Planted Tank Journal

[jarcher1390]

well i finally got my base made and what a beautiful thing it was.
any ways i got the news at work so i quickly got the final stuff i needed and got the rocks about to set it up with pictures
Thanks jonny

 

[jarcher1390]

firstly ive placed the tank in position the put some gravel in position for the base of the rocks and slate

then placed the slates in position and built the rock face placed heating wire around the tank

Then filled in with gravel between the slates. the covered with aqua basis plus

Then i got interrupted (with family coming over)

 

[jarcher1390]

So my family has gone so i finished the tank by putting a thin layer of aquarium gravel on top of the aqua basis.

so i added the water and lets say i forgot to wash the gravel. but there is evidence of some of the gravel falling through the rock face

so far im impressed by the way it looks and im going to have to wait till tomorrow to see if it clears up.(and see how much has subsided with the water in it)
plants i think i may have over estimated on how many i needed (but ill live) should be getting them Wednesday at the latest
Thanks Jonny

 

[Ian H]

your impressed by this:

sorry couldnt help it!!

I liked the look of it before you added water, shall be keeping an eye on it i think

 

[aaronnorth]

it looks good but it looks a bit flat, maybe you should of had the rocks jutting out more if you get me. See how it goes with the plants. Looking forward to it

 

[corey01]

I love it great idea on making the mound type thing

 

[jarcher1390]

lol not that bit but that can be easily fixed.
Tank cleared up this morning but not enough to take a picture but its still looking good.
i know what you mean about it being a bit flat but when the anubias gets on it in sure that it will look fine
Thanks for the comments
Jonny

 

[jarcher1390]

well this morning the tank was clear, well enough for a picture

the cause for the gravel falling through, is that i did not put enough of the larger gravel to clog up the big gaps so that it now pours through like water

should of hopefully sorted that out
Thanks Jonny

 

[jarcher1390]

well yesterday i got to work and finally decided on the number of plants as the tank was ready to be planted.

the tank full of my reserved plants

i got home on put them into buckets full of water and i got a pair of jbl tweezer which were very use full.

I firstly planted the anubias

i was very pleased how they looked. They got me 5 of the anubias i decided 3 was enough, i was right, i did not want them to completely cover the rock
Then i started on the Lilaeopsis, i don't know how long it should of took but it took for ever i started at 7 finished at 10 till 11.

i decided for 7 pots and i think 2 more would not been too much.
Then i did the aromatic and the Hygrophila this did not take as long but took a while

after i finished

by this time i was tired and i had to go to work today so i did not post this last night
Thanks jonny

 

[aaronnorth]

it took you nearly 3hr to plant the lileaopsis or to plant the whole tank? It looks good, i think you could do with a plant here as a focal point though. At the minute my eye gets drawn to the pointy rock bang in the middle.

 

[jarcher1390]

took a long time that all i know longer than it should

 

[jarcher1390]

I believe you are right now you pointed it out my eye is drawn toward that rock, ill do somit about that.
i've just taken some photo before the lights went out

Thanks jonny

 

[aaronnorth]

what wattage is the lighting?

 

[jarcher1390]

2, 36 watts
regards Jonny

 

[aaronnorth]

Thats a lot of light without CO2!