9.6 gallon - Iwagumi style nano

[Cento]

This is a 60cmX20cmX30cm Starfire tank with curved corners at the front.

It's my stab at a high tech "true" Iwagumi/Amano/nature styled tank.

It will be filtered by an Eheim 2213, lighted by twin 18w T5HO, and the substrate is Netlea Lambo. The co2 will come through a Milwaukee regulator fitted onto a paintball setup (currently looking for a 2.5 lbs cylinder)

I'm still deciding on the hardscape (getting advice on what to choose on another thread).

I haven't quite decided on the plants. I'd like a carpet of some sort, and I want to keep it to just a few types.

What is an "easy" carpet to look after, in your experiences?

Here are a few pics of the better trial layouts...







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[freph]

All carpets require some degree of maintenance. Glosso or DHG Belem would be easy and decent height for that tank IMO. Glosso moreso if you trim it aggressively. Good equipment plan so far, looks promising!

[seank]

Id say HC for a carpet, as long as ur trim it regularly itll do fine. Any chance you purchased ur setup from Aqua Inspiration? I have a strange feeling u did lol. I have the same light lol, almost the same tank too only its a 9.5 gal with different dimensions. I like hardscape # 2 btw.

[aznartist34]

Try some of the marsilea sp. Doesn't need a lot of light or co2. Kind of looks like glosso and grows at a slow pace so very manageable.

[CryptKeeper54]

Last layout looks best to me. Ditto on most carpets needing "maintanence", but that's part of the aquascaping fun. A stress reliever if you ask me. Hope your tank does well.

[Cento]

Originally Posted by seank

Id say HC for a carpet, as long as ur trim it regularly itll do fine. Any chance you purchased ur setup from Aqua Inspiration? I have a strange feeling u did lol. I have the same light lol, almost the same tank too only its a 9.5 gal with different dimensions. I like hardscape # 2 btw.

Ha! I DID get it at A.I! For some reason, we live in a greater metropolitan area of nearly 6 million, and there's only one store really that carries this kinda stuff... Sheesh..

I had a bad experience with HC. I found that unless you trim aggressively, it will lift on you. And when you constantly trim aggressively, you see the bare stems for most of the time. The only time it looked great was the day before I had to trim... I'm still deciding on the carpet. Also, it depends on who's carrying what on the day I wanna setup.

Now, as far as a plant to complement a carpet, I guess it would be best to choose a plant that is not too tall or large leafed. Especially if I'm only gonna have 2 or 3 species In there. What are some options?

P.S here's an updated pic...





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[tropicalmackdaddy]

Id get rid of the second farthest on the right, seems to small

[Cento]

Originally Posted by tropicalmackdaddy

Id get rid of the second farthest on the right, seems to small

I know. It's actually a piece I chipped of a gargantuan chunk I have. The only thing is, in my study of this iwagumi style, there needs to be an odd number of rocks in a layout.

I'll try to chip off a bigger chunk maybe...



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[Cento]

Lily pipes added...

I realized that all this glassware will now clash with my blue atomizing diffusor, but I don't care. I used less co2 when I switched to the bazooka.

So, I guess the tank won't be COMPLETELY Amano style.. Ha!

Next will be planting. I think I will go with HC carpet after all. I didn't really want to, but I think it'll suit the scape best.

In the far corners, I'd like to plant hair grass, and perhaps one other taller plant.




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[Cento]

Okay. Now I need some advice on plant choices and layout. So my ideal number of different plant types is three. I'm think UG or HC for carpet in foreground, then whichever of the previous two not selected for foreground to be used just behind both rock formations on either side, and finally E.Tenellus at the ver back corners of either side...

What ya think?

[freph]

I'd swap UG for hairgrass just for ease of maintenance and better textures with plants. HC foreground, hairgrass mid/background and E. tenellus wherever you see fit. Good thing about hairgrass is that as long as you trim it down, it can be whatever height you want it to be. E. parvula tends to be shorter than E. acicularis if you wanted to mix types, but trimming E. acicularis would be perfectly fine too.

[Cento]

Well, thought I'd make an update...


Obviously, I had just filled the tank At this point. The tank's now cycling... Looking to add Amanos and snails first, after which will be ottos, then, finally..... well, haven't decided yet... Some sort of shrimp. Since I have Netlea Lambo in there, I guess I can't really put tigers in there (lowered pH), but I'm not too thrilled with CRS.

Any suggestions on "nice", relatively resilient shrimp that can tolerate lower pH?

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[tropicalmackdaddy]

Nice start. Hopefully you get a nice carpet goin.
Also, if you ever want to sell that driftwood piece, im here

[Cento]

Originally Posted by tropicalmackdaddy

Nice start. Hopefully you get a nice carpet goin.
Also, if you ever want to sell that driftwood piece, im here

Thanks!

The driftwood will go into storage for future projects... Sorry....


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[Quentin]

Looking good OP