90x45x45cm - 2011 IAPLC entry #577 - The Unknown Valley

[Stu Worrall]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

That is very, very tasty indeed. I'm really quite jealous! 😀
Matt

Cheers Both

Superb, Stu. Your best 'scape yet, I think.

Will you keep it going much longer, or are you ready for a new creation?

Are you entering this into the IAPLC?

Thanks George. Ill probably keep it going for a while yet as I love the ferns plus ive just put 36 Rasbora Maculata in which need to grow a bit. Ive got a Mini-m with everything ready to go apart from lights so will be scaping that when I get all the bits together.

When I do break it down it will be manzi wood this time, probably re-using the ferns from this one 🙂

It will be going in the IAPLC providing no disasters! Wont be bothering with the American comp this year (forgot the name) due to them not doing the comments anymore which I found really useful.

This is awesome Stu. Cracking scape, well done!

Thanks Dan 🙂

 

[George Farmer]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Thanks George. Ill probably keep it going for a while yet as I love the ferns plus ive just put 36 Rasbora Maculata in which need to grow a bit. Ive got a Mini-m with everything ready to go apart from lights so will be scaping that when I get all the bits together.

When I do break it down it will be manzi wood this time, probably re-using the ferns from this one 🙂

It will be going in the IAPLC providing no disasters! Wont be bothering with the American comp this year (forgot the name) due to them not doing the comments anymore which I found really useful.

Good stuff mate. It's a crackin' 'scape and deserves to do well in any comp.

I also need to try a 'scape with Manzi - it's definitely the hardscape of the here and now. I was really impressed with the pieces Dan and I used in Germany.

It is a shame the AGA judges didn't leave much feedback last year. Hopefully things will improve this year.

 

[Steve Smith]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Awesome Stu! The cloudyness of the water makes it look like a tropical mountain range with the mist rolling in 🙂

 

[BigTom]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Once again I'm amazed by how a scape I didn't like the look of at the start has turned out really, really beautiful. Good stuff.

 

[Stu Worrall]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Good stuff mate. It's a crackin' 'scape and deserves to do well in any comp.

I also need to try a 'scape with Manzi - it's definitely the hardscape of the here and now. I was really impressed with the pieces Dan and I used in Germany.
It is a shame the AGA judges didn't leave much feedback last year. Hopefully things will improve this year.

Cheers George. Ill see how it goes in the comp, im not holding out any hopes but it would be nice to get higher than I did last year in the 500's. Yeah I was disapointed with complete lack of comments in the AGA comp. I might email the organisers to see if theyre going to include it this year.

Awesome Stu! The cloudyness of the water makes it look like a tropical mountain range with the mist rolling in 🙂

Thanks steve, if theres any good excuse for having cloudy water then mist on a mountain range must be it 😀

Once again I'm amazed by how a scape I didn't like the look of at the start has turned out really, really beautiful. Good stuff.

Cheers Tom. It did look pretty sparse in the beginning but I knoew the ferns and fissidens would take over. if anything there is too much fissidens in there now.

Also before the trim the hairgrass and hyrocoytle in the back were reaching the surface like stems 🙂

 

[Stu Worrall]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

a few more tonight. Its looking abit shabby in a few areas so will need a detailed trim before any comp photos are done. ive also noticed the grass at the back is looking a bit square after yesterdays trim so will need to grow a slope back into it.

creeping HC



Full tank. Im going to try it with a black background when I find some pegs for holding the board on (thanks to Mark for that idea 🙂 )



Down the valley. Some shrimplets in the sand at the front and that Fissidens needs a damn good trim!

 

[bigmatt]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

That is simply stunning. I take it the HC is growing on an isolated patch of sand? It looks fantastic creeping over the edge like that! The rocks are also looking progressively nicer as they green up a bit with algae - they look fantastically natural. Is it a bit rough in your tank? i only ask as the young shrimp seem to hang around in gangs...
Loveitloveitloveitloveitloveitloveitloveitloveit
Matt

 

[Steve Smith]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Stunning Stu 🙂 The colours on the lava rock on the right of the first image are amazing.

