Sam's Nano Journal

[Luke_e]

Out of the two, i'd opt for the ELEOCHARIS PARRULUS, purely because i think it looks great in its little clumbs, and put together it creates a great effect. This is one of the reasons i've ordered some myself..

 

[lljdma06]

Right Ive been thinking (yes it did hurt, lots. And now my brain has melted to mush and is oozing out of my ears) Im going to get rid of the HM it just isnt right for this tank, believe it or not it just gets to big and when I prune it, it ends up looking crap for weeks. It is also constanly covered in thread algae (dam shrimp, do some work you lazy gits!) Soooo Ive had a look at greenline and come up with the following -> remove the HM completely and replace with either

Yeah, I know what you mean about thinking too hard, except my brain mush comes out of my nose. Yeah, I have a problem with thread algae at times. Just finished a small blackout that made it much easier to remove and now I don't have it anymore. Until the next time, of course. You take good pictures, though, I can't see it in yours, on mine it's like a neon sign.

SAGITTARIA NATANS (DWARF SAGITTARIA)

or

ELEOCHARIS PARRULUS (DWARF MINI HAIR GRASS)

Either have them as a line along the back on their own or I was thinking perhaps a line of the sag's at the very back with some eleo in front just to give it a bit more shape.

Any thoughts on these people and the plan? Anyone got experience of growing them? or an alternative plant? I think I want something long and thin like valls but much smaller obviously!

Oh and if this lily doesnt get redenough I might get some NYMPHAEA STELLATA BULB (RED TROPICAL LILY BULB) instead, advice on these would also be appereciated That said have just looked at the current lily and there are new shoots growing and they look red woohooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmm. Not sure, I've never used any of these before, but I agree that you should try and create depth and a straight line of just one species might look dorky, for the lack of a better word. I really liked the HM, but it's your tank. To me, it always looked like a continuation of the HC, which I thought was really cool.

Nymphaea stellata is more compact and might be easier to control, but based on the pics I've seen, Nymphaea lotus gets redder, but I only have the one picture of stellata in a book to go by. I'd give your lotus a few more weeks and see how it does, before you go spend more money.

llj

 

[Themuleous]

Out of the two, i'd opt for the ELEOCHARIS PARRULUS, purely because i think it looks great in its little clumbs, and put together it creates a great effect. This is one of the reasons i've ordered some myself..

Cheers matey was thinking I could mix it up a bit rather than just having it in a line, make it look more natural. Nice photo BTW, did you take it?

Hmmmm. Not sure, I've never used any of these before, but I agree that you should try and create depth and a straight line of just one species might look dorky, for the lack of a better word. I really liked the HM, but it's your tank. To me, it always looked like a continuation of the HC, which I thought was really cool.

Nymphaea stellata is more compact and might be easier to control, but based on the pics I've seen, Nymphaea lotus gets redder, but I only have the one picture of stellata in a book to go by. I'd give your lotus a few more weeks and see how it does, before you go spend more money.

llj

Yeh I would try and make it look as natural as possible. TBH I never really looked at the HM that may, now you mention it, it does kinda look like an extension of the HC. It often takes an objective pair of eyes to notice stuff like that! As I said the biggest problem with the HM is that it gets quite big (by that I mean long like a stem plant) and then I have to prune it and it looks crap again, if I could find something a bit smaller I would be able to leave it looking nice for longer.

Ill see what I can do, the plants aren't expensive so I may just give it a try and see what happens, can always put it back if necessary!

Oh and yeh I'll give the lily a good few months, no point ripping it out straight away! The edges of the existing leaves are definately turning a pinkish/red so thats a good sign, will also see how the new leaevs turn out.

Just out of interest how long does it take for the leaves to grow out the bulb when its first planted?

Thanks for the input you too

Sam

 

[lljdma06]

Just out of interest how long does it take for the leaves to grow out the bulb when its first planted?

Thanks for the input you too

Sam

Hmmm, let me think. SAM! See, now, you've done it, brain mush coming out of the nose again! I'm older than you, I can only handle brain mush like once a day, tops! I have two lilys, not including the barclaya. Lily #1, the big one in my 15g was a naked bulb. I had a leaf sprout on that one, 4 days after I got it. Now, let me see, I remove an average of about 2-3 lily leaves a week from that plant, so they can grow super fast once established. Lily #2 took about 3 weeks to sprout, but it was not a naked bulb. It arrived already sprouted, but the plant was badly damaged, so it needed more time to recover. This plant is also much smaller. Sorry to be so thorough with my description. They can grow pretty fast. Seems like I see a bloody new leaf every day.

 

[Luke_e]

Cheers matey was thinking I could mix it up a bit rather than just having it in a line, make it look more natural. Nice photo BTW, did you take it?

