New to the hobby. Looking for feedback on first aquascape

[Deschain]

Hello and greetings from the Netherlands! 3 weeks ago I started my first tank using the dark start method. Everything is going well so far. The tank is an ADA 60F (60x30x25cm) and is being filtered by an Biomaster 250. The aim for this scape is more on plants and less on fish but I do have a lifestock question. Will this be enough grazing space for a small school (8) of pygmy corries? Also because I use alot of hardscape and the empy tank holds 40l/10gall will there be enough space for them? Together with a couple of Armano shrimp and snails this is the livestock aim. Plants will be mostly epiphytes and moss in the front and between the rocks. The back will be filled with emersed plants creating a pond style aquarium.

Any feedback is welcome. I did ALOT of reading beforehand but didnt have any external backup regarding the build. If you have any questions I would be happy to answer 🙂

 

[Little]

Looks great!

The advice I was given regarding corys was to keep the sand base thin.

I followed that advise but did not ask why (as I trusted the source). They may have referenced lower bacteria load or something along those lines. Someone may weigh in on the benefit of shallow va deep sand for corys as I have not even got them yet.

I also went all epiphytes on a triangle layout with sand for corys on my new tank. I have a journal if you want to check it out.

 

[NorthCoast]

Pygmy cories are quite small and have some slightly different behaviours from other cories from what I understand and spend more time in the mid water. I have 6 in a 45p and they are loving life. Your tank will be great for 8. They will graze the rocks and hardscape as well.

 

[richardcunliffe]

Nice job on the hardscape! Look forward to seeing it grown in. I've got a tank just like this (though not ADA) and thinking of something similar. Keep us posted!

 

[Deschain]

Thank you for the response so far. I will update/plant soon. Either this weekend or next week. Depending on how the cycle is going.

 

[Deschain]

Most of the invitro plants have been planted. Tomorrow recieving/planting the bigger plants.

 

[Deschain]

The end result. Im pretty happy with how it turned out.

 

[FrozenShivers]

Looks great, good job!

 

[Deschain]

Thanks so much. Still open for any suggestions and/or questions. I will update in a few weeks when things start kicking off.

 

[Wookii]

Looks great - even more so considering its your first tank!

You've not posted a plant list, but I would say though, from those that I can see, there isn't a single plant in there that particularly needs CO2, so I wouldn't bother with it on this scape if I were you - keep things simple, and save the CO2 tank for a later set-up with more demanding plants (should you ever do one).

Also, what is the grassy plant coming out of the water?

 

[Little]

A few air plants on the branches could add a nice finishing touch.

 

[shangman]

It's a lovely tank, super accomplished for a first aquascape!

With a tank of this size, when it is ready for livestock (I would wait a few more weeks then start with cherry shrimp), I would up the planned number of pygmy cories to at least 12, and ideally 20 (though you could add them in two batches if you want to do it gradually). They are very tiny creatures with very little bioload, and they are much happier in a bigger group, with more interesting behaviour. They are still so small that it won't feel too busy, and even with groups of amano and cherry shrimps it wouldn't be too much.