George's Nano Journal

[George Farmer]

Nothing groundbreaking to report. I've come up with what I think is a decent 3 stone composition, slightly different from the last pic. I'll try to get a photo tonight.

I think I'm going for a sky blue background. I actually took a photo of the clear sky from the top of Mount Tryfan, Wales (3000 ft.) and may blow it up to fit the back of the tank (12x8"). I'll post a photo later.

I've still no plants as yet. I'm toying with different plants ideas. HC is tempting with some Eleocharis sp. or even Blyxa japonica in the background/around the stone. I think glosso would work but as mentioned the leaf size may make the tank appear small in photography.

 

[scubadoo]

Yes - getting the scale of the plants right has to be one of the more challenging aspects.

Whilst I'm waiting for my PFK cube to arrive I've been doing a bit of research and keep coming back to hemianthus callitrichoides "cuba" because the leaves are so small - only about 1mm which should help with the foreground of a nano.

Have you any thought on this George? - I know very little about the plant, except that it seems to grow in varied light conditions.

I'll also be very interested to see how a backround works on a nano - not something I'd have thought of doing.

 

[lljdma06]

I think glosso would work but as mentioned the leaf size may make the tank appear small in photography.

I love the look of glosso. I had a glosso carpet, sort of, when I first setup my 8g and the majority of commentaries mentioned that the glosso made my tank look too small; that I should have gone with HC. My tank is nearly 3x bigger than yours. Just something to consider, though you are far superior an aquascaper than I.

llj

 

[Fwapp]

I think I'm going for a sky blue background. I actually took a photo of the clear sky from the top of Mount Tryfan, Wales (3000 ft.)

Last time I walked Tryfan, a brought a load of rounded stream rocks back for my tank, some of which became a Krib love-cave (which worked well!)

On a non aquatic note, when you got to the top of Tryfan, did you jump from Adam to Eve, or did sense prevail?

 

[George Farmer]

On a non aquatic note, when you got to the top of Tryfan, did you jump from Adam to Eve, or did sense prevail?

To tired/hungover to do any jumping!

 

[Neal]

On a non aquatic note, when you got to the top of Tryfan, did you jump from Adam to Eve, or did sense prevail?

To tired/hungover to do any jumping!

That's the correct answer.
Any pictures of your tank? Even if they are of nothing, I still love seeing your beautiful and inspirational pictures.

Neal

 

[George Farmer]

Here's my sky background. I hope it will compliment the greens and greys of the plants and stones. My aim to create a landscape effect, that is common amongst this style of aquascape. When I eventually add shrimp they will look like insects grazing on the grass.

If I do add fish they will be a shoal of tiny microrasbora or similar (15mm).



Finally I have come up with my final stone layout. No doubt I tweak it here and there but in general it will stay like this. Believe me I've tried a lot of combinations of stone size, shape and positioning. I find it hard to believe I was almost content with my first effort looking back. I have learnt a lot just in this surprisingly complex (for the talentless like me) process of stone arranging.



I am also excited to announce my plant choice. HC (Hemianthus callitrichoides ''Cuba'') and hairgrass (Eleocharis sp.) Four pots of HC and two hairgrass, all supplied by Aqua Essentials that now stocks top notch Tropica plants. Cheers Rich.

I decided that glosso would have too large a leaf (as some of you have already suggested) and after seeing some HC in the flesh at the festival I had to have some. The HC will cover most of the substrate with the hairgrass acting as accents to soften the transition between the stones and the horizon. A similar concept to Justin Law's materpiece here - http/www.fotop.net/justinlaw/justinlaw01/IMG_2486 Think more HC, less hairgrass though.

 

[TammyLiz]

George, I missed this thread the first time around. I just have to say I am thrilled that you're sharing your experience with us once again!

I had to have a laugh about the filter issue because just this afternoon I ordered one of those stingrays for my 2 gallon nano that I've had for several months. Its actually a large glass kitchen canister and sits on my counter. At the beginning I thought "Oh, he is using the same filter I just bought", but you've scrapped it already . Hopefully it doesn't look as big in my tank as it does in yours but chances are it will! Still, I think the added current will benefit me.

I think you've been sending vibes all the way accross the atlantic because I've been thinking about buying a 12 inch tank for microrasboras all week. I was thinking erythromicron or Boraras merah. Just thought I'd throw that in there before you read my mind so nobody can accuse me of copying if I do get around to it! You still put me to shame because I would be buying the tank for the fish, and added plants for the fish, too.

--Tammy

 

[voo]

Have you levelled out the slope now? It doesnt look as steep as it was in the first pictures... Or is it just how the photo was taken?

 

[George Farmer]

George, I missed this thread the first time around. I just have to say I am thrilled that you're sharing your experience with us once again!

....I've been thinking about buying a 12 inch tank for microrasboras all week. I was thinking erythromicron or Boraras merah.

Thanks Tammy. Have you seen Microrasbora sp. "Galaxy" yet? They're very new to the hobby so are expensive but their colours are wonderful and they stay very small (some reports say 12mm, others up to 20mm).

Have you levelled out the slope now? It doesnt look as steep as it was in the first pictures... Or is it just how the photo was taken?

Slope hasn't budged, it must be the photo angle.

 

[-=Joel=-]

Coming along slowly

Cant wait to see how things work out as al your other tanks have been amazing.

Not sure if this is any help but if you wish to have a background darker / lighter or colour etc let me know and will knock one up for you.

 

[George Farmer]

Not sure if this is any help but if you wish to have a background darker / lighter or colour etc let me know and will knock one up for you.

Thanks for the kind offer Joel. I'll bear that in mind depending on how the original comes out.

I'm going to take the original jpeg to Boots and get a quality gloss photo (12x10").

 

[Themuleous]

Have you tried some of the online photo shops George, better quality IMO and cheap too, I use directfoto, but Sony have a digital print service and I have a friend who uses photobox. All require you to install a bit of software but all are very good and east to use, and I'm pretty sure they all do poster sizes.

Just a thought

Sam

 

[-=Joel=-]

Not sure if this is any help but if you wish to have a background darker / lighter or colour etc let me know and will knock one up for you.

Thanks for the kind offer Joel. I'll bear that in mind depending on how the original comes out.

I'm going to take the original jpeg to Boots and get a quality gloss photo (12x10").

No worries mate, I can make any size you wish aslong as you can accept bigger files via email Lol. Also if the blown up picture looks a bit blotchy, pixlated but you really like it then send me the original and will see if I can blow it up using a few different techniques

Cant wait for you to start adding plants mate

Joel

 

[Jeewhizz]

Photobox.co.uk is who I use for all my photos and have no complaints. No software is required to be installed.

However, i think if you are getting just one photo, the postage charge from any online retailer will make it quite expensive...