Mad About Moss

[Theplayboy]

I thought I would share my new little project with you all.

As you can probably tell from the title im really into different mosses at the moment so thought I would try to do a moss orientated shrimp only nano tank.

Tank: Dennerle 20l nano tank
Filter: Air driven sponge filter
Substrate: Inert black fine gravel
Livestock: 3 CRS, 15 Sri Lankan Dwarf shrimp (Caridina simoni simoni)
Plants:

African fern (Bolbitis heudelotii)
Pogostemon Helferi
Peacock Moss
Light Green Xmas moss
Flame Moss
Mini Moss balls
Some sort of Pellia that I got free with some other plants
1 amazon frogbit also free with other plants
Cratoenuron filicinium

And now for some photos (some photos are taken with HDR function on iphone turned on, to reduce glare)

The Tank

Some of the plants before planting

The wood before going in

Initial setup

Added moss balls and flame moss

Close up of the wood

Some of the shrimp

#

What the tank looks like now

I could not manage to take any photos of the Sri Lanken dwarf shrimp as they are still so small. You can just about make them out in some of the photos.


Let me know your thoughts and anything you think I could do to improve.

 

[lljdma06]

That's cute, but get your bolbitis out of the substrate. Roots can be in the substrate, but the main rhizome needs to be out. Usually bolbitis is attached to wood or rocks.

Very cute little tank. Pelia is a weed, so that you know. It'll spread everywhere.

L

 

[Theplayboy]

Thanks

I'll try to get it out without everything going everywhere, I have very large hands and it's a very small tank. I've got some tweezers etc on the way though. Do you think it would look better attached to wood or left with only roots in the gravel?

Cheers for the heads up on the pelia,, I'll keep an eye on it and if it gets too much I'll probably take it out.

 

[ian]

agree this is nice, could do with some more coverage on the floor. Maybe some more moss?

Those are high grade CRS aren't they where did you find those?

 

[lljdma06]

You can never have enough moss.

 

[Theplayboy]

agree this is nice, could do with some more coverage on the floor. Maybe some more moss? Those are high grade CRS aren't they where did you find those?

I was thinking that as well I've had a little change around this afternoon. Ill do an update post in a minute.
The shrimp are probably better than average but nothing too special. I got them from "living reef" in Dartford, I only popped in there on the way back from picking up the simoni to get a couple of supplies and the mrs fell in love so we ended up with these. They actually have a nice little selection of shrimp in there. They have cherries, orange sunkist, CRS and red nose shrimp.

If your ever in the Dartford area I would strongly recommend a vist its an excellent shop for both tropical and marine.

You can never have enough moss.

Totally agree!!

 

[Theplayboy]

Quick update.....

Was in P@H today and noticed that the selection of plants was actually better than normal. I managed to find a half decent portion of Pogostemon Helferi. I know ill probably end up with snails but I have washed as best I could, I dont overfeed the shrimp and I can always let an assasin loose from my main tank.

I have also also added another moss carpet. This time I made it out of Cratoenuron filicinium, so another type of moss to add to the numbers. I think im going to try and get as many different mosses in here as possible, without it looking too overcrowded.


Picture Time

 

[ian]

they a 'ss' grade arn't they. How much did you pay for them if you don't mind me asking?

edit, that looks better. Make sure you keep us updated, as i'm sure this will turn into a cracker.

 

[creg]

lovely little tank and awesome shrimp, id love some crs for my tank but cant bare paying that much for shrimp

 

[fishprotector]

Very nice. I like the moss on the wood and those shrimp have very impressive colouration. I do not think that they have enough white to be SS grade. They look like S grade to me. A lovely find

 

[JenCliBee]

Nice layout mate, should look stunning once it fills out a little.

Agree with above, the shrimp are just S grade but very nice

 

[Theplayboy]

Yea I would say they look more A to S grade. I paid something like £7.99 a shrimp.

I cant wait until it fills out a bit. Will make the hard work worth while. And I'll get to see what it looks like properly. (I'm very impatient and want it done now!)

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Thats my lfs lol, I'm just down the road from there, but then there's like 8 lfs's for me here so have plenty of choice, went in MA in Hawley the other day and their CRS were 15 each for poor grade lol. Anyway looking good there, my Xmas moss going in there too?

 

[Theplayboy]

Are there any lfs you would recommed a vist to around your area? Yep im hoping to fit the xmas moss in somewhere, maybe make another patch of moss carpet.

 

[nurglespuss]

OOooh! Thats looking great I'm glad that light is a decent fit, seems to suit it well!

Are you dosing CO2 as well? or letting things stay low maintainance?

I can't wait to get some cherry or similar shrimp for my main tank, after christmas