New 60cm Scape

[webworm]

With dismal weather, and needing to get 2 boys out of the house, it seemed like a good excuse to go on the hunt for some hardscaping materials for my 60cm 55L tank.

We came back with the following









I'd appreciate any comments or thoughts on this.

Thanks

Stuart

 

[Thomas McMillan]

No.1 - No
No.2 - Better
No.3 - Great - would look amazing with loads of moss, ferns and anubias attatched and crypts around it

 

[webworm]

Thanks.

Yeah no1 have to agree it's all to symmetrical.

no3 looks good. Just need to decide on substrate, I'd like something black / dark, maybe Amazonia soil from ADA.

The only thing I want from a plant point of view is a HC carpet for part of the tank.

 

[Steve Smith]

I like the arch in the wood that No. 3 has. The left piece looks a little bit too clost the the glass though?

 

[Thomas McMillan]

That piece in no.2 is amazing.

 

[webworm]

A slight variation on no 3.



Juggling the Sunday roast so not the best pictures with the mobile phone cam.

 

[Steve Smith]

It looks good, but I'm not sure. It's lost the arch from No.3 which looked really cool 🙂

 

[webworm]

I'm 90% that this dosn't work, or perhaps I missing something ?



Of course it's also more difficult with no substrate in to make the wood stand away from the glass.

 

[Thomas McMillan]

I think that one works quite well actualy, in a weird way. But it does.

 

[aaronnorth]

try turning them upside down, you will habe the horrible end mid level but you could always cover it up with some moss 😉

 

[webworm]

Two more....... I'll try some upside down ones soon. Again, resting against the front glass, with substrate they'll be about a 1.5" gap, between the sticky ends and front glass.



Is Ada Amazonia Soil a good choice ? Do I need anything else in the substrate ?

 

[Thomas McMillan]

I prefer no. 2 of the above.

Yep, ADA Aquasoil is the best out there. They do recommend that you use Power Sand also, but it's been proven that it doesn't mater - plus it's very expensive.

 

[webworm]

Here you go Aron, something like this ?

 

[webworm]

Ok, this is getting addictive.

I'm quite liking this one, apologies for the poor lighting, and lack of sharp focus.

 

[Thomas McMillan]

^ That one, my friend. Is the one.

 

[webworm]

Thanks for all the input thus far, having left the wood overnight, it still looks pretty good this morning, so I'm sticking with it.

Just need to source some substrate, sort out the filter fittings and we're off. I'd like initially to plant up with HC, can someone give some guidance on a good starting planting density ?

 

[Thomas McMillan]

I would go for ADA definately for the substrate - you would regret it otherwise.

The best advice is to start off straight away with a high plant density. If you want to start with HC, make sure you have plenty of fast growers (e.g. stems like Rotala, Hygrophila etc).

 

[webworm]

And here begins the second lesson.

Why the need for fast growing stem plants ?

Thanks

Stuart

 

[Garuf]

To act as nutrient sponges. Alternatively you could do a dry start up which is a lot less hassle. Takes patience though.

 

[Mark Evans]

Why the need for fast growing stem plants ?

apparently it soaks up excess nutrients. but if you run the whole system correctly, you can get away without using them. its a balance between lights nutrients and co2. the ADA AS is a smart move IMO.

great to see you've got enthusiasm 😉