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Had the same issues here https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/about-time-90x45x45-scape.37774/ lack of time and Monte Carlo just grew too well, removed it and went for sand foreground, easier to maintain quick stir before water change and the sand can be syphoned out and fresh sand added when it...

I like the rocks, they'd look great in a river bed style aquascape, last pic reminds me off redstevo's kebab scape https://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/lanzarote-lava-rock-kebabscape.22701/

Nice triangular composition, you will probably find a lot of the rock work disappears once plants are in, depending on mid ground plant choice of course, set to be a lovely scape.

Looks great so far Adam, in respect of the tissue culture stem plants, I usually cut them into 6-8 portions and push them into the substrate in clumps, they will root eventually and I find in small clumps they stay put easier than individual stems.

I've had good success by drilling through a piece of slate and using a stainless steel screw into the bottom of the wood, nice and stable and the slate can be hidden under the substrate.

Hi Ash, Amazonia will release lots of ammonia for the first few weeks in the tank requiring lots of water changes etc to get the parameters stable, ebi gold or tropica equivalent soil doesn't leach as much ammonia and will buffer the water to desirable parameters for crystal red shrimp, though...

Nice use of pebbles in greenfinger's journal http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/starting-point-the-cube-new-cube-rescape.30848/

I used lava in one of my temporary tanks http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/temporary-tanks-two-become-one-finally-come-to-an-end.33983/ Found it great to dry start moss on, also hollowed out some shallow holes and added a little aquasoil and Monte Carlo, didn't find it crumbles much.

Seems feasible Andy though it would start to defrost as soon as it hit the water so may still be a little messy, I have in the past used a funnel with filter tubing attached to drop the aquasoil in place, worked ok didn't all land exactly where I wanted due to needing three hands :lol:

https://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/mini-landscape-rock-per-kg-p-1437.html?zenid=ead73c24c9da440224ddc74377cdb3aa Works great with black substrate from previous experience, you can add notes to your order asking for specific sizes and AE are normally very obliging, the Baltic rock they do may also...

I think Iain has some of the larger anubias sp at the back of this scape http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/african-antics-na120.37956/

I agree with rebel, Lilly pipe will suit the scape, only used the lily style return myself so can't add much about the violet style.

Love it with the wood over the front left deano, it's crying out for some Java fern attached to the wood and some crypts around the rocks ;-) lovely layout mate.

Looks really good, look forward to following your journal :thumbup:

Is there any possibility you could buy more rocks ? My biggest mistake was buying a few kilo of seryiu,ohko,pagoda, bassalt when I first started in the hobby and I'm left with a box full of rocks that just don't fit together :lol: instead of an iwagumi a nice piece of redmoor or manzi driftwood...

Some stunning scapes, good link Andy :thumbup:, well done to all UK entrants, especially stu back on superb form :clap:

Looks great, how do you plan to tackle the algae in the, well algae, superb scape mate :clap: top job

I'm really impressed with apfuk range of tools I've had most of mine for well over two years now scissors are still sharp tweezers are still in good shape, My favourites for planting http://www.aquariumplantfood.co.uk/sushi-pinsettes.html not the longest but really comfortable to work with.

Agree with dantrasy, that looks lovely :clap:

Like it mate, has a nice flow to it, can you remove the straight branch sticking straight up just off centre ?

Wouldn't of thought it is a nutrient issue florbase contains nutrients and your dosing the water column, melting/ browning Like this is almost always a lack of co2 reaching the plant at substrate level, could also be the emmersed growth dying off, are you seeing any new growth at all ?

I like your scape, it will mature into a very nice jungle :thumbup:, only thing I would change is to swap the stone ornament out for another nice piece of wood, which will break up the midground nicely and blend the two sides together, just my opinion of course :-) nice start mate.

Love that scape it's possibly mangrove driftwood, even if it's not exact the mangrove wood would work well.

Drill the two pieces and use a stainless steel rod to join them.

With the lawn edging cut it up and push it in, you can iron it flat between a cloth or two to get rid of the creases, if building a high slope add it in stages to keep the substrate in place.

I've used/ others have used http://www.wilko.com/lawn-edging/everyday-value-lawn-edge-green-8mx15cm/invt/0138005 works ok IMO.

Looks good zanguli, look forward to a journal for your new scape.

Tropica specialised would do for that size tank or tnc complete or apfuk all in one all available from forum sponsors. I always dose ferts from day 1 of flooding keep up with water changes and you should be all good :thumbup:

Nice layout Scott, photoperiod of around 12 hours is good for dry start, I never add nutrients to my spray for misting it can burn the plant leaves plus the florabase will contain plenty of nutrients so should more than suffice, good luck with the setup look forward to flooded pics.

