First Attempt

[Mattyduk]

As a complete newbie at the whole aquarium thing I thought I would post a pic of my first attempt at a planted tank just to see how it evolves. Also in an attempt to receive a little bit of advice.

Excuse to slightly dodgy pics proper camera is knackered

The tank is a Jewel Lido 100 and I have replaced the internal filter with an external (aquis 700) Lighting in a standard T5 Jewel unit

Bare in mind It does not have any plants as yet also the heater in the right will be replaced with an inline version next week and a background will be added not sure what style yet (any ideas) I did experiment with white and I thought it looked quite good but looked a bit stark

My theme is the ever popular "river edge" so was planning on some sort of carpeting plants and some taller thinner stuff at the back. I am not going to go with CO2 and would like a low maintenance tank. (I don't mind adding fertilizer and liquid CO2 a few times a week)I am open to ideas and any advice is very welcome.

Substrate is unipac Zambezi sand topped with flora base. 2 big bits of red-moor wood and some graded gravels. Ignore the big stone on top of the wood that is just there to stop it floating. Is nearly sinking !!!

FYI tank is fully cycled and I am "feeding" it with 5 ml of ammonia a day until I get the plants sorted etc then ill get the fish

 

[Ps3Steveo]

It's a great start mate, is the large pebble to hold the wood down? I'd smother that scape with dwarf hairgrass and some stems to the rear left corner, perhaps stargrass or rotala.

 

[JonE]

I like it and reckon when planted it will look great, although I'm no too keen on the lighter coloured gravel at the front, maybe try mixing it up with the darker stuff a bit?

Minnnt has got a nice background in one of his tanks I can't find the journal at the moment though, I think it was one designed for a Vivarium.

Where in Oxford are you mate?

EDIT

Here's the link to minnnts tank with the nice background.

The second pic didn't load first time I viewed the post the lighter bit at he front looks good I think it was the photo that made it look a bit bright.

Cheers

Jon

 

[Mattyduk]

I like it and reckon when planted it will look great, although I'm no too keen on the lighter coloured gravel at the front, maybe try mixing it up with the darker stuff a bit?

Minnnt has got a nice background in one of his tanks I can't find the journal at the moment though, I think it was one designed for a Vivarium.

Where in Oxford are you mate?

Am in Wheatley & U?

The lighter bit at front will eventually mix I hope /

The large pebble is to hold one of the bits down it nearly sinks but will prob need another couple of weeks. I was thinking dwarf hair grass aswell there is a longer (non dwarf perhaps lol) for the rear keep it very simple perhaps?

 

[JonE]

Where in Oxford are you mate?

Am in Wheatley & U?

Near Abingdon, let me know if you find any good shops.

 

[Mattyduk]

Where in Oxford are you mate?

Am in Wheatley & U?

Near Abingdon, let me know if you find any good shops.

I work over that way .

Not too sure about the whole shop thing we have maidenhead aquatics here in Wheatley so very convenient but some of the staff a little strange. Went to Coxwell aquatics in Didcot seem quite nice but didn't have a huge selection of plants. Whats your thought on the Gold Fish Bowl?

 

[JonE]

Never been in there mate, I've not been to Coxwell aquatics new place yet but used to go in there when they were at Millets farm. World of water at Bicester seem pretty good too.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I like the two different substrates, looks more natural imo.

 

[Mattyduk]

Any idea how long the ammonia spike from the florabase should last should last ?

Was going to attempt to start planting this weekend going with hairgrass long & short but lots of it. Probably a stupid question how much do you reckon I will need ?

 

[Ps3Steveo]

I wouldn't worry about the florabase spike, I use it, plant straight away, stock a week later, it will do it for a while but with good filtration and plenty of plants it should be fine. To save you cash, go to a pond suppliers, get some 10cm pots of hairgrass for ponds, use them in your scape, save lots of money .

Unfortunately for short you'll have to buy the small pots and it depends how much you'll need on where in the floor plan of the scape your putting it and whether your willing to throw it in and let it grow/spread or whether you want the finished scape look instantly?

 

[Mattyduk]

Well some plants are in

Went for some short hairgrass at the front. Bought 4 pots and split them into little bunches and planted them. Its by no stretch of the imagination perfect but what a transformation. I also bought some Twisted vialis as they didnt have any long hair grass I will find some but wanted to give the back something. The green really brings the tank to life I think. Having never done any form of planting in an aquarium I was shocked at how difficult it was Am happy that non of the hairgrass ended up on the surface. Wish the same could be said of the vialis

Guess its time to start stocking it

Any suggestions ??? The only thing im really keen on are a pair of Apisto and some 5/6 cory's

Pics to follow

 

[Biulu]

Apisto's are nice and with the cories you can go for a south american river biotope. I would choose a small shoaling fish as small fish make your tank look so much bigger.

Can you put up pictures now you have the plants in?

 

[Mattyduk]

Pics apologies for dodgy pics again

 

[Biulu]

As you say, it does come alive with plants! I would indeed keep it simple. Maybe only put moss on some parts of the wood?

 

[Mattyduk]

As its my first attempt ill keep it very simple I hope the grass grows a lot !!!!

Was thinking 8 Black Neon Tetra or Rummy Nose to add a little color to kick things off