EUREKA !!! its planted :) Pics - before and after

[joannde]

The fish seem VERY happy - even the snails are happily wandering around their redecorated home.

It took a total of 5 hours to do get the tank redone. The Ludwiglia Repens was in there from last week and was the only thing that hasn't been changed. I started by planting the Red Rubin Sword in its pot, then tieing the anubias (5 v nana, 3 v barteri barteri) and jave fern (5 lace, 2 regular) to the "tree", the "rocks" and the "caves". I kept all this in a rubbermaid storage bin with declorinated water until I was ready to add them to the tank.

The tank is still basically barebottom. I only added back about a dozen of the glass beads that were in there.

I spent about an hour cleaning everything of diatoms (YUCK !).

Then I did a 50% water change and put the plants (and their ceramics) into the tank.

Let me know what you think.

 

[tbonem91]

very nice

 

[rich311k]

I like it, will be fun to watch it grow in.

 

[TwoHobbies]

That is a ceramic tree, very cool, really couldn't picture it

Keep the pictures you took today and date them. I month or two from now you won't believe how much things changed.

 

[Jchillin]

Very nice job...I had imagined what it would look like and this is far better than what my limited imagination could concieve.

 

[Lonewolfblue]

Very nicely done....

 

[joannde]

Thankyou, Thankyouvery much

Good advice - I've started a photo journal to watch the plants progress. This is my first attempt at live plants, and I do like it so much better. That ceramic tree is my new "pride and joy" - With the Anubias Nana's at the end of each "branch" it came out pretty cool (if I do say so myself LOL).

I've been watching the fish and the snails checking it all out - if they could talk they'd probably say "WHOA !!! thanks Mom !!!" (or "its about time you got rid of that nonsense that you had in our home !!")

I couldn't have done it without y'all ! My fish thankyouverymuch too !!

 

[An t-iasg]

Looks great! I think the anubias tree is very cool!

 

[czcz]

What a great idea!

 

[joannde]

Thanks. I've made caves and "hiding holes" in pottery class - everyone else was making gorgeous pots LOL. My classmates and teacher are going to get a kick out of the tree.

 

[Creamhorses]

Nice...What did you use for potting medium?

What great idea to make custom ornaments from ceramic.

CH

 

[joannde]

Thanks CH. I used Eco-Complete in the pots - I used about 2 lbs of the 20 lb bag ! LOL. And they sent me a second bag by mistake !!
Luckily have those 2 20 gallon tanks we found in the attic just waiting to be put back into service so I'll prob do one of them with an Eco-Complete substrate and do a heavily planted tank for Rams in that one.

 

[mango]

Your tank looks awesome! I've been making rough-looking hidey-caves in my ceramics class this summer while everyone else is making gorgeous pots, too. I really like the tree though. Now I want to make one and I have a question about the construction. Were the ends of the branches left nonglazed so the plants could adhere that way or are the plants just tied on?

 

[joannde]

Thanks for the compliment mango. Its so nice to know I'm not the only person making things for her pets in ceramics class ! LOL

I just PM'd you with the method I used to create the tree (I was going to do it here but didn't want to bore anyone - it was alot longer than I thought it would be).

I punched wholes into the end of each branch while they were wet using a drinking straw and tied the plants on using fishing line. I think you're right - if you also left a couple of inches of the branches unglazed the roots would be able to adhere after awhile - good thinking !

 

[joannde]

Today I added two hugh swords and 4 stems of wisteria. I also replaced the 12" bubble wall with a 6" one and moved it from the back of the tank to the side. I STILL can't believe I actually have a planted tank ! Couldn't have done it without the forum and you guys