Nano Morph

Steve H.

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Dec 1, 2011
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Location
Pingree Grove, Illinois
Stepping up to the big leagues.

I was lucky enough to come across a free Marineland Eclipse 12 that came with a load of plants, fish, and equipment.

Lighting:
The lighting was upgraded to a Sunpaq 32w. It is a double t5 tube with one at 10,000K and the other at 6500K.
So, this will be my first attempt with proper lighting, and start as a High tech set-up.

Flow:
Besides the trickle filter that came with the tank it also has came with a Cascade 500 canister filter which I hope will help with the flow.

CO2/ferts:
I have already started EI dosing and Excel dosing on the same scedule as the 5.5 gallon. And I will be setting up DIY co2 as this was also in the box of goodies that this tank came with.
I just have to figure out how to clean the ladder diffuser...pretty gross with algae right now.

The Scape:
I really don't have any idea as to what kind of scape I would like for this tank. I only have a basic idea of what I would like...
I want to attempt a scape that will "morph" the 5.5 and the 12 together as one scape if the tanks are sitting side by side, but also be interesting individual scapes if I ever separate the tank locations.

IMAG0500.jpg


The plants are what I could save from its original set up, and positions are temporary at the moment.
 
Ok....so I already bagged the 2 tank morph idea.

I finally picked up some plants, and the scape changed

IMAG0522.jpg


While I was fiddling around with the bog wood I came up with the best view of the wood, and plantings from the original tank.

I thought it kind of looked like the Kebbler Elf tree...

The idea now is to have it look like a tree on the hillside of a meadow. I will relocate the Helferi, and surround the base of the wood with moss. I will see how and if the micro sword develops then decide if I need any thing in the open space.
 
Erm... Is it hair grass to the right? Some Blxya Japonica would work well sat behind it at the very back and around the main part of the scape imo.
 
Thanks Minnt.
Actually it is micro sword on the right.

I did some more tinkering around. I had an abundance of star grass. I think I sort of have the effect I was after. For now....

I will post a new pick when I get home tonight.
 
I did a little more fiddling around with the positioning. I'm getting a better grasp as to a vision for this scape.
I wasn't planning on this tank, so I didn't have a scape thought out prior. I am going at this "on the fly" so to speak with materials I have available.

IMAG0526.jpg


Re-positioned the java fern, and moved the Cyperus to the back until I figure out how it fits into the picture. I bought it just because I really liked it, and the look I'm after now does not really have a fit for it.
I also re-positioned the star grass. I hope to create a little more depth with the new placement. I wasn't sure about star grass at first, but I find it pretty nice now.

IMAG0525.jpg
 
It's been awhile since I did an update on this tank. Probably because I haven't done much to it.
I have been ei dosing and have a 2 bottle DIY co2, but haven't been grooming or positioning much.
I left for a 3 week trip, came back to this:
2AB7A7E8-CA0B-436F-8722-5CE3FACA5AFD-4755-000006B4C8A02D97.jpg


The Star Grass over-ran everything! Time to trim...a skill I have not yet developed.
 
told ya....
E392F2B6-B026-4002-BB1F-F245CFDA1F60-7277-000009CA0CE4B4FC.jpg


Didn't have to touch the Wisteria, or the Anubus. But, I hacked up the Star Grass like an axe murderer...
My hope is that side shoots develop, and will hold this shape. I added some flame moss to the base of the wood. And I finally gave up and pulled all the micro sword... Maybe if I had a sand substrate I would have had better luck.
DBA9AA0B-2F37-4095-8370-AF8E411DD27C-7277-000009CA194AC553.jpg
 

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