I'm about to embark on my new tank - a Dennerle 20l which will be my first fully planned and (hopefully executed) scape after fiddling constantly with my first tank.
I've settled for the below rock layout which I hope will work with my planting plan, creating small natural looking terraces. I'm using Tropica Plant substrate topped with ADA Amazon Powder and then some Dragon Stone.
Then with some wood.
Initially I didn't really like the wood, but having left the tank as is for a week or so I couldn't imagine anything else - I have tried a few other pieces, but I think for the scale it's pretty good...
My original inspiration for the planting was this Japanese Garden in Autumn I saw in a book, it looks wilder than the normal Japanese garden and is probably not what you would expect, but then it is in the US!
The idea is to go for low growing bushes (mostly in moss) at the front and middle, some Utricularia graminifolia which I hope will flow through the crevices as per pics I've seen of it online (although melting right back will probably be my experience)! And either a HC / Riccia carpet at the front or some sand / small gravel for contrast?
Any and all advice is welcome, especially on the '??' in the planting plan - I'm thinking maybe some Blyxa Japonica and / or Didiplis Diandra in the mid ground to add some height? But I have no idea what to plant on the wood apart from the obvious?
Finally, I have my Archaea light turning up this week - which is sleek and minimalist (pics to follow), so I'm wondering what filtration I should go for that wont spoil the look!? I want a small shoal of microrasbora or similar + shrimp etc so it needs to have plenty of flow and not be too expensive!! I guess a decent looking HOB filter would be the cheapest?
Thanks in advance for any thoughts & guidance!
I've settled for the below rock layout which I hope will work with my planting plan, creating small natural looking terraces. I'm using Tropica Plant substrate topped with ADA Amazon Powder and then some Dragon Stone.
Then with some wood.
Initially I didn't really like the wood, but having left the tank as is for a week or so I couldn't imagine anything else - I have tried a few other pieces, but I think for the scale it's pretty good...
My original inspiration for the planting was this Japanese Garden in Autumn I saw in a book, it looks wilder than the normal Japanese garden and is probably not what you would expect, but then it is in the US!
The idea is to go for low growing bushes (mostly in moss) at the front and middle, some Utricularia graminifolia which I hope will flow through the crevices as per pics I've seen of it online (although melting right back will probably be my experience)! And either a HC / Riccia carpet at the front or some sand / small gravel for contrast?
Any and all advice is welcome, especially on the '??' in the planting plan - I'm thinking maybe some Blyxa Japonica and / or Didiplis Diandra in the mid ground to add some height? But I have no idea what to plant on the wood apart from the obvious?
Finally, I have my Archaea light turning up this week - which is sleek and minimalist (pics to follow), so I'm wondering what filtration I should go for that wont spoil the look!? I want a small shoal of microrasbora or similar + shrimp etc so it needs to have plenty of flow and not be too expensive!! I guess a decent looking HOB filter would be the cheapest?
Thanks in advance for any thoughts & guidance!