Low Tech Rescape/setup

[Ri-Za]

Hi all

So I have had my planted tank up and running for a while now but I had a problem with my filter that has caused most of my plants to die whilst I have been in the process of fixing it. Some of them survived but I would like to resacpe it to something a bit more aesthetically pleasing like the various tanks you see on here.

So my current set up is a Fluval Roma 125 with an Aquamanta EFX 300 filter (which is working wonders - thanks Ps3Steveo), a fluval heater (can't remember the exact name sorry) along with the following fish;
2 x GBR (1 male and 1 female) they have given birth before but ate the eggs before they'd hatched
5 x cardinal tetra
5 x glowlight tetra
2 x leopard cory (some died not long after I got them and I will improve numbers shortly)

The current set up roughly of my tank is;

What I am trying to recreate though is something like this;

So I would like the tank to be a low tech set up as my lights are 2 x T8 bulbs and give off I believe 1.5 wpg. I currently try to remember to dose Aqua essentials aqua nourish every morning and have the lights on for around 8 hours - might be a bit too long though I realise now. Now that I have my Aquamanta filter everything seems to be surviving at least, not necessarily growing much, but doing a lot better than they use to!

So I went out this weekend and picked up the following pieces of wood, plus the one currently in my tank with the java fern attached;

Two possible ways I could get the wood together would be like;

I would like the tank to roughly look similar to the one I've already shown but not too sure if low light would be good enough. I would probably use some dwarf hairgrass in-between the wood but if anyone has any suggestions then that would be great any suggestions on layout of the wood or types of plants that would survive and thrive in my conditions too!

I will try to get some pics up of the rescaping in progress once I have ordered some plants tonight/tomorrow so that everyone can see the progress and let me know what they think!

Ri-Za

 

[mike455555]

personally i think hairgrass might be a little long at the front id mix it with riccia. or some other plant

i cant wait to see how this turns out

 

[Ri-Za]

Thanks for the feedback

I've currently got riccia growing on a rock that has been doing very well in my lighting conditions so I might carry on and continue with that and stick a load on my main piece of bogwood for the desired look.

What other plants would be best suited for my conditions and desired look? I was going to use some dwarf hairgrass as I currently use it and no that it grows fine but I could always use some bigger pieces at the back. I also think that a black background would be good to get considering my walls are yellow and don't really help the look as such.

Any suggestions or feedback much welcomed

Ri-Za

 

[Ri-Za]

So I think that I will cover a lot of thr bogwood in riccia as in the picture I am trying to get my tank to roughly look like, especially as I no it grows well already in my tank. I also think I will go with some dwarf hairgrass around the outside of everything as I do like it quite a lot but not too sure what else I could go with, any suggestions appreciated

 

[DaveStu]

Have you had success with Hair hairgrass before in that setup? I only ask because my 20g runs 2x T8 bulbs which equates to 1.5WPG (same as yours), I dose ferts and it died horribly in my tank. All of my crypts, dwarf sag, java fern, moss, Repens and Amazon Swords have flourished however so I put my failure down to too little light and no CO2.

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Looking forward to this.

 

[Ri-Za]

Yep I have had dwarf hairgrass in my current set up and although it might not grow much or pearl at all it does stay stable and expands to further shoots over time. I haven't been dosing co2, just dosing daily ferts - assuming I remember!

Cheers guys

I can't quite decide weather I should stick the main piece of wood in the corner for a traingular style scape or stick it in the middle like in the scape that I have gathered inspiration on, any thoughts? I'd also think it would be cool to get some small pieces of rock but I'm struggling to find any small ones at the moment.

I haven't decided on a plant list yet, any suggestions for plants under T8 bulbs with daily dosing? It would be nice to get something that will flourish lots rather than stay stable and not grow much which is what is currently happening in my tank. Any comments are good

 

[Ri-Za]

So after getting a few things sorted I have managed to make a few changes which you can see below;



I am not too sure what to do with the piece of wood on the right atm, whether to keep it or not? I quite like it there and so do my rams and corys so I think I will keep it. I've attached the riccia that I had but I should be getting more tomorrow/Tuesday.

Any comments or suggestions so far?