Luc's First Planted Tank

[wei0204]

Thank you Richie...
"
After the comments last night, I have decided to do something to alter the "look" for the tank.

This time I have taken out the plants on one side of the bank and replanted it to another side to make the plants at the other side more occupied. The emptied bank, I tied moss and some plants on the twig and placed it at the bank with stones and peacock moss.

These are some pics...

Please do comments on the new look...

 

[wei0204]

Ohh yeah forgot to mention, last night I saw with my own eyes that my adult "shrimplets" in my nano tank had "fun" and this morning 2 female "shrimplets" are carrying eggs... they are my first batch of shrimplets and they are sexually matured now. So happy...!

 

[Kiribati]

Your journal is so inspiring. Personally, I like the 2nd look of your tank, before you changed it again. It's been almost 6 months and you're still updating!

Can I ask you some questions?
How did you begin with plants? Because around here (my neighborhood) nobody is into aquariums and such, so they can't help me with hands-on experimenting with plants. Did you start by just buying plants, putting it into your aquarium, and learn through experience, or did you learn through forums like this wonderful community here and other things such as guides and books? Everything is so confusing...

I really want to get into planting my aquarium but I don't know where to start! The many guides here on the internet already assume that the reader knows the basics of planting, but they don't address the issue of the complete beginner!

As for your latest "build", that dip in the middle seems odd and out of place. To me it seems like a sinkhole. Everything else looks great!


Kiribati

 

[wei0204]

Your journal is so inspiring. Personally, I like the 2nd look of your tank, before you changed it again. It's been almost 6 months and you're still updating!

Thank you and happy to know that you like the thread. As most of us here, I just cant stay with the same planted tank forever, I always wish to do some changes when the tank is stable. By doing some changes, I learnt.

I will keep updating this thread till the day I stop planting the tank...

Can I ask you some questions?
How did you begin with plants?

I started rearing fishes since I was in primary school (I am 30 year-old now). At that time I always wanted to have some plants to be in my tanks, but it could never succeed to stay long as I have got no knowledge in doing that...

I stopped this hobby when I shifted to a city for collge study. Picked it up again end of last year, about 10 years apart. From there I came across some planted tanks in my LFS and from there I got attracted and started my own very soon after seeing that...

I searched the net for info about planted tanks, this forum is the first I joined and I found it very informative. I spent hours in front of my pc everyday just to read up the threads... Slowly I picked up and able to do my own planted tank till now...

Because around here (my neighborhood) nobody is into aquariums and such, so they can't help me with hands-on experimenting with plants. Did you start by just buying plants, putting it into your aquarium, and learn through experience, or did you learn through forums like this wonderful community here and other things such as guides and books? Everything is so confusing...

Where are you staying? I started by buyinh plants and plant it in my tank, at the same time reading forums. Learning from experience and through reading would help a lot. Anything I wanted to know, I will just post the questions up to seek for help or answer. In fact planting a tank is not that complicated as my style is to go for something natural and less costly...

I really want to get into planting my aquarium but I don't know where to start! The many guides here on the internet already assume that the reader knows the basics of planting, but they don't address the issue of the complete beginner!

Then you could just ask the questions that you wanted to know... , I suppose guys out there are willing to help you a lot.

As for your latest "build", that dip in the middle seems odd and out of place. To me it seems like a sinkhole. Everything else looks great!

Haaa.... the 'sinkhole' suppose is a "dried river", but I think I have failed to bring it out as many have commented on it.
I will leave it as it is for now, need some time to think of how to work on it ...

Anyway, I would be happy to help you if you have anything unclear wanted help, feel free to message me.

Thank you for the reply...

 

[Kiribati]

Now that you mention it, it does look like a riverbed! Thanks so much for your help.

 

[wei0204]

Heee... welcome and hope could help you in your problems later...

 

[wei0204]

I have taken some pics last night for sharing...

Front view,

Red lotus,

Harlequin,

Peacock Moss is growing,

Hope you like it, thank you for viewing.

 

[Liam]

Your tank and pics are always a joy to see. You were lucky to see the shrimps mating I have only seen it once, doesn’t take long, very interesting to see. Soon you will have grandchildren shrimp! I read your post about the SAEs eating the moss, the only one they don’t seem to eat is willow moss, same with amano shrimp, they nibble other moss too. You could try it if you wanted, just sew it onto the mesh, only problem might be the temperature in your tank, it seems to like cooler water below 25 or 26C.

 

[wei0204]

Thank you Liam for the informative reply.

That afternoon I saw all the young males are swimming around the tank very busy and unusual, so I know something is on. I waited a while and noticed the males keep disturbing the two young females and finally I saw them mate. A really good experience to see it myself...

I have java moss and peacock moss in my tank, the flying fox ate all the leaves from java moss and some from peacock moss. Thinking of remove it, but very hard to catch it as it swims so fast...

Temperature in my tank has lower down after added in 2 units of DIY fan recently. The temperature is about 25 to 26 degree celcius now.

 

[wei0204]

I saw cherry shrimp mating again, expecting the female to carry eggs tomorrow.

I went to LFS just, bought a female tiger shrimp carrying eggs. Put it in my nano shrimp tank... Hope she will hatch the eggs soon.

In that LFS, I saw a tank of shrimps labeled as Crystal black shrimps, is that such a thing? They have brown and white bands on their bodies. Selling quite expensive also... I think they are trying to con people again... !

 

[john starkey]

HI LUC , i have read your journal from start to presant page and considering this is your first attempt i think you deserve a massive pat on the back, My only critisism is, i am wondering if you will ever settle on a final scape or will you keep redoing? Your pics are aways nicely taken and show your tanks off really well , Finally just my opinin try to settle on a scape you are happy with and let it fully mature. JOHN

 

[wei0204]

Thank you John starkey for the reply, a very encouraging reply.

I am still in learning stage and I am new to planted tank, the frequent changes are carrying out as to experiment, and to learn more practically. I will let the current layout be a while though to let it mature, minor changes might be done but should not have major rescaping in the near future (hopefully haaa....).

Once the tank matured I would to redo it again as I got boring very quickly, so I can't stick to the same layout for too long.

And I believe viewer also prefer to see something new then the same thing only right.

 

[wei0204]

Added some stones with moss to the front empty part and moved the green tiger lotus to the front right corner just now. Added some background plants to where the green tiger lotus located previously. Just some minor alterations again.

Pics will be posted soon...

 

[lljdma06]

If I know anything about red lotus, and I do, I know that you will have to move it pretty soon. Unless there is a new dwarf variety floating around that I don't know about. It starts out all small and innocent, but give it an inch, and it'll grow all over you.

Yeah, you do constantly change things. I think this is part of the reason why I work with lower light systems now. You just have to be so much more patient. Scapes don't form in days, they take weeks or even months to take shape.

Looking forward to updated pics.

llj

 

[wei0204]

Thank you llj.

These are some pics as promised...

Full tank shot.

Left,

Right,

Center,

Moss in moss wall is growing out from the netting a bit, other mosses are growing too...

I have removed the 2 flying foxes.