20 gallon low light "elven tree" tank

[nytowl83]

Its called an elven tree coz my wife asked me... "do elves live in there?" hahaha

This tank started coz i got this 20 gallon high for free

20 gal
40 watts
HOB filter
small power head for circulation (i still get dead spots behind the tree)
no co2 only Excel
GEX substrate.. the dark brown one

modified drift wood
Christmas moss
Windelov
Narrow Leaf Java fern
Lilaeopsis Brazilinesis (Brazilian micro sword, and pardon the Latin spelling)

3 SAE
2 albino cories
2 albino bristlenose

weekly ferts
pinch of trace
larger pinch of Mg
Large pinch of KCL
a small drop of chelated iron
a few granules of CaNO3


here it is when starting up, DIY hood for CFL




Below is my escapade with the modded DW.


Two pieces, one trunk and the other branch, they are joined via epoxy and seams covered with a few saw dust from a protruding root branch of the main tree from the back





Below is the finished deal




please note that at this angle it gave a mirage of a lush carpet growing... but that is only a MIRAGE hehehe... if looked down on a higher perspective you could see the micro swords still have alot of spaces apart

this is just a week old. I got heaps of java ferns and windelovs... better instead of waiting

Happy viewing!

Ben

[the1stpsycho]

I love it! I especially like the fact that the tank is rimless. Very cool.

[nytowl83]

Thanks

but theTank isnt rimless its got a 1 inch rim that didnt show in the photograph The "rim" was added because the glass work wasnt very good, had jagged edge, so i had a rubber electrical tape go around the rim for safety reasons

[jarberg27]

That is a great piece of wood.

[nytowl83]

The wood isnt leeching any tannins either. leaving it for an hour in my jacuzzi... on high splish splash setting and highest temp

[Reginald2]

Good job with the seam. Those cookies are going to be soggy though.

[nytowl83]

added a rock and an amazon sword from my 5 gallon... i didnt realize the sword grew that much .

I got bored of the look

[CL]

Last edited by nytowl83; Today at 01:29 AM. Reason: wrong language

haha, that's awesome.

I have to say, that is one of the best trees that I have ever seen! People usually have their "trees" with really skinny trunks, and, I don't know, I guess it's my bonsai influence, but those trees don't appeal to me much.
Yours is fantastic, and that fact that you covered it in windelov fern is awesome!

IMO, the amazon sword will get too big, and the rock seems kind of out of place, but other than that, bravo!
Oh, and I would also expose the "roots" some more. It gives the tree a more established look, but that's just me.

[nytowl83]

Thanks ! I agree with the exposing of the roots but the gex soil moves/shifts alot with any weight placed on top of it. I might need to place a slate underneath, but then again i am a lazy bugger

the rock looks oddly placed in the photo... but looks ok in person. As for the sword, I would like it to grow then slap it in another tank when it gets too big

[Hilde]

Fantastic!!

I think it is missing something tall on the right, though, like vals or Hygro willow. I have been told that Amazon sword will out grow a 30 gallon thus, I don't see it staying in there long.

[nytowl83]

thats cool of swords hehe.

these guys will grow slow... the tank is low light liquid co2 only...the liquid c02 will be stopped (slowly) once the lilaeopsis have established.

The vals wont get any light at the rear right, the HOB filter is there, but no hurt in trying right?

[fastfreddie]

Love it! Very creative.

[suebe333]

LOVE it !!!!!!!!

[fishboy87]

you really took advantage of the height in the tank! Great work!

[sean117Ply]

Is this going to be a shrimp only or are you going to add fish?

Very cool tank, love it!