My 14g planted and 55g Amazon Biotope

[dustinfeint]

Just thought i would do some updates for you guys of my semi-strict biotope. I added Wisteria because it is over population my upstairs tank. I also added my Discus pair and love them. A blue turquoise and a red pigeon. I also completed my rainbow school and added a gold ram. Stocking is: 1gold ram 2angel teens 2mated adult angels 6 bosemani rainbowfish and an albino bristlenose adult. I found an oak branch awhile ago and decided to add some java moss to it. I really can't wait to get some valisneria. I need it for my background! Also Im about to get some amazon frogbit.

 

[dustinfeint]

Heavy thoughts and criticism please!

 

[Joeysdiscus]

Just thought i would do some updates for you guys of my semi-strict biotope. I added Wisteria because it is over population my upstairs tank. I also added my Discus pair and love them. A blue turquoise and a red pigeon. I also completed my rainbow school and added a gold ram. Stocking is: 1gold ram 2angel teens 2mated adult angels 6 bosemani rainbowfish and an albino bristlenose adult. I found an oak branch awhile ago and decided to add some java moss to it. I really can't wait to get some valisneria. I need it for my background! Also Im about to get some amazon frogbit.

Any pics of the tank as a whole???

 

[jessicafish]

From what I can tell you have lots of driftwood all over the place so maybe you could make a cool structure out of it in the middle and leave the sides for plants!

 

[dustinfeint]

Any pics of the tank as a whole???

Yup. Here ya go.

 

[dragonfisher33]

get some foreground plants like crypts and micro swords. you need a bigger piece/pieces of driftwood as the center piece. the gaps between the background plants need some sort of filler because they seem so far apart. I'm not digging the substrate

 

[dragonfisher33]

also need to work on the transition between the foreground and the background plants because the change is too drastic as if you were jumping from the beginning to the end without the middle part.

 

[dustinfeint]

get some foreground plants like crypts and micro swords. you need a bigger piece/pieces of driftwood as the center piece. the gaps between the background plants need some sort of filler because they seem so far apart. I'm not digging the substrate

Im not liking my substrate either. But Im not too sure what i can do about it at this point. I am gonna get some cryptocorne and pygmy chain sword within the next couple days.

 

[dustinfeint]

I love your honesty though. That's what i need. It's the only way to perfect this or do it the right way.

 

[Joeysdiscus]

Yup. Here ya go.

I'd say a black background and a load more big wood would make a real big difference???

 

[dustinfeint]

I'd say a black background and a load more big wood would make a real big difference???

I've been thinking about a 3-d background

 

[Glow light tetra]

Don't just get stuff to match the theme, you should also get plants and aquarium fish that suit your personality, that way you'll never feel the need to change your set up.

 

[Mogurako]

Tank looks pretty good over all! I do have one gripe though, you've been calling this a "Biotope" when you have plants and fish together that are not found together in nature and an unnatural substrate. I don't mean to bust your chops but this is just a pet peeve of mine, I would say its an "Amazon inspired community tank".

You are on the right path though keep up the good work.

 

[dustinfeint]

Tank looks pretty good over all! I do have one gripe though, you've been calling this a "Biotope" when you have plants and fish together that are not found together in nature and an unnatural substrate. I don't mean to bust your chops but this is just a pet peeve of mine, I would say its an "Amazon inspired community tank".

You are on the right path though keep up the good work.

So i took all of your guys criticism and put it to good use. Added jungle vals, carpet plant, nana, cryptocorne, camboda, larger rocks, and a great looking piece of driftwood. I also had my girlfriend help me rearrange the entire thing because she seems to have more of an eye for aesthetics than I do. Im looking forward to what you have to say about my setup now.

 

[Mogurako]

Looks great! I'm not super sold on he black substrate when you're going for a more natural look but hey that's just me.

 

[dustinfeint]

Looks great! I'm not super sold on he black substrate when you're going for a more natural look but hey that's just me.

I would love sand but i would rather go to Hell and back than plant all this again lol

 

[Rodeo one]

Big improvement! Looks good .

 

[Mogurako]

I would love sand but i would rather go to Hell and back than plant all this again lol

I feel ya, it it a huge pain to swap out substrate then rescape everything

 

[dustinfeint]

New additions today. Learned that the lights they sell in pet shops are pretty much a scam. They are the same Wattage as the ones you can buy at menards. I was running 2 24" t8 bulbs on my 55g. Now i went to menards and saw a 48" shoplight. Put 2 48" 6500k ge daylight bulbs in it. So now i went to 64 watts total. Over twice as much Wattage now. hopefully my plants start doing better and i notice a difference. They sell 40w aquarium and plant bulbs. They are 10 dollars each. Will i be okay with the 32w daylight bulbs i got? Or should i return them for the 40w bulbs? I love how it all turned out regardless, it definitely wont hurt. Total spent: $42 for timer, shoplight, and bulbs.

 

[dragonfisher33]

New additions today. Learned that the lights they sell in pet shops are pretty much a scam. They are the same Wattage as the ones you can buy at menards. I was running 2 24" t8 bulbs on my 55g. Now i went to menards and saw a 48" shoplight. Put 2 48" 6500k ge daylight bulbs in it. So now i went to 64 watts total. Over twice as much Wattage now. hopefully my plants start doing better and i notice a difference. They sell 40w aquarium and plant bulbs. They are 10 dollars each. Will i be okay with the 32w daylight bulbs i got? Or should i return them for the 40w bulbs? I love how it all turned out regardless, it definitely wont hurt. Total spent: $42 for timer, shoplight, and bulbs.

my friend, welcome to the common sense world.