 

[Stu Worrall]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

That is simply stunning. I take it the HC is growing on an isolated patch of sand? It looks fantastic creeping over the edge like that! The rocks are also looking progressively nicer as they green up a bit with algae - they look fantastically natural. Is it a bit rough in your tank? i only ask as the young shrimp seem to hang around in gangs...
Loveitloveitloveitloveitloveitloveitloveitloveit
Matt

Cheers Matt

Yup the HC is growing where it wants at the moment. I got a pot from TGM and ripped a few chunks off and stuffed it in a few cracks and in that one spot of sand. Its grown really slowly as its juts getting ferts from the water column but it looks quite natural. When Ive given it the odd trim ive let the HC blow around the tank a bit and if it grabs onto somewhere and grows then all the better for random planting! Ive still got some BBA low down where I cant paint the easycarbo on as I dont want to drop too much water out of the tank at water change time. BBA seems to love lava rock 🙁

 

[Stu Worrall]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Stunning Stu 🙂 The colours on the lava rock on the right of the first image are amazing.

Cheers steve. Theres actually a little cheat on that rock. Where the red is most prominent there was a fissidens rock that I moved so its not have any algae grwoth due to lack of light 🙂

 

[B7fec]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Stu.......this is simply stunning! I absolutely love this scape, very different and very nice! The Plants are looking superb, that creeping HC is ace! Great stuff keep up the good work, I think this tank is a right inspiration.

 

[Antoni]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Very nice layout! I like the idea and the different approach you have!

 

[Stu Worrall]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Stu.......this is simply stunning! I absolutely love this scape, very different and very nice! The Plants are looking superb, that creeping HC is ace! Great stuff keep up the good work, I think this tank is a right inspiration.

cheers Ben x 2 😀 I'd hoped to do something different when I started it although I did have more of a cliff in mind but it turned into a hill and a half 🙂

Must get around to ordering that canvas off you too. Ive been spending on sample albums recently so will be getting frame and canvas samples to show people soon

Very nice layout! I like the idea and the different approach you have!

Thanks Antoni

 

[Mark Evans]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Quality stu.

I didnt picture the scape' like this, so hats off to ya mate!

 

[B7fec]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Must get around to ordering that canvas off you too. Ive been spending on sample albums recently so will be getting frame and canvas samples to show people soon

No worries Stu, will keep an eye open for your order.......

 

[John Starkey]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

a few more tonight. Its looking abit shabby in a few areas so will need a detailed trim before any comp photos are done. ive also noticed the grass at the back is looking a bit square after yesterdays trim so will need to grow a slope back into it.

creeping HC



Full tank. Im going to try it with a black background when I find some pegs for holding the board on (thanks to Mark for that idea 🙂 )



Down the valley. Some shrimplets in the sand at the front and that Fissidens needs a damn good trim!

I love this setup very much Stu,it reminds me of one of Amano,s but i cant find it yet in his book,but i will keep looking,

stunning work and great foresight in seeing what you were aiming for before it,s mature,

john.

 

[Stu Worrall]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

I love this setup very much Stu,it reminds me of one of Amano,s but i cant find it yet in his book,but i will keep looking,

stunning work and great foresight in seeing what you were aiming for before it,s mature,

john.

thanks john, very nice of you to say and I'd be interested to see it if you find it

Quality stu.

I didnt picture the scape' like this, so hats off to ya mate!

Cheers Mark. im surprised with the amount of fissidens and ferns.

I thought Id update the pictures to show a timeline of how its developed over the last few months

Hardscape test



First planting







Now

 

[Steve Smith]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

 

[Lewisr]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

One of the best I have ever seen, stunning.

 

[flygja]

Re: 90x45x45cm - The Unknown

Truly stunning. That main rock on the left thats pointing to the right ain't such a distraction anymore with the ferns partially obscuring it.