Yea that would probably look nicer and more natural.
Nope the pic isnt mine, got it off google and changed the hue to give it an orange/red glow.

 

[Themuleous]

Hooray! Red leaves!

I'm not so sure about putting dwarf hairgrass along the back. I received dwarf hairgrass from ModernHamlet, and those there sort of long (15 cm, more or less). But when I ordered more from an online store, the dwarf hairgrass were short (around 8 cm). I guess it would work if you got the taller ones. But if you end up with the shorter ones then it's gonna look...odd.

Giant hairgrass might be a good replacement, HOWEVER, I've noticed it has been labeled as "marginal" plant by most stores. Not sure how it will fair well underwater for an extended period.

Cheers for the advice, but something 15cm tall would be just about right, or even 8cm, dont forget the tanks only 20cm high and thats including the substrate, there is only around 17/18cm of water column. Think Ill give the hairgrass a try, its not expensive and think I would enjoy the change. Guess it might look quite cool sticking out of the water, if it was to big.

Indeed woohoo red leaves, been away last night with work, hoping to get back and find a nice big, red leaf or two, watch this space!

So Sam...can you draw on brain mush underwater?

Sorry what? You been on the pepsi again! draw with it? I dont play with it FKNM! I try and stuff it back in my head where it belongs!

Sam

 

[Neal]

He means can you create brain mush underwater heh, tank pics please!!!

Neal

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

I'm a little late replying (where have I been anyway?! Hard to believe May is two thirds over...)

Anyway, just wanted to pipe in about the dwarf sag. I think this is what I have in the front of my big tank and it looks really cool. The only thing you need to be careful of is that when it gets too dense, that black, furry algae will get in there. As long as you are good about keeping the runners thinned out, it stays real nice. I bought 6 little plants 7-8 weeks ago and now I have more than two dozen (and that's after thinning them out each week and binning some of them.)

 

[Themuleous]

Right time for an update people

A bit has changed recently; I got rid of the HM and replaced it with the dwarf stags and thin leaved stags. I did get some hair grass (dwarf and normal) but having seen them in the tank I decided that they weren't right (you were right FKNM just looked stupid) so into the bin they went and so did the 5quid I spent on them! Oh well hey ho now I know.

I gave the HC a good prune last night to so it’s not looking its best in the photos, but I think you can see how think and carpet like it is. I'm sure if I pulled at one end the whole lot would come out! I also gave the Pogostemon helferi a bit of a tidy up as it was growing sideways a lot, as you can see from the pic.

It appears to be quite a slow growing plant and some bits I cut off and replanted a few weeks ago were still not anchored to the gravel. It does have quite think roots so that probably doesn't help.

The lotus is well and truly a green one. The leaves have a red tinge but its definitely green. But hopefully I'm getting Chris's red lotus so I'll either replace it or put the red at the front where it can be seen.

Before I get to the update photos I have a few questions for people if that’s ok? To my eyes the tank doesn't really look likes its been ‘scaped’, rather that I’ve just grown some underwater plants. I would like to start scaping it more to 'create' something. However I’m not really sure how to go about it. First off, the moss on the wood (which is growing great BTW ) doesn't really serve any function as a landscape feature and I’m wondering if I should get rid of it? Also the Pogostemon helferi doesn't get very tall and the HC tends to climb all over it, should I also remove this and just have the HC all the way to the end of the tank on the right? Or should I put something else in instead? Say more stags to make a curve that goes along the back and round the side? This would hid the filter intake too.

Also, I've remove the glass diffuser in these pics and its shown me how much of a hole I have in that area (where the wood arch used to be) should I spread out the crypts a bit more or put Chris’s lotus in that 'space'? Should I even be mixing the crypts and lotus? Or would they work better on their own? Being so tall I think the louts might look very legging if there was nothing in front of it?

Lastly (thanks to all that have read this far and not got bored and switched over! ) should I let the HC cover all the exposed gravel? It’s very much a 'patch' at the moment making everything look very separate and not part of a flowing and joined landscape. If the HC was everywhere I think it would bring the whole scape together better?

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated how do you like the two stags?

Right now the photos.

Before the HM change

and after

And now a few close-ups

Thanks for reading and any advice you give

Sam

EDIT - Ill add this photo too as it shows the problem of it all looking very seperate and not 'joined' better than the other pics do.

 

[Luke_e]

First off, the moss on the wood (which is growing great BTW ) doesn't really serve any function as a landscape feature and I’m wondering if I should get rid of it?

I'd keep the moss, once its filled the wood it will look ever more stunning, and imo will become a more intergrated part of the scape.

Lastly (thanks to all that have read this far and not got bored and switched over! ) should I let the HC cover all the exposed gravel? It’s very much a 'patch' at the moment making everything look very separate and not part of a flowing and joined landscape. If the HC was everywhere I think it would bring the whole scape together better?

