Keyhole Forest

[AquaBarb]

Been working on my little 29g this week, turning it from a Cichlid grow out tank to a little forest sanctuary for my juvenile Keyholes.

Not everything as gone to my ordinary plan for the scape and ive still got plants due in the next few days to plant. I was debating if i was going to restart it but it is growing on me and once the plants grow in i think it will look pretty good

I tried a frosted background this time round but i didnt like it so i revert back to black️

Might add a small school of tetra/rasbora or some cories/woodcats @Wills in a few weeks

 

[Rocky998]

Been working on my little 29g this week, turning it from a Cichlid grow out tank to a little forest sanctuary for my juvenile Keyholes.View attachment 314522
Not everything as gone to my ordinary plan for the scape and ive still got plants due in the next few days to plant. I was debating if i was going to restart it but it is growing on me and once the plants grow in i think it will look pretty good
View attachment 314523
I tried a frosted background this time round but i didnt like it so i revert back to black️View attachment 314524View attachment 314526View attachment 314527
Might add a small school of tetra/rasbora or some cories/woodcats @Wills in a few weeks

ITS STUNNING!!
How do you always manage to make amazing tank set ups?? You have the touch I guess

 

[GaryE]

That's an unconventional growout, but a very interesting conception. Nice tank.

 

[AquaBarb]

ITS STUNNING!!
How do you always manage to make amazing tank set ups?? You have the touch I guess

Thanks Rocky i wasnt sure about it at first tbh as there was meant to be a land section with the sand acting as a dried out river bed wrapping around it but couriers let me down last minute with some of the substrate. Its growing on me tho

 

[AquaBarb]

That's an unconventional growout, but a very interesting conception. Nice tank.

Thank you it wasnt like this for the growout, just bare bottom with some rock and head cover

Never would of caught them with the trees in the way lol

 

[Archerfish]

What a creative idea!
As a side note, something caught my attention on the left side (outside) of the tank. It looks like the splash mat is buckled up and it also looks like there is a gap at the center of the tank. It might just be an illusion. If not an illusion, a glass crack could result from the stress. Just thought I'd mention it. Anyway, you have a very nice aquarium!

 

[Back in the fold]

Whoa ! My mind is blown ! That is awesome !

 

[AquaBarb]

What a creative idea!
As a side note, something caught my attention on the left side (outside) of the tank. It looks like the splash mat is buckled up and it also looks like there is a gap at the center of the tank. It might just be an illusion. If not an illusion, a glass crack could result from the stress. Just thought I'd mention it. Anyway, you have a very nice aquarium!

Thank you @Archerfish

The mats from my 22 long what was on the stand before my 29g, i just need to cut it down the sides with a stanley blade. No gap down the middle appreciate the check tho thank you

 

[AquaBarb]

Whoa ! My mind is blown ! That is awesome !

Very kind thank you @Back in the fold

 

[Wills]

Looks amazing! It's going to grow in really nicely too - whats the plant in the back corner is it a Sword or a Crypt? It will look really good as the wood darkens over time too - have you thought about adding some moss to them?

Wills

 

[AquaBarb]

Looks amazing! It's going to grow in really nicely too - whats the plant in the back corner is it a Sword or a Crypt? It will look really good as the wood darkens over time too - have you thought about adding some moss to them?

Wills

Thanks Wills, yes moss is on the agenda at some point. Not 100% sure on the light im using yet, ive got 2 more waiting in the wings if i dont like how the plants are coming along tho. Its the Sagittaria i worry about the most as ive not had much luck with that in the past.

The plants in the back corner are Anubias lanceolata

 

[AquaBarb]

Added some more plants this week. Cryptocoryne Balansae, Beckettii, Lucens,Wendtii more Sagittaria Subulata and Anubias heterophylla

Also decided to move over my small group of Pentazona barbs . They have a lovely temperament what will suit the keyholes and will look the part in a forest setting

 

[Sgooosh]

Been working on my little 29g this week, turning it from a Cichlid grow out tank to a little forest sanctuary for my juvenile Keyholes.View attachment 314522
Not everything as gone to my ordinary plan for the scape and ive still got plants due in the next few days to plant. I was debating if i was going to restart it but it is growing on me and once the plants grow in i think it will look pretty good
View attachment 314523
I tried a frosted background this time round but i didnt like it so i revert back to black️View attachment 314524View attachment 314526View attachment 314527
Might add a small school of tetra/rasbora or some cories/woodcats @Wills in a few weeks

nice, love the mangrove type look! i think cories woudl love the sand here. looks very fine

 

[AquaBarb]

nice, love the mangrove type look! i think cories woudl love the sand here. looks very fine

Thank you

Yes i think your right, i may add a group of cories once the plants have rooted in. I have a small group of Panda's in my 180 what i might add too and bring across

Been thinking kuhli loaches might look cool tho and carry on the forest theme. They will looking like snakes in the grass

 

[Sgooosh]

Thank you

Yes i think your right, i may add a group of cories once the plants have rooted in. I have a small group of Panda's in my 180 what i might add too and bring across

Been thinking kuhli loaches might look cool tho and carry on the forest theme. They will looking like snakes in the grass

cool! pandas and snakes in a forest lol
can they go together?