Hope the planting goes well :-) look forward to planted pics later :thumbup:

I like this one, you could probably do without the small rock on the right, I would use Monte Carlo all over with some eleocharis parvula or mini dotted amongst the rocks, nice job mate look forward to seeing it planted.

Tie it thinly to the branches, and tighter, then constant cleaning and trimming should keep it nice and tight/ compact, as long as tank conditions are favourable.

Too much light on startup 22w is a lot for a 30 ltr & 5-6 hours maximum for the first month or two is plenty IMHO, I run 6 hours permanently on most of my high tech setups.

Awesome scape ady, almost makes me want to go unplanted :-) that hardscape would look great wit loads of microsorums needle leaf around the base of the wood and nothing more, look forward to seeing a planted tank from you again soon.

Maybe pagoda rock would work.

^^^^^ Easier option plus the wood doesn't move during maintenance, slate can be hidden under the substrate.

As long as filters powerful enough Henry, lily pipe should provide enough flow, play around with the placement until your happy with the flow pattern, nice hardscape btw :thumbup:

And I spent hours searching the net for ada daring stone :woot:

I've bought various scissors and tweezers from apfuk superb quality for the money IMO.

Manzy on sale http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/manzanita-sale.34036/. When ordering rocks online I always purchase as much as my funds allow to give myself a good choice of pieces to use, I normally keep extras for future scapes/ tanks, but you could sell on the excess, nice plan btw, look...

Play around with it until your happy Henry, as you said though plants will make it come together.

Flows together nicely Henry, maybe raise the wood up slightly to open up the natural pathway through the scape.

Hi Glenda, when I ran my large edge I got so annoyed at the wood moving every time I put my hand in I found the only solution for me was drill through some rocks and attach each piece of wood with a cable tie then bury rock in substrate, I used mini landscape rock as I had it to hand but it was...

Not cubes but very good examples of height achieved with hardscape.

Your a genius viktor, been following you on flickr for a while now and I'm always gobsmacked at the quality of your scapes, superb.

Find or make a box the same size as the tank footprint fill it with cat litter or gravel and try the ideas out in there first, once happy transfer the hardscape over to the tank.

As long as your co2 and flow/ distribution is spot on the substrate really doesn't matter.

Hi mike, normally first couple of weeks the plant will put roots down and will be adjusting to underwater life, I've found hairgrass slow to get going.

Is it mangrove root maybe ?

I've not had any noticeable tanins from my manzi it is damn floaty though so always use a couple of stones to weight it down for a week or two.

Lots of ferns, moss, crypts, maybe some eleocharis and lilaeopsis sp mixed and leave some of the sand unplanted, as Kirk said try a few different pots of carpet plants mix em up see what you like, love that wood it's almost perfect for that tank.

Have to agree with lindy, cardinia species won't appreciate fluctuations in water params, neocardinias should be more tolerant, nice layout though.

Mopani definitely has potential http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/nice-unique-90-cm-mopani.30575/ Would love to see that piece used in a scape.

Your backtracking mate :lol: Sorry shameless self promotion there ;) I do see your point but it's all subjective mate this is one of my favourite scapes, a while ago now but depicts a lot of uk front gardens in rented properties...

C'mon you gotta love this :) http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/25-litre-tree-scape.31768/ it's all about nature and tbh unless your going down the biotope road we are all fairly far from nature anyway :)

I love trees :-)

Good call tom, but then if that's the inspiration pic I really want to see the tank.

Full tank shot please.

I think you should take the bull by the horns and go with it ;-) Joking aside I like it mate what size tank will it be going in, do you plan to moss the wood up at all or other plants in mind to soften it.

http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/seachem-flourish-excel-250ml-p-302.html?gclid=CPDA_4PXm7wCFeXKtAodEkgAfQ There you go.

:thumbup: journal time :-)

Hi krishp, you can just soak in a bleach/water mixture scrub then soak in a strong dechlorinator solution for 24hours and the rocks should be good to go.

Hi curvball , the rocks seem really balanced to me in number 4 with a natural route through the hard scape, also looks to me to have the option to have a few different planting options, which could be good longer term to try a few different plants here and there, depends how long you want the...

I still like number 4 :D

Number 1 is very balanced, though I like number 4, I think it's the way the eye is drawn through the center of the rocks, I think 4 with hc (or similar) low foreground plant and eleocharis acicularis or tennelus sides and background would do it for me :-) now post some more up :thumbup:

Here you go 90 cm fresh start(still a work in progress) | Page 5 | UK Aquatic Plant Society

Best I could do mate, have to say quality tools at really good prices :-)

Just got one of these for Xmas from my kids the edges are both flat, nice to use lifts the bba tufts easily well worth the money tbh think it was around £12-£13 pounds much more affordable than the ada one for me, check my 90cm journal for a rock clean comparison after it's first use this morning.

