It was great to catch up again yesterday Al
It's like an aquarists zoo at your house with your various set ups mate, shrimp nanos, the biotope style 'oaklands' tank with your lovely collection of gouramis and that epic queen arabesque plec
😎, the high tech 'Back to my Roots' scape and of course the mammoth tank that's soon to arrive. Although it was a shame it hadn't arrived, I could really appreciate the scale of it from the footprint of the stand......its mahoosive
😱 Really looking forward to that journal mate....and to think your considering going even bigger
😀
This scape though is really nice, the first thing that draws your attention is the wood. Honestly it's such an awesome find and fits perfectly with the dimensions of this tank. I love the panorama the shallow height gives and the depth is incredible for scaping. The wood stands out now and steals the show to a degree, it could easily have been used for a hardscape only set up because it's such a nice piece, a perfect fit for the tank and so intricate. Having said that though a few months down the line, once this has fully grown in, the wood will be only one piece of the puzzle and it will just form the base for defining the lines of the overall aquascape. The plants will soften, disguise and enhance it and it will all blend perfectly with the choice of plants. I think the hydrocotle is a great plant and works really well with rooty wood scapes and once the Monte Carlo takes hold its smaller size and vibrant green will make it an ideal foreground plant to merge into the bright hydrocotle. The tenellus, which can get that slightly brown/red hue, will help transition back to the brown crypts and wood and will creep into the foreground also to give a natural feel. Once the moss takes it will add a nice contrast to the lighter greens, and with the occasional splash of brown from the crypts and tenellus, the colours will balance nicely.......then when you add a focal red stem plant that will really pop and give your mind something else to consider, maybe it wants to lean more towards an orange red rather than a really bright red to fit with the rest of the scape but you can try some and see what fits.
I know your unsure about the emergent growth on this one as your trying to focus on the submersed scape, but honestly I feel it would be great to extend your planting upwards too. It will only add to the feel and that echinodorus could be the start of a transition of more plants onto the exposed stump IMO.
This has bags of potential and I'm looking forward to seeing it a few months in, the scape has a really nice feel and balance and the more the plants grow in that will only be enhanced
Looking back at your earlier photos the growth is obvious to me, the hydrocotle has filled in massively, as too the tenellus and although you were a little concerned about the mc it looked healthy and doesn't seem to have gone backwards so hopefully with that bit extra co2 it will soon carpet the foreground.
I'm sure you'll put the NA to good use also mate, I'm pleased it's gone to a good home.
Cheerio,
Ady.
glad you didn't give the tank away, after seeing this planted up I don't think anyone else would of done it justice
how rude. Only kidding. Any advice off Ady is good advice. Regarding people seeing the tanks in the flesh, I'm thinking of arranging a northern meet, go round a few local stores, then an invite back to mine for everyone to look at the tanks. 
thanks buddy appreciate your honesty. I'm really happy with it too so far. 