Ian Holdich
Member
Jeezy creezy, that's grown some! That's testament after 12 days...looks great!
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George's TMC Signature
- Thread starter George Farmer
- Start date
Gary Nelson
Member
Blimey, it has grown! Looks fantastic too - so natural yet so neat, those plant colours really bring out the hard scape as well.
Another couple of weeks and its ready to be rescaped, looks awesome George 
stunning journal too 
stunning journal too 
Alastair
Member
looks great George. definitely looks like it is almost due a trim especially the ludwigia sp thats really taken off well
Thanks guys.
I'm really happy with the progress - algae and all!
Because I love the hardscape so much it's entirely possible I will keep it long-term (over 6 months - that's long-term for me!) and change the planting. I've already got a few ideas.
I think it will take at least another 2-3 months for the moss to achieve the look I'm after.
I'm currently still deciding on fish selection. Top of my list currently are green neon tetras - Paracheirodon simulans. They stay small enough and shoal tightly. There's enough red in the planting and hardscape, and the blue will really pop with this TMC LED lighting.
Other fish suggestions more than welcome!
I'm really happy with the progress - algae and all!
Because I love the hardscape so much it's entirely possible I will keep it long-term (over 6 months - that's long-term for me!) and change the planting. I've already got a few ideas.
I think it will take at least another 2-3 months for the moss to achieve the look I'm after.
I'm currently still deciding on fish selection. Top of my list currently are green neon tetras - Paracheirodon simulans. They stay small enough and shoal tightly. There's enough red in the planting and hardscape, and the blue will really pop with this TMC LED lighting.
Other fish suggestions more than welcome!
ghostsword
Member
How did it become like that? WOW, that is fast growth.. amazing..
joey24dirt
New Member
Wow this setup looks brill!
Dan Walter
Member
That's some really impressive growth in just 12 days and a very nice set up - all round. Are you planning on giving it a trim soon?
Was wondering why I like this hardscape so much. And now I know.
It's basically a masterclass in how to break every rule just enough to make it interesting. (Only learnt this by accidentally copying it for my latest). Hope you don't mind this analysis George! It's obviously just one person's take, particularly the red arrows. But I thought interesting.
It's basically a masterclass in how to break every rule just enough to make it interesting. (Only learnt this by accidentally copying it for my latest). Hope you don't mind this analysis George! It's obviously just one person's take, particularly the red arrows. But I thought interesting.
Nice drawings, Mike. Not sure what they mean but I'm glad you've had fun with it! Lol
Just kidding. You raise an interesting point and it is reassuring that I suppose my natural eye for composition is ok.
Not much to update on the tank.
Ian has kindly sent me some Ammania, and a small qty of HC and Ranunculus that I've planted. Not sure how they'll do or if they're keepers but worth a try.
The algae is definitely subsiding and the shrimp seem a lot more settled with many more on display now. I think I may even have babies already, I saw a tiny shrimp about 2mm long last night. Not sure how quick they grow, as they've only been in there 4 days.
I'm going to prune the Ludwigia and Hottonia this weekend. I'm tempted to go fish shopping too but I think I'll wait another week whilst the algae is getting under control.
I'm also selling my 10-24mm lens (Canon-fit) so please check out the Sales sub-forum if you're interested. (Shameless plug - sorry!)
Just kidding. You raise an interesting point and it is reassuring that I suppose my natural eye for composition is ok.
Not much to update on the tank.
Ian has kindly sent me some Ammania, and a small qty of HC and Ranunculus that I've planted. Not sure how they'll do or if they're keepers but worth a try.
The algae is definitely subsiding and the shrimp seem a lot more settled with many more on display now. I think I may even have babies already, I saw a tiny shrimp about 2mm long last night. Not sure how quick they grow, as they've only been in there 4 days.
I'm going to prune the Ludwigia and Hottonia this weekend. I'm tempted to go fish shopping too but I think I'll wait another week whilst the algae is getting under control.
I'm also selling my 10-24mm lens (Canon-fit) so please check out the Sales sub-forum if you're interested. (Shameless plug - sorry!)
charlie
Member
Great journal George. I love your attention to detail, your willingness to share ideas, successes and failures ( obviously that does not happen that often). Keep up the good work.
Charlie
Charlie
Piece-of-fish
Member
Green neons would fit this scape brilliantly.
Hi George,Hi all,
I managed to find the time to get a couple of shots this evening. No time for macros of shrimp yet - sorry!
12 days since flooding, and the stems will need pruning soon.
Ian Holdich is kindly sending me some more Ammania to try out after my spectacular failure!
insitu day 12 by George Farmer, on Flickr
Day 12 by George Farmer, on Flickr
i noticed you said you took these shots in the evening. Your dc looks quite green, rather than lime, was just wondering if this is a normal colour or if you are running slightly lean c02 whilst the shrimp are settling? If so have any lighting adjustments been made?
There has been some amazing growth in this tank, it just looks stunning....the pros just know how to grow
Cheerio,
Ady.
Ian Holdich
Member
Was wondering why I like this hardscape so much. And now I know.