Hiya mate, maybe something similar to these http://www.aquaessentials.co.uk/caribsea-brown-river-eggs-rocks-p-6494.html, think they would contrast nicely between your sand and wood, you could use some to raise your wood up adding height, crypt willisi or petchi would be good for midground in...

Hiya mr macey,for me you need a little more hardscape maybe another piece of wood or some rocks to compliment the wood, if it's a jungle your after may I suggest you mix the plants you already have up a little in the background and maybe add a few pots of mixed cryptocoryne species in the mid...

That looks spot on IMO, makes me want to set my own up :-)

Really like the layout, would love to see a shot of it with just the tiger barbs.

And I really like this one Aquanano40 CRShrimp tank....spring clean. | UK Aquatic Plant Society

Nearly a cube Taiwan Bee Nano | UK Aquatic Plant Society

Not a cube but island style layouts do well in cube tanks IMO.

My all time favourite cube layout Cube

They'll look spot on in the tank Martin, looking forward to seeing this plan reach maturity.

Lol customs sucks but still more than worth it ;-)

You can cover the scape with a good layer of bubble wrap then fill with a bucket (slowly) hosepipe, or ibex found a clean watering can with rose attachment great for filling/ water changes.

Rough idea of a box :-) I got wood! | UK Aquatic Plant Society

Toms very reasonably priced for the wood you get ime mate and you can always store or sell on what you don't need, I got a couple of boxes last year, good wood :-)

You can break them, as squid said a hammer will do the job, I used a hammer and chisel, place chisel in the rock grooves and you get a fairly clean break, just watch your thumb :-)

That is spot on for an island style scape, best out of the 4 I would say.

Thanks ady needs a lot of tweaking and a few more things collecting before it is journal worthy ;-) Hi Sam, these are only small biggest piece about 12cm high I found a large piece in lfs which I chopped up.

Ha ha thanks Adam, I have to be honest it hurt my bloody shoulder cutting through it all, I tried a chisel not good, hammer on its own turns to dust, hacksaw worked ok but too clean and time consuming, jigsaw various blades all now blunt lol strangely enough my old meat cleaver now feels sharper...

I had some progress with splitting my chunk of lava rock today went back to the hammer method AND ( health and safety close eyes :lol:) an old meat cleaver, this is what I've come up with so far, If it progresses further ill surely stick up another journal :-) could still do with some carving/...

It looks good let us know how it goes :-)

I like it, I think the piece on the right would benifit with some moss and or java fern tied to it other than that its a nice start to your scape mate, any plans for the foreground ?

Do a search of the forum (I'd link it but I'm on my phone :-)) there is a couple of threads about safe woods to use as long as they are dead rather than cut.

I think this is a great idea, biotopes and even some loose biotopes can be some of the most relaxing scapes.

Hiya mate, corries will uproot hc unless its well established before you introduce them ime hair grass should be ok I'm a big fan of tennelus at the moment maybe bigger than you'd want though hydrocotyle tripartita works with corries quite well with corries takes plenty of trimming and good co2...

Personally I quite like the hard scape mate :-) the plants you've chosen IMO are a bit too big for the tank, hair grass would look good as a background plant with a shorter foreground plant, or even some moss stones through the mid ground and just the sand foreground Corries will uproot smaller...

Had a go at carving some lava rock, one sore thumb and a blunt chisel later gave up :-) very interested in how this goes mate.

I just ordered 20 kg and had about 10 kg already, will probably use most of it in my 3ft tank when I next rescape :-)

Just got some from aqua essentials (sponsor) really nice pieces, if you want specific shape sizes maybe drop Richard at AE an email.

Best way to learn is to do it yourself mate, start a journal with an empty tank and ask ukaps members for advice along the way, even hardscape placement and plant suggestions the help this forum is always ready to offer is priceless :) and for new setups there's MasterCard :lol:

A small wire brush is easier than a toothbrush mate not the easiest stone to clean though due to all the crevices personally though a little algae/staining gives them character :-)

Agree with antoni, exceptional personally the first image has that lovely summers day feel to it with the blue background, what type of stone are you using in the images mark.stunning work.

Hi mark, I was waiting for the more later images before commenting( sat up all night waiting) :-) All joking aside I really admire your photography skill and thought processes in pushing this hobby forwards. This to me seems like a further step forward in capturing prospective nature aquarium...

Hi roly you can use the old substate as a base and recap with fresh sand definately water change plenty in the first few weeks. Always better to be safe than sorry.