Llj's 8g Nano Nightmare!

[Squirrelbuddies]

Very lovely layout, llj. Great colors and textures in there. I agree with Dave, though, the mossy stuff seems a little too much for this tank.

I especially like the Zosterfolia and the HM. Really a fabulous tank - I think you should change the title of the thread as it certainly does not look like a "nano nightmare"!

 

[lljdma06]

The only thing I am unsure of is the mossy foreground. It looks a little too messy for this set up, IMO. Lovely tank, though.

Cheers, Dave.

Very lovely layout, llj. Great colors and textures in there. I agree with Dave, though, the mossy stuff seems a little too much for this tank.

Ok, this is very useful. Exactly what I was looking for regarding criticism. The moss has actually been bothering me since the tank became a lot more structured. The problem, finding an adaquate foreground for this tank, as it is a low-light tank. What do you think? Could I try continuing the HM, which does grow very compact in this tank. In which case, I'd probably extend the crypts a bit more, and then plant HM. Good idea. I would eliminate the moss altogether then?

This really is a lovely tank Llj, joking aside () if I can manage a tank half as nice as this I will have achieved something. Really a thing of beauty.

Sam

Thanks Sam, but Dave and SB have got me thinking.
What do you think of the moss idea, Sam? You think it would unify the look?

Any plant suggestions? Glosso is too large-leafed. Riccia? HC? I have 3WPG, but no CO2 and no ferts and this is a 8g tank, might not be enough light, but the substrate is fine and rich in platy poop.

llj

 

[Dave Spencer]

I am sure you know a lot more about plants than me, but you could consider Marsilea Hirsuta for your foreground (I can`t get the Tropica link to work).

Dave.

 

[Themuleous]

I have mentioned the java moss in the corners before, TBH it doesn't really fit, but then I am struggling to think of an alternative, perhaps you could extend the crypts into the corners?

Sam

 

[lljdma06]

I have mentioned the java moss in the corners before, TBH it doesn't really fit, but then I am struggling to think of an alternative, perhaps you could extend the crypts into the corners?

Sam

Yeah, not so easy with a non-CO2 system. Well, I found some Echinodorus tennelus and more HM. I figured, I can grow zosterfolia, A. reineckii, and can get HM to stay compact in this tank, so let's try E. tennelus. They look similar to the greener crypts I keep in that corner and keep that leaf look going to the left corner. I also found a really compact clump of HM at Petsmart, believe it or not, so that has replaced the moss in the right corner. I still have a small clump of moss, but it's not java, it's much, much stiffer, probably true Christmas moss. I never had java moss, just sometimes Christmas moss gets stringy. I'll photograph tonight to get opinions. I think it looks much cleaner. We'll see how this looks when I get back March 15th, the plants would have had time to establish themselves, or completely die. What's nice, is that the HM now spills onto the front, creating an interesting cascade effect.

Nearly 100% of the substrate is covered with plants. That's pretty cool, and this tank has no hardscape at all, no stones, no wood, no terracing techniques, nothing.

Thanks for everybody's help. I know I'm such a bother.

llj

 

[Themuleous]

I know I'm such a bother.

You? A bother? Never...

I found E.tennelus to be a massive algae magnet, but knowing you, you'll having git growing like mad in no time. Looking forward to the pics

Sam

 

[Dave Spencer]

I have an E.T. foreground, and it is a plant you need to keep on top of. It can be very invasive, but it does look the mutt`s nuts when it is well kept.

How about a sandy foreground? You know....like no plants there. Crazy talk I know, but go on and force yourself.

Cheers, Dave.

 

[lljdma06]

I have an E.T. foreground, and it is a plant you need to keep on top of. It can be very invasive, but it does look the mutt`s nuts when it is well kept.

Hmmm. Would I want something that looks like "mutt's nuts" when well kept? Let me get back to you on that one.

How about a sandy foreground? You know....like no plants there. Crazy talk I know, but go on and force yourself.

That's a concept! Brilliant thinking, Dave, but I don't have sand. I have very inexpensive, fine-grain gravel. Not the prettiest, but with laterite and rootabs, it gets the job done. I wouldn't deliberately, expose it. It's like being caught without underwears.

llj

 

[Dave Spencer]

I wouldn't deliberately, expose it. It's like being caught without underwears.

llj

Go on, show us your substrate!

Remove the gravel from the front, put some sand down and use a small amount of the moss to blend in the border.

My $0.02, old girl.

 

[lljdma06]

Kind of a teeny update. Just in case I came back from my exams to a trashed tank, I did a photo shoot before I left. Here was the tank as of Feb 27th, with the addtion of E. tennelus, and HM. I was pretty serious too, for some of the shots, I removed the hardware and everything.

When I got back, I found an overgrown, but algae-free tank. I did some pruning and noticed that the E. tennelus was algae-free and sending little runners. As a result, I removed the red crypts in the front and am going to see if I can make a foreground of just E. tennelus and HM. I also reduced the maintenance and only change the water once a week instead of twice a week.

On a sadder note, I lost a platy Yesterday. The bloke jumped ship. Thank goodness I didn't loose my big breeder female. Thanks for looking.

llj

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Llj -- such a fabulous tank! It looks mah-va-lous! It really makes me want to get my little Finnex going again. I don't know though -- I promised myself only two tanks....especially with summer coming on. But after seeing this, I'm not sure if I can hold back!

-sondra

 

[Bloo]

wow llj - what a stunning little tank and the water clarity looks awesome
shame about the little platy you lost.

 

[blue acara]

What a beautiful tank! Plants look really healthy and colourful. The tank and photos look very professional.GJ

 

[wei0204]

very nicely done. Love the combination of colours... lush... lovely...

 

[thefirethief]

I love it. You have pruned to near perfection, particularly the HM. Seeing how much your tank has come along since the first pictures has really give me hope in my own wee project.