The Folly

[Tetra-Chris]

Good evening all,

Well, it has been a little while since I posted my last journal and as i have been expanding my tank collection I thought I'd start a new one.

Tank: Arcadia Arc 45l
Lighting: Ellipse Pod - 18w with Blue LED strip
Filtration: Fluval U3 Internal (Spray bar setting)
Ferts: TPN+ (at the moment, will be switching to Aqua Nourish and + once the bottle finishes)
Substrate: Fluval Flora with JBL balls
CO2: TMC 520g CO2, diffused (1 bps)

Hardscape: 2 x mopani

Flora: HC / Hairgrass / Vallis / Xmas Moss / Riccia / Crypt (cannot remember which one though!)

Fauna: Pure Black Bar Endlers

Well this is my second attempt at an aquascape and I am more than open to comments, reccommendations and criticism (constructive of course).

All the setup has been completed and has been running for about 3 weeks now. I have a HC carpet along the front, hairgrass in the left corner (that needs a bit of a trim!), xmas moss on the wood), a riccia mound in between the wood, and vallis in the back left. Crypt sits in the midground in the hope for a smooth transition.

The hope is that the vallis will grow up and conceal the filter. Had a bit of crypt melt, but can see new shoots comin up nice and green so happy with that.

CO2 atomiser on order that will replace the current diffusion method in the hope of better absorption

I regret that I haven't taken pictures of the initial setup, but I hope if i start now, i can see the tank develop in pictures.

Anyways, here goes, I await your critique

Thanks in advance for any comments/advice

Chris

EDIT - Picture removed, didnt like it, too blue and it was annoying me!

 

[Ps3Steveo]

Looking good, will look even better when its filled in.

 

[Tetra-Chris]

Thanks for the comment mate - gonna keep photos on a weekly basis to watch it grow hopefully...

Thought i'd give the tank a bit of perspective (dont like that picture much...)

Chris

 

[Ps3Steveo]

That a 35 Arc next to it?

 

[Tetra-Chris]

Arc 30 mate (belonged to Elisew on here)

 

[lljdma06]

This is very nice. I like the layout. Hopefull the vallis will cooperate. Vallis nana?

 

[Tetra-Chris]

Thank you - I hope it carries on maturing nicely and behaves itself!!

So far the vallis seems ok, had a little melt in first week but seems to have bounced back nicely. Speaking of which, it was bought as spiralis but seems a little straight, so not sure to be honest Liz...

 

[lljdma06]

Seems V. spiralis and V. nana are similar, if not the same species. Both are referred to as eel grass. You may well have nana. Requirements are the same. My nana from a scape some years back...

 

[Tetra-Chris]

What a stunning tank Liz, that is exactly how I envisage the vallis to end up, fingers crossed it does.

Not touching the tank all week (except for water changes) and will be taking a photo again next Friday. Heres hoping for a nice bit of filling out between then and now.

 

[lljdma06]

What a stunning tank Liz, that is exactly how I envisage the vallis to end up, fingers crossed it does.

Not touching the tank all week (except for water changes) and will be taking a photo again next Friday. Heres hoping for a nice bit of filling out between then and now.

Thanks Tetra-Chris. That was one of my no-CO2 scapes from a couple of years back. I always liked crypts.

I'm sure your vallis will do the same. Probably better.

 

[Tetra-Chris]

Small update this evening, but alas no photo - will sort that out over the weekend!

1 - Gave the hairgrass a haircut, it was getting un wieldly half way up the tank. Its sending off runners all over the place so envisage I'm going to be overrun shortly with the stuff!

2 - The vallis spiralis has really greened up, it is really vibrant, I'm liking it! Lots of new height, just waiting for it to spread now!

3 - I have taken a leaf out of ianho's pages and got myself a new atomiser/mister (same one as in his previous scape thread) - lots of fun this evening trying to get it up and running, similar issues, even managed to get the pressure so high in my bubble counter the connectors blew off and it duly sprayed it's contents on the ceiling - OOOPS! Seems to be misting at the moment, so have switched off ready to come on with the solenoid in the morning...

4 - HC seems to be spreading, but it looks like I am getting a lot of melt - not sure it is not feeling the love for the tank to be honest. I will perservere, but we shall see.

5 - Xmas moss seems to be starting to grow with some fresh green coming through (it took nearly 2 weeks coming from Singapore so was a touch on the fragile side when i put it in)

6 - Considering putting in some P. Helferi in front of the hardscapes this weekend, what you guys reckon?

In all I am happy with the progress, and cant wait for it all to grow in

Chris

 

[lljdma06]

Small update this evening, but alas no photo - will sort that out over the weekend!

you'll have to remedy that.

3 - I have taken a leaf out of ianho's pages and got myself a new atomiser/mister (same one as in his previous scape thread) - lots of fun this evening trying to get it up and running, similar issues, even managed to get the pressure so high in my bubble counter the connectors blew off and it duly sprayed it's contents on the ceiling - OOOPS! Seems to be misting at the moment, so have switched off ready to come on with the solenoid in the morning...

You boys and your CO2...

5 - Xmas moss seems to be starting to grow with some fresh green coming through (it took nearly 2 weeks coming from Singapore so was a touch on the fragile side when i put it in)

Where did you get yours? I've receive moss from Singapore too. Got Willow moss and Christmas moss. Willow moss shipped much better.

6 - Considering putting in some P. Helferi in front of the hardscapes this weekend, what you guys reckon?

I don't know, we don't have a big enough full tank shot now. I can't seeeeee!!

 

[Tetra-Chris]

On my phone so no fancy quotes for you!

The moss came from eBay, a seller called magicaland, also know as AquaticMagic - I think they're quite a popular plant retailer on eBay... Just think it got delayed and started to dry out a bit - seems on the mend now though!

On closer inspection of the HC, it seems that along with the melt, there is a small amount of algae in the midst, will have to work on that, but from research, it looks like it moat need to just man up and grow through it.

Re the photo - whatever - sorry, where are my manners... What I meant to say is, sure, photo to follow soon.

And yes, us boys do love our toys!

(on a completely separate note, gonna try and get me some anubias nana for my low light / no fert / low maintenance tank - the other Arc in the picture - mayeven put some close up pictures of that one too if you all behave today!!!)

 

[Ps3Steveo]

P. Helferi sounds good, looking forward to a pic.

 

[Tetra-Chris]

I still owe you a picture!

Been a bit pre-occupied with my main tank this week!

Text update;

Riccia mound removed
P.helferi planted in gap created and in front of hardscape
Single e.tenellus planted on left hand side just to see how it looks/grows

Changed all check valves to easy aqua ones (screw locks on pipe connectors) and changed bubble counter to easy aqua one (again with screw locks) - cannot believe the difference it makes and the amount of pressure the system holds now - can put my co2 on fully open and nothing blows - even with the fine mist atomiser, really impressed!

Switched to aqua nourish and aqua nourish + to see how it compares with TPN+

Upped my CO2 input slightly - came home tonight to my HC pearling (still has a bit of algae on it and is looking a little scraggly in places - hoping it will grow through it.)

Picture to follow I promise!