I'm guessing the HC is the amazing carpet you have in the center of the tank? Imo, it would look even nicer if it filled the gaps you mentioned, and this would 'blend' the separations together. Can you tell me the full name of HC please as its amazing!

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated

The plants that are leading up to the bogwood are clearly going up in height from left to right, but the tallest plant on the right is higher than the bogwood, and imo 'softens' the impact of the plant getting taller (sorry i'm not explaining myself well lol), so would it be possible to remove one of them (if your wanting an increase from left to right) so the bogwood is taller than the furthest right plant? If your not wanting this ignore what i said lol..
Gorgeous tank btw .

 

[Themuleous]

Thanks for the advice Luke

HC stands for Hemianthus callitricoides (sp?) its a great little carpeting plant thats easier to look after than glosso but does require plenty of light and NO3 to do well.

I'll keep the wood for the time being then

I see what you mean about the plants at the back (the taller ones on the right a narrow sagittaria ([Sagittaria sabulata[/i]) with the shorter ones on the left dwarf sagittaria (sagittaria natans) but Im not realy sure what I'd do with it, once I'd move it! I think it needs time to fill out too so will see how it goes

Sam

 

[simonbrown403]

I'm not to keen on the sag Sam, there's to much of a contrast between the small leafs of the HC and the big leafs of the sag, it looks kind of unnatural.

See how it fills out, i could eat my words

But then again saying that, i could be bias due to mu affinity with grasses

Simon.

 

[zig]

Where do i start........not really sure!

Well the tank is very small, and the general rule (not rule but you know what i mean) with small tanks is to use small leaved plants, so i dont know how a lotus will fit in here.

The tank looks a bit to structured IMHO and lacks a focal point.

I think the addition of the sags (hehe.....stags) is the right idea i dont know how they will work long term 1. because they grow like crazy 2. they will probably get to big.

I think the tank also suffers from "flat tank syndrome" and although this can sometimes work i think it makes it harder to aquascape unless you have a definate idea of what you want in the beginning.

The HC should cover as much of the foreground as you can IMO.

Anyway just some suggestions............but you can grow algae free plants thats for sure

 

[Squirrelbuddies]

Sam, yes it is so true, you have such beautiful algae free plants and CLEAR water!

I have found for tall, grass-like plants, they look better setup in a triangle pattern. Picture a triangle sitting in the rear, right-hand corner. It would look great to have the "triangle" filled with your taller "grasses".

Also great for the back is a patch of rotala indica. It has a very small leaf and the top gets pinkish in bright light. Very nice contrast to the green. Plus it gets bushy so adds nice dimension.

Then I would move the wood so it's not located to one side. Picture your tank divided into thirds. The wood could sit one third over from the left or one third over from the right. (does that make sense?)

Hope this helps! You really do have a beautiful tank -- it won't take much to go from "really great" to "wow"!

 

[Themuleous]

All - sorry for the lateness of this reply been rather busy!

Simon - fair enough, i think you might be right though. Time will tell

zig - thats for you honesty Zig, its greatly appreciated. I wanted to get some red into the tank and also to try and see if I could bonsai a lotus, so its just an experiment really. I see what you're saying about the rule, the HM was perfect really just didn't stay short and looked crap for weeks once I gave it a prune. I also see what you're saying about the lack of focal point, lots of things in there but no one thing that stands out. We'll see how the sags (stags! doh )) go, can always remove them I guess.

I take it by 'flat tank syndrome' you mean the flatness of the HC? Again you're probably right, but having not really planned this tank hinesight is always a wonderful thing. Should I also be following the 'less is more' approach with it being such a small tank? (I do have some drastic plans up my sleave for a re-scape but am enjoying just growing lots of different stuff at the moment but dont tell anyone )

Re the algae, the shrimp certainly helped clear that little mess up! I do still have to clean the glass every week and there are a few small patches of green spot on the older crypt leaves, but I think on the whole I've cracked it

Squirrel - I'll see if I can get the sags to grow around the wood, think it would soften it up at bit too, I can see several runners already so heres hoping. Glad you like it, it is fun seeing it all develop

FKNM - thanks Chris suggested the rock idea too, will see what I can find rock wise, I poss have a rock bases re-scape idea but not really sure yet, depends how brave I feel about doing a complete strip now!

All - Thanks for your comments, I guess being my first EI tank I shouldn't conplain too much the plants are in great health, with nice lush growth and the fish seem to enjoy the plants too. I have learnt so much from this tank and still am. I have also grow quite a few different plants so thats been an interesting learning curve too. Will keep you posted re its progress and the inevitable strip down and re-work

Sam