Cuban Delight

[Ps3Steveo]

I'm shattered! Lol this week is killing me and I finally get everything together and it's getting me but I'm trying lol it's an island but the island is the bank of the stream.

 

[bae1994]

Sounds great

Bae

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Right guys and gals, gave up getting it all done tonight as I'm running out of steam this week, I'll carry on with it tomorrow. Here's a few pics of the goodies and hard scape set up and ready, the ends of the wood were sawed off so didn't look as natural as I wanted but some of the Needle Fern and Fissidens will cover those. There's no pics of the plants as yet but they will be on tomorrow, I left them in their bags as they need to stay there for another night. I thought they must be ok another day as some get shipped from Hong Kong and are fine so two nights instead of one should be ok. I still have about 4 litres of Florabase and 6KG of mini landscape rock left, (ordered mini landscape instead of dragon stone as they were sold out). Some of the pics of it are great, they sent really beautiful pieces but as you can see some are huge and the largest, although stunning I didn't want to smash to get in it the scape. Hope you like it, all comments welcome, will be finished tomorrow with the other new scape.

Goodies

More goodies

Hydor I've had cycling ready

Rock

Size comparison

Setup

 

[lljdma06]

The hardscape is looking very nice. The fissidens will cover up some of the cuts I'm sure. I think a second rock on the right will establish the path better. If you have extra, get to smashing.

llj

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Cant smash...............too scared ...................too pretty lol

Actually I think I have a small piece in the box still

 

[KkAaNnEe]

Smash it! I actually have pretty similar stuff goin on in my log, my rock looks pretty identical too. Love it! Cant beat rocks and wood and new tank excitement

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Your not wrong mate, that's why I'm up at 7 today to carry on, shame my missus is still asleep.

Trying to think what's more important, my 38 week pregnant oh getting a lay in today or me getting the tank done and waking her up lol.

 

[Tetra-Chris]

Dude, it's like all your christmas's and birthdays have come at once! 2 new tanks, you're a lucky man.

I like the look of the Arcs next to each other - especially different sizes - can't wait to see these finished.

Think we're both going to be having a busy weekend!

Good luck mate!

 

[ian]

very nice Steve, personally i would bring that random rock over to the far left. It does look natural though. Now for the plants!

 

[bae1994]

Very nice hard scape I used the flora as a under substrate base and my plants are going strong so with it as your main substrate yours should love it lol

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Cheers guys, just finished the 60 now onto the 35 lol, will do a sep journal for that later.

With the random rock on the right I added another small piece to it so there's two now. It really breaks it up with the extra stone and believe it or not draws the eye less lol.

Gonna grab my crappy camera once I get the other finished and pics will be up as soon as the sun passes the front of the house and I can shut the curtains.

 

[bae1994]

Sounds good

Sounds good waiting for pics

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Riiiiiiiiight, after hours and hours of fiddling with redmoor and fishing line I got it planted. I decided to make this journal a two scape journal as both tanks are side by side. Cuban Stream and Isle Of The Crypts.

Here's some pic's anyway, took forever but got there in the end.

Cuban Stream
Arc 60
HC
Staurogyne
Narrow Java Fern
Needle Leaf fern
Lilaeopsis
Fissidens Fontanus
Redmoor
Mini Landscape Rock
Hydor Prime 20
50W Heater
15Gallon
24W Ellipse Lighting
Colombo Florabase
Dosing Excel & TPN+

Isle Of The Crypts
Arc 35
Lilaeopsis
HC
Crypt Wenditii Green & Brown
Crypt Parva
Pogostemon Helferi
Mini Landscape Rock
700LPH Internal
11W Ellipse Lighting
50W Heater
Sand/Gravel Mix
Dosing Excel & TPN+

I decided after getting filters with each tank I'd take the 700LPH rated internal that came with the 60 and use it in the 35, it turns out is shocking how very powerful it is. The one that came with the 35 was 200LPH and I'm using that for another pico external filter.
I'm waiting for the lily pipes to turn up so excuse the ugly inlet/outlet pipes if you can see them in the 60.
The 60 will have Mosquito Rasbora soon with Cherry Shrimp but as the substrate leeches ammonia I'm gonna wait even tho I've had the external running for 3 weeks now. The 35 currently has 70 ish Cherry Shrimp and a Pygmy Cory but will also have some Scarlet Badis soon.
Anyway here's the pics, sorry their not great, been a long day, took your advice Liz with the rocks and there's a pic in there for ya lol, the 35 is still a bit cloudy due to the sand but the 60 is absolutely crystal. You can see from one of the pics that I put a lot of the Staurogyne round the back of the wood so its filled in and I have a beautiful Anubias Petite to go on the roots on the bottom left thanks to Ian, just waiting for it to grow a little more first, I also left a space in front of the root with a little HC in case the Helferi in the 35 doesn't do so well I'll just move it over.

For Liz lol.

Progress.

Planted.

FTS.

Here's the 35, I loved this rock so much I had to change my scape for this tank, the quartz veins in it were to much to pass up on.
Hopefully the water will clear up by the morning.

The Isle Of The Crypts.

FTS.

All comments welcome, hope you guys like it.

 

[Tetra-Chris]

These are going to look AWESOME mate - can't wait to see these settle in. Trust me when I say your days efforts have been worthwhile!

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Ahhh thanks dude, I need to work my way through all the journals now, looks like everyone been busy this weekend.