would try to group plants of the same species closer together. I just rescaped my tank tonight. Did the same thing, took everything out and put it back in. Took me about 4 hours lol. I think after you've regrouped them/put them closer together, you will have the look you're after. I think it will look like the picture on the top again.

newfound77951 · 05-11-2006, 01:56 PM

The red plant to the left is Alternanthera reineckii. It's growing slowly but starting to look good, really bright pink now.

I am trying to get rid of most of the floating plants...they are really cool but kind of a pain, as you mentioned. If anyone wants them, they're listed in the barter/trade forum....

I think the big rubin sword in the center has to go, or at least get a huge pruning to get rid of all the bad leaves. I might move the ozelot that is over to the right into it's place. Right now it's battling with the Rotala for space and doesn't look good. I also need to fill in behind and underneath the big sword on the left, the wisteria looks messy and is growing weird, looks like a poodle, all the leaves on top with stems underneath.

I will update when I rescape, but keep the advice coming!

Tiffi · 05-11-2006, 02:57 PM

See, that are already some very good ideas. If the rubin really looks half dead (not very clear on the picture) I would take it out too. Putting the ozelot in its place is a great idea as well. So I would cut everything away that's dead and group the stem plants closer together.

newfound77951 · 05-16-2006, 02:57 PM

Here's another pic...still in transition as I am waiting for some plants to come in today or tomorrow. I think the right hand side is starting to look better. I put the Bacopa in front of the Rotala but it doesn't show up very well. The new Tiger lotus looks good over there. The ozelot is in the center now and is much more visible. I think the Hygrophila needs to go into the left hand corner and get trimmed down a lot.... I added another Alternanthera in front of the first one which looks good as the new one is shorter. Honestly I think I need to get rid of a few plants completely but I like all of them...can't decide....help please!

newfound77951 · 05-18-2006, 04:46 PM

OK, so somehow I can't seem to take as good a picture as I did before, but I did another major rescaping last night and I think it's really starting to look GOOD!!! Just need to let things grow in a little, and get the last of the floating plants out.

Whole tank:

Left side:

Center:

Right Side:

Zezmo · 05-18-2006, 11:16 PM

That is a very nice tank. Some of those plants have awsome red color. I really like the Driftwood, and it's placement.
In the last pic, on the upper right. What kind of fish is that? What kind of lighting, CO2, ferts etc do you use?

BrianNY · 05-19-2006, 10:56 AM

I think you've done a wonderful job. If I would critique anything it's round stones. Somehow they don't look natural. But maybe that's just my eye.

GlitcH · 05-19-2006, 11:34 AM

Lookin good Newfound........I know what ya mean about the photography.

It's a shot in the dark (no pun intended) for me too.

What's the little tiny plant over on the far right foreground, regular hair grass maybe?

Oh and the floater on the right......what is that?

05-11-2006, 01:03 AM	#2
Glenc Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,075	Tank looks great, Lots of growth. Gained some, lost some. What is the red plant on the left, just off center? It must feel great to get rid of the green water. I've had my problems with it as well. How long has the tank been clear? Hopefully the tank will stay clear for you, good luck! __________________ 125 gallon, Crypt green gecko, Crypt undulata "broad leaf" Lobelia cardinalis small and large form. H.corymbosa "compact" Crypt parva, Downoi, Bacopa. 2x 150 Wt 10000k HQI Metal Halide, 2x 65 Wt 6700k-Colourmax

05-11-2006, 01:05 AM	#3
Tiffi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: first ST-Germany, now TN-USA Posts: 1,052 Images: 19	The tank how you first had it looked wonderful! First thing I've recognized are the root thingies that grow into the water from the top. I would take them out, because they disturb the flow how your eyes wander over the under water landscape. Second, I would try to group plants of the same species closer together. I just rescaped my tank tonight. Did the same thing, took everything out and put it back in. Took me about 4 hours lol. I think after you've regrouped them/put them closer together, you will have the look you're after. I think it will look like the picture on the top again. __________________ Some time ago in Germany: 2x 15gal tank, 45gal heavily planted Now: 70gal FW, 130W CF, driftwood, black gravel/laterite/flourish tabs/pool filter sand, pressurised CO2, power reactor, 200W = 250W heater, Fluval 304, Eheim prefilter; pH 7, kH 5, gH 9, CO2 ~20mg/l Plants: Cryptocoryne beckettii, wendtii "red", Giant Vals, Nymphaea lotus "zenkeri", Anubias nana "petite", Echinodorus "ozelot", Dwarf Sag, Hygrophila polysperma, Rotala rotundifolia, Limnophila sessiliflora Fishes: 2 Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, Endlers, 4 Otocinclus vittatus, 1pair Pelvicachromis pulcher, 5 Corydoras panda

05-11-2006, 02:57 PM	#5
Tiffi Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: first ST-Germany, now TN-USA Posts: 1,052 Images: 19	See, that are already some very good ideas. If the rubin really looks half dead (not very clear on the picture) I would take it out too. Putting the ozelot in its place is a great idea as well. So I would cut everything away that's dead and group the stem plants closer together. __________________ Some time ago in Germany: 2x 15gal tank, 45gal heavily planted Now: 70gal FW, 130W CF, driftwood, black gravel/laterite/flourish tabs/pool filter sand, pressurised CO2, power reactor, 200W = 250W heater, Fluval 304, Eheim prefilter; pH 7, kH 5, gH 9, CO2 ~20mg/l Plants: Cryptocoryne beckettii, wendtii "red", Giant Vals, Nymphaea lotus "zenkeri", Anubias nana "petite", Echinodorus "ozelot", Dwarf Sag, Hygrophila polysperma, Rotala rotundifolia, Limnophila sessiliflora Fishes: 2 Mikrogeophagus ramirezi, Endlers, 4 Otocinclus vittatus, 1pair Pelvicachromis pulcher, 5 Corydoras panda

05-19-2006, 11:34 AM	#10
GlitcH Aquarium Advice FINatic Community Mentor Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: RI Posts: 618 Images: 4	Lookin good Newfound........I know what ya mean about the photography. It's a shot in the dark (no pun intended) for me too. What's the little tiny plant over on the far right foreground, regular hair grass maybe? Oh and the floater on the right......what is that? __________________ 92G Corner Planted Community - 46G Bowfront -90G behind my bar - 20G Planted Shrimp Tank

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05-18-2006, 11:16 PM	#8
Zezmo Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,112 Images: 14	That is a very nice tank. Some of those plants have awsome red color. I really like the Driftwood, and it's placement. In the last pic, on the upper right. What kind of fish is that? What kind of lighting, CO2, ferts etc do you use?

05-19-2006, 10:56 AM	#9
BrianNY Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 4,259 Images: 18	I think you've done a wonderful job. If I would critique anything it's round stones. Somehow they don't look natural. But maybe that's just my eye.

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