I’m really pleased to be able to share with you all my latest aquascape. Unfortunately I didn’t have my camera during the setting up stage so these are the first photos I could get.
The aquascape is just 7 days old in these shots and it’s progressing nicely. Hairgrass and glosso sending out runners, and crypts adapting nicely. Vallis is another story, but more on that later.
I know the fish selection may not be to everyone’s taste, but I’ve always liked Angelfish and perhaps more importantly, my wife loves them!
The tank is a 120x45x45cm (240 litres) with black ADA-style cabinet. Supplied by Aquarium Ltd, it was used for the Festival of Fishkeeping 2008, and ever since has been with Dan Crawford.
Dan was happy to loan the tank to me (thanks pal!), so after some hard work stripping down the existing set-up and moving it down a flight of particularly steep stairs, and a thorough cleaning, here we are.
I’ve used only plants leftover from a TV aquascaping feature, after Dan and James Starr-Marshall took their share. Considering by this point, the plants had been in a box for around 4 weeks, they were in good condition – testament to the quality of Tropica.
However, the vallis was in very poor condition (a 100% aquatic plant, it does not fair well out of water) and I’ve planted the healthiest bits. They’re still struggling with most of the leaves going transparent, but I’m hopeful that there will be enough new growth to eventually form a nice curtain-background.
Hardscape consists of Sumatra wood and Seiryu Stone. Nothing groundbreaking and it’s stuff I had spare in the garage. Depending how I get on with the Java moss I have already, I would like to cover a lot of the exposed branches in the center of the layout, to soften the appearance.
I’m happy with the design and over the months think it will mature into a nice aquascape. It’s been a long time since I had my own decent sized planted tank and I’m really enjoying realising a renewed passion for the hobby.
Eventually I will stock a large shoal of Rummynose tetra and probably tinker about with more plants, as I see fit.
I am considering swapping the black plastic piping for 17mm glassware, but I do like the indestructible and lower maintenance aspects to the plastic… Your thoughts most welcome!
I look forward to sharing the journey with you all and will try to update with new photos every week or so.
Tank specifications
Aquarium – 120x45x45cm (240 litres), opti-white with gloss black ADA-style cabinet
Lighting – Arcadia OT2 luminaire, 4 x 54w HO T5. JBL Natur (9000K) and Arcadia Plant-Pro lamps. Two lamps for 8 hours.
Filtration and heating – 2 x JBL 1200lph externals with black plastic piping. 10x turnover. Hydor 300w in-line heater.
CO2 – 2 x 2Kg pressurised systems with glass/ceramic diffuser under each filter inlet. Both with solenoids set to come on 1 hour before lighting, and off 1 hour before lights off.
Substrate – From bottom-up, 5 litres Tropica Plant Substrate, Unipac Black, Seachem Flourite Black, Caribsea EcoComplete
Fertilisers –Tropica Plant Nutrition+ (5ml per day), Easy-Life Profito (5ml per day),
Water – NO3 and PO4 relatively high from tap. 50% water change every week.
Hardscape – Sumatra wood and Seiryu stone
Plants –
Vallisneria spiralis ‘Tiger’
Vallisneria nana
Microsorium pteropus
Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Green’
Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Tropica’
Eleocharis parvula
Glossostigma elatinoides
Taxiphyllum barberei
I'm still on the fence regarding the angels, but if the wife likes them then they're perfect 
My LFS has some lovely looking angels in at the moment. They look a little like false altums. If I were to have angels, I'd go for them (or altums!)
