Lakeland Wraith - NA 120

[Iain Sutherland]

Afternoon all, now that Asian Dreams has been taken down it is time to start a new journal for the new scape.
This will take a couple of weeks to complete set up as im very short on time with work and i still need to organise plants.
Hardscape is almost complete, just waiting for some more gravel/sand to arrive as i originally thought i had over estimated but turns out a 30cm bank uses far more substrate than anticipated.... who new.

Updated specs....

Natural Aquario 120 x 45 x 55 superclear glass
Natural Aquario Cabinet in matt grey
Natural Aquario Light Arm
Natural Aquario Stainless Steel inlet and outlets
Giesemann Futura Led luminaire
Eheim 2080
Tetratec ex1501 greenline
Hydor 300w inline heater
AM1000 co2 reactor (on 2 hours prior to lights)
Dennerle profi 1000 regulator
German manifold and needle valves
Eheim Skim 350

Using Re-mineralised RO
Ferts will be a mixed bunch.... tropica Specialised and Premium to start, some seachem range and some dry salts as needed... especially iron for a couple of the plants.
Will start with 5hrs light at 30% slowly increasing to 7 hours at 50% a few months in. May go higher powered later...

In the tank...
Unipac fine Fiji sand
Tropica Plant substrate
River cobbles from the Lake District... was given permission from the land owner 😛
Redmoor Roots

Ive had an idea for a fish scape in my head for a while, this isnt quite it but should scratch the itch....
30ish x Melanotaenia praecox - Neon Dwarf Rainbows
praecox
They will share the tank with some Gobys along with the usual clean up crew of amanos, SAE's and ottos.

Plants list will come shortly but ultimately there is a good chance im over stretching myself with quite a few carpet species including glosso, big leaved stems and a bunch of other midground and accent plants.
I guess id say its the sort of tank the likes of Mark, Viktor and Stu would make look easy so now its a great opportunity to see what happens when it doesnt go so swimmingly 😕

Hardscape pictures will follow in a day or two as im interested to get all your opinions on that......

ciao for now

 

[aliclarke86]

Been subscribed from the shut down of Asian dreams mate. And some beutifull rainbows this time round should make for fantastic viewing.

Also the river stones will add a great contrast to the usual mini landscape/siryu.

Can't wait mate 😀

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[EnderUK]

Melanotaenia praecox are crazy fish.

 

[Alastair]

You know my feedback on this already mate.

I've already had the chance to see iains next work of art and I say that with no exaggeration. It is going to be possibly his best yet..

Subscribed as always mate

 

[Andy D]

Looking forward to it!

 

[James O]

Love the little rainbows. They're great little charecters.

As for a 30cm bank.....now that's scaping!!!!!'

 

[Lee Sweeting]

Looking forward to this one 🙂

 

[Antoni]

Come on Ian, bring something stunning on!

 

[Ady34]

I do look forward to your scapes mate, no exceptions this time....

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Been subscribed from the shut down of Asian dreams mate. And some beutifull rainbows this time round should make for fantastic viewing.
Also the river stones will add a great contrast to the usual mini landscape/siryu.
Can't wait mate 😀

Cheers ali, ive wanted praecox for ages just need to figure out how to keep them in the tank! Im loving the river stones to, hope the gobys like them and dont dig too much or large rocks could fall down a 30cm bank

Melanotaenia praecox are crazy fish.

as long as they are crazy in the water all good.

You know my feedback on this already mate.
I've already had the chance to see iains next work of art and I say that with no exaggeration. It is going to be possibly his best yet..
Subscribed as always mate

cant you see im playing up the failure possibility here al!😛 Think its my most ambitious, wether its the best is yet to be seen!

Looking forward to it!

Coming to a PC screen near you soon....

Love the little rainbows. They're great little charecters.
As for a 30cm bank.....now that's scaping!!!!!'

now thats nerve racking!!

One lesson learnt already... setting the scape up nice and early to be happy with it is great but with a 30cm bank as the sand has dried out it really wants to landslide. So now having to spray daily and added extra supports.
Everyday is a school day

Looking forward to this one 🙂

me too, want plants now!

Come on Ian, bring something stunning on!

im trying Antoni, no promises.

I do look forward to your scapes mate, no exceptions this time....

Thanks Ady, i quite like giving them to you too, no exceptions 😉

 

[Edvet]

I would make sure the stones are large (for the gobys) or all stacked on each other, having too much substrate will be risky with 30 cm. Exciting plans though!
I've always fancied a Rainbow tank, and then a natural biotope/ecotope setting.

 

[Dan walton]

The dwarf neon rainbows are a great fish I have some in my 125 looking forward to this scape will be watching

 

[Iain Sutherland]

I would make sure the stones are large (for the gobys) or all stacked on each other, having too much substrate will be risky with 30 cm. Exciting plans though!

Hmm I'm having second thoughts on the gobies now even though I have them in a holding tank already. Not so much for the risk of rock movement but also they are likely to dig down to the tropica substrate and continually make a mess of the water..

Banking has gone well, I'm much happier it shouldn't move much but it will settle some I guess...
I put substrate supports in every few inches as I built it up so hopefully it shouldnt go anywhere...





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[Iain Sutherland]

The dwarf neon rainbows are a great fish I have some in my 125 looking forward to this scape will be watching

Thanks dan, glad to have you along 🙂


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[NC10]

I put substrate supports in every few inches as I built it up so hopefully it shouldnt go anywhere...

What do you mean by substrate supports? I've been wanting to ask on the forum about substrate angles and mounds etc without them falling over time.

 

[Iain Sutherland]

youll get a better idea when i post pictures up but i use lawn edging strip from the garden centre, just cut into strips and push into substrate to hold it all in place.

 

[NC10]

Ah ok, cheers. Look forward to the pics

 

[Edvet]

If possible i would bury some smaller rocks/pebbles ( 2-3 inches) half till 2/3ds in the slope, leaving plantable area's in between, but decreasing the risk of landslides.

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Got round to finishing the hardscape today, so time to share 🙂

Often see tanks i really like but find it hard to imagine how they have built them as rarely see build images. I had to use a little creativity to build this one as id would never have got the main wood to stay where i wanted... thought of a few options but ended up at the local metal shop who hilt a little stand i could build onto. Made of stainless steel then screwed to the wood with ss screws.

Anyway...

LW1 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

LW2 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

then used media bags filled with Alfagrog to start build the mound...
LW3 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

LW4 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

added lawn edging strip on each layer to help hold the substrate in place
LW5 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

Tropica substrate added
LW6 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

LW7 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

LW8 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

Start of the hardscape placement
LW09 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

LW10 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

LW11 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

devil is in the detail
LW12 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

LW13 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

LW14 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

LW15 by iainsutherland24, on Flickr

So there we have it, welcome all comments and suggestions.
Planting should happen in the not too distant future 🙂

 

[Iain Sutherland]

Plant list is decided but could be interesting to see what your plant list would be.... Don't be shy 🙂


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