Another Victim Of Mts

[garuf]

Okay, so after battling with algae in one tank for a while I agree to have my nan's tank now that she cant look after it after having a stroke so I've inherited a (what I believe to be) 30gallon tank including all the equipment lighting and filtration I believe to be inadequate so when I collect it I will post up tech specs.
Since my algae field tank is hi-tech I wish to take the middle ground, think low light ada like those tanks tom posts up here.
I plan to use tropica substate and sand, as of yet this is all I know until I find some /someone helps me with inspiration.

(no footballers in this one supercoley )
Other than inspiration what would people recommend for a low light EI possibly no co2 set up?

 

[DevUK]

Crypts - See George's lowlight tank in the thread below (somewhere).

 

[garuf]

Crypts - See George's lowlight tank in the thread below (somewhere).

maybe those ferns you gave me?
I don't mind going hi-light but for the time being I want to see just what can be done with low light before committing.

 

[DevUK]

CO2 might be a factor to consider. You can go low light easily enough, but it may be worth using CO2. I've had quite good growth from stem plants on my 47gal with medium/low light (1.9 wpg) and using Flourish Excel as a carbon source. I'm about to go the pressurised CO2 route on that tank though

 

[garuf]

sounds like a plan, given that I should be having more money coming in soon and another job I should be able to get pressurised co2 at some time.
I was hoping to do something different to everyone else but inspiration is hard to come by I'd love to do like a planted mdbuna style set up something with a special hardscape but as it stands I lack inspiration.

 

[garuf]

I was thinking maybe a hardsacpe somthing like this, maybe a boulder one with rounded boulders instead of craggy rocks but somthing like this,

the planting would lend hight and consist of unsual plants some of the stones would feature moss and the height and plants would "sweep" through the hardscape gaining height as they lead towards the back.
what do you think?

 

[DevUK]

Looks really nice, but the two rocks pointing towards each other might focus the eye on the centre too much. Its difficult to get the placement right

 

[garuf]

Looks really nice, but the two rocks pointing towards each other might focus the eye on the centre too much. Its difficult to get the placement right

I know exactly what you mean but since I don't have any rocks and its all theoretical at this point its all open to change, I do agree it might be visually unbalanced so I plan to have some extravagant growth at each side to balance up and redress the balance, also red plants in each side will help add weight to each side and draw your eye away from the centre.
a bit like this;

 

[DevUK]

You know what, I take it back... That looks really nice With the very low growth in the middle, its sort of a focal point but its quite interesting

 

[Maximus]

Looks amazing to me

But won't the rocks block out the light for the middle/plants underneath them?

 

[garuf]

You know what, I take it back... That looks really nice With the very low growth in the middle, its sort of a focal point but its quite interesting

hahaha thank you, I really like it too, plant choice is going to be my main stumbling block after sourcing rock.
as soon as I know tech spec's ill post them because It will NEED an external filter the fluval 3 thats in there atm is awful in my opinion.
ill crack on drawing a round version, I love ms paint such a good program

 

[DevUK]

Looks amazing to me

But won't the rocks block out the light for the middle/plants underneath them?

Depends how wide they are I guess I don't think it'd be too great a problem.

 

[garuf]

Looks amazing to me

But won't the rocks block out the light for the middle/plants underneath them?

thanks you and you are probably right but I was planning on using dwarf anubias or similar maybe dwarf hairgrass or e tennelus depending on the light situation. Like I said in my last post plant choice will be my stumbling block

 

[garuf]

And as promised the round version, I think I might need to add a pit of drift wood twig it seems too simple but that is what i love about it
here it is what do you think?

 

[SuperColey1]

Looks like someone else is being inspired by Philipe Oliveira to me.

no probs with the low plants being shadowed by the rocks seeing as you are after low light plants anyway.

and yes I am back online again after the PC died now with a superpowerful beast to play with.

Andy