Help with my first nano (56k, I feel your pain)

[tiagodovale]

What about some anubias in the wood? Like Anubia barteri nana "Petite"? This one is quite small: it's leaf size is just around 1 inch... And it's not demaning CO2-wize.

[csf]

I just got Amano's 2nd book - the one focusing on small to medium tanks. One of the recent AGA issues has a tank similar to yours (with the small wood making a "V" shape).

I might try something in just the middle (between the "V"). A reddish stem or a reddish plant could really look great. Barclay longfolia red, maybe? I don't know how big they get in comparison to your set-up. I've got a tiger lotus that's staying small (leaves under 1") in a nano (unheated, but w/ DIY CO2, excel, lots of ferts, onyx sand, occasionally filtered and 13W CF).

Anubias nana (at least mine), tends to have, at most, 1" leaves. Anubias nana "petitie" (at least mine) has leaves that are about 1/3rd to 1/4th that size - about 1/4".

[Kenny_123]

La^m Thu`y Duong? It sounds like a Vietnamese name. It's hard to find an Asian female who is really into... planted tank. Do you have any picture of your tank? I would love to see it.

Here's mine:
[IMG][/IMG]
Sorry I don't pic of the whole tank
I am working on the substrate!!

[random_alias]

It's been a while but I have been listening to you guys. As the HC has grown I've been able to remove a little and begin adding it to the wood. It seems to grow well like this. It's patchy now but I will fill it in as my HC crop allows.

I have 2 anubas nana petite plants. One is on the right and the other is floating right now.

I tried moss but it gets way too big. I'm actually considering using HC as a moss wood accent substitute from now on, even in larger tanks. That was a great recommendation. Thanks!.

I finally scored some Rotala sp. mini!! It looks awesome. I have it recovering from shipping in another tank and I'll try adding it to this nano once it's ready. It should make for a good background/accent plant for the back. That and the constant addition of HC to the wood and I think the tank will mature well. The anubas nana petite I think will add a little green contrast to the foreground once I find a place for it.

The dwarf hairgrass is slowly getting taller, although I think it's max height will be maybe 1 inch taller than it is now.

My only worry for now is when to trim the HC. I don't want the bottom to die and cause problems. What are the warning signs of when to trim?

The weekly water change/cleaning was actually supposed to happen earlier today but I never got around to it so this is the aquarium at pretty much it's least flattering moment.

Still dosing EI on a standard daily schedule at 50% and adding Excel daily at 2x. Still running a nano HOB and the 2 13w galaxy lights...and taking crappy photos that look like they came from a cell phone.

[Stan the Man]

Love your tank! The HC foreground looks fantastic (I'm still waiting for it to completely grow in my nano foreground...). How did you get the HC to stick to your driftwood? I like the look of the hairgrass in the background. As for your photos, I think that they look fine.

I like the look of the ADA substrate. Unfortunately, here in Canada, we don't have access to any of the ADA stuff.

Have you thought about adding a small school of fish in there (cardinal tetras, white cloud minnows)?

[random_alias]

I tied HC onto the wood with black polyester thread.

Yes, I've thought about fish...and shrimp. In the past, I've added fuana and flora together and it caused me grief. My new policy is not to add any fish until the scape is complete. That way I can keep things under control, rearrange, do fast water changes with cold water, blast Co2 if need be, etc without worrying about killing anything.

Also, I don't know what type of fish will fit the tank until it's finished, and I currently have no idea what it's supposed to look like when it's finished

[Winzzy]

Endler's Livebearer's would fit the tank nicely or a pair of gudgeons maybe... There is always the old nano standby Mr. Beta

Cherry shrimp would be very very cool as well.

[John P.]

Nice! I had luck with HC attaching to rock in one of my past scapes. It looks great draped over hardscape.

As far as fish, I think your best bet would be one of the dwarf rasboras (maculatas, perhaps) so they scale to the tank properly. That, or maybe an Oscar.

[random_alias]

The HC is slowly being added to the wood and growing.



and here's the 10g right after a 3 day blackout and trimming of the leggy growth that ensued. Notice the hopeful addition of willow branches



and a 1.3g just getting started with various stuff floating in temporary storage

[random_alias]

And a not-so-nano but why not show them all.

here's a 55g. just java ferns for now, tossed in with lead weights. Waiting on the rest of the wood to soak in the tub. Once I place all the wood I'll decide on a foreground and supporting plants.



They're all obviously works in progress. I would estimate each one is around 50% complete.

Funny how my small ones look big and my big ones look small

[juanBeegas]

Some mini pellia attached to the wood would give it a nice contrast and a small school of Boraras Brigittae?

[Stan the Man]

Love your tanks! Simple yet beautiful aquascapes. It'll be interesting to see how the HC grows on the wood. I really like the 'Amano'-type rocks in your 1.5g tank.

[random_alias]

Hey, those aren't 'Amano'-type rocks! Those are genuine Aqua Design Amano Ohko stones! I knew I should have left the price tag on them.