It's basically a masterclass in how to break every rule just enough to make it interesting. (Only learnt this by accidentally copying it for my latest). Hope you don't mind this analysis George! It's obviously just one person's take, particularly the red arrows. But I thought interesting.
Great post there mike! Really interesting.
Thanks guys
Ady - no flies on you is there?! The drop checker is usually more lime green but I removed it for maintenance in the tank prior to photography. Also the lights are lower down in the photo than usual because when they're higher the reflections are a PITA for shooting.
For reference the CO2 is set to 1BPS using a Fluval bubble counter (best bubble counter I've owned - really easy to use), and 12mm Up Aqua inline diffuser. I'm using a TMC V2 Pro regulator which has a preset working pressure of about 3 bar. I have the CO2 come on very early (8am) because there's quite a lot of ambient light in my kitchen. Lights are on full wack by 3pm, off totally by 10pm.
I think I'm settled on green neon tetras but finding some at a reasonable cost could be a challenge.
Out of interest what's the current thinking of adding Amano shrimp with cherry shrimp? Will they affect breeding of the cherries?
I should be able to get in a decent photo session tomorrow...
Thanks again for all the interest. It's really appreciated and helps to keep me motivated.
Ady - no flies on you is there?! The drop checker is usually more lime green but I removed it for maintenance in the tank prior to photography. Also the lights are lower down in the photo than usual because when they're higher the reflections are a PITA for shooting.
For reference the CO2 is set to 1BPS using a Fluval bubble counter (best bubble counter I've owned - really easy to use), and 12mm Up Aqua inline diffuser. I'm using a TMC V2 Pro regulator which has a preset working pressure of about 3 bar. I have the CO2 come on very early (8am) because there's quite a lot of ambient light in my kitchen. Lights are on full wack by 3pm, off totally by 10pm.
I think I'm settled on green neon tetras but finding some at a reasonable cost could be a challenge.
Out of interest what's the current thinking of adding Amano shrimp with cherry shrimp? Will they affect breeding of the cherries?
I should be able to get in a decent photo session tomorrow...
Thanks again for all the interest. It's really appreciated and helps to keep me motivated.
plantbrain
Expert
- Joined
- 2 Aug 2007
- Messages
- 1,938
I use Amano's with all my RCS, they are fine together.
Hi all,
Not many photos this weekend, but I did get a couple of before and after this aquascape's first proper trim - mainly the Ludwigia and Hottonia.
Here's before -
day 21 before trim by George Farmer, on Flickr
And after -
day 21 after trim by George Farmer, on Flickr
Many thanks to Ian for sending me the Ammania that you can see here. You can also see the Ludwigia and Hottonia stems post-prune. It will be interesting to see what colour the Ludwigia turns. To be honest I don't see the stems staying in here long-term, but it's fun to experiment and practice pruning techniques.
end after trim day 21 by George Farmer, on Flickr
Overall I'm happy with the progress so far. The algae has all but disappeared. The shrimp seem to be happy grazing amongst the mosses and soil - I think I'll need some proper food soon. I am seeing occasional opaque white eggs lying about. I assume these are unfertilised? I have spotted some tiny shrimplets too which was a lovely surprise after less than a week of being introduced.
Plant growth is good, as you can probably make out. The E. tenellus is starting to establish nicely in the midground - one to keep an eye on as it's quite invasive. All the hairgrasses are doing well and the Lilaeopsis is also establishing well. The mosses are growing slowly but surely too.
I'm still considering fish choice but am determined not to rush into things.
Not many photos this weekend, but I did get a couple of before and after this aquascape's first proper trim - mainly the Ludwigia and Hottonia.
Here's before -
day 21 before trim by George Farmer, on Flickr
And after -
day 21 after trim by George Farmer, on Flickr
Many thanks to Ian for sending me the Ammania that you can see here. You can also see the Ludwigia and Hottonia stems post-prune. It will be interesting to see what colour the Ludwigia turns. To be honest I don't see the stems staying in here long-term, but it's fun to experiment and practice pruning techniques.
end after trim day 21 by George Farmer, on Flickr
Overall I'm happy with the progress so far. The algae has all but disappeared. The shrimp seem to be happy grazing amongst the mosses and soil - I think I'll need some proper food soon. I am seeing occasional opaque white eggs lying about. I assume these are unfertilised? I have spotted some tiny shrimplets too which was a lovely surprise after less than a week of being introduced.
Plant growth is good, as you can probably make out. The E. tenellus is starting to establish nicely in the midground - one to keep an eye on as it's quite invasive. All the hairgrasses are doing well and the Lilaeopsis is also establishing well. The mosses are growing slowly but surely too.
I'm still considering fish choice but am determined not to rush into things.
tim
Member
Hi George it's looking fantastic good to see how low you trim the stems, the shrimp eggs will have been fertilised as they only move down from the saddle once this happens and in my experience these can still hatch, really is a fantastic looking scape
charlie
Member
Just a thought but could the opaque egg shells be ones that the shrimplets have hatched from, especially as you have new babies in there ?
