Sam's Nano Journal

[Themuleous]

Haha it sure has, bloomin thing! But I think Ive tried to be to experimental. That's why I'm going to do something 'normal' with it when I get the ADA AS, I don't ever seem to get all the right components together at one time.

At least its not a big tank so its not expensive to redo, fortunately!

Sam

 

[aaronnorth]

any more updates? nearly 2 months now!

 

[Themuleous]

All in good time but thanks for asking, I hadn't realised it was nearly two months! Looking forward to updating this one, there has been some big changes in the tank

Sam

 

[aaronnorth]

Time flies when your having fun!

he he

 

[ICEEGRL]

I would really like to know how you get hills to stay hills. Mine always fall as soon as I add the water...(with in a few days...)

Is there new pics coming soon?

 

[Themuleous]

Not long now, Amanda I just need to give it a prune and let it grow back and it'll be ready, perhaps only another 2 or so weeks.

Re the hills, dont forget that the tank is only 8" high so a hill in this tank isn't really a hill at all, just a mound which is probably why it stay up and doesn't flatten out.

Sam

 

[ICEEGRL]

I don't see how you can get a tank that small to look that good. I can never do anything with a little tank... there just isn't enough room. I can't seam to do much with big ones either... lol I am just not good at designing...
I do know pretty when I see it though... This is going to be very pretty.

 

[Themuleous]

You're very kind I like small things. Ive stuffed this tank up more times than I care to remember, but being small it doesn't cost me very much to redo it. OK small tanks have their own challenges (water changes every two days), but if this tank had been 200lt, it would have cost me a fortune by now!! Its been great for experimenting and learning how EI works. Small tanks are also easy to scape as you generally want fewer plant types. Just keep it simple. I've already got two if not three scapes (another one just popped into my head whilst typing!!) for this tank when I get the final shots from this scape.

Sam

 

[aaronnorth]

I'm dying to see a pic!

 

[dhracer]

Wow great thread, looking forward to an update

Sorry for my ignorance but I've searched and can't find it (I guess the search is too short) but what is HC and El

Or is EL actually EI ? (Estimative Index )

 

[Themuleous]

Haha patience people! Trouble is its been built up now, just hope the scape lives up to the expectation!! The corners are taking a painfully slow time to fill in, I'll give it another week or two, then take the photos where its finished or not, I'm dieing to try a new scape!

HC = Hemianthus callitrichoides 'Cube' - the only plant I have in the tank as the moment

EI (its ei not el ) = estimative index, there is a pinned thread all about it

Sam

 

[Themuleous]

Right, first off. Big apology for not being very active recently, life's been stressful and Ive just not had the time. Hopefully that will change now (until my hols in July )

Anyway, I finally got around to taking some 'final' shops of my nano now that I sorted out the long running issue it had with growing plants. I turns out that it IS possible to have to much light. Basically, running 2x24w T5's is just to much for HC to cope with so it just grows really slowly, perhaps its a built in fail safe, who knows. Either way, once I dropped the light down to 1x24w T5 (the Arcadia Plantpro) the HC went ballistic and its been plain sailing ever since. No algae so the EI must be working! First time ever! I'll be stripping it down to rescape as the HC is rapidly dieing at the base so it needs it, gives me a chance to try something new Got the next scape planned

Current stocking is 11xgreen neon, 2xotto, numerous and breeding cheery shrimp and 4 nerite snails (the work horse of my algae eating crew).

Here are the pics

Sam

 

[lljdma06]

Beautiful, lush growth, Sam. I'm glad the HC finally worked. I'm finally giving it a go in my 8g.

 

[RadaR]

Brilliant!
I like the mixture of the green HC, the blue from the Neon Tetras, and the red from the Cherry shrimps.
Looks like someone has finally mastered the HC

 

[lljdma06]

Looks like someone has finally mastered the HC

Took him long enough, right?

I couldn't resist, Sam.

Hugs

llj