Frank's Planted Tank How-To Mini Novel - The Mini S Returns! New Layout

[orchidman]

Originally Posted by Francis Xavier

#125 does sound a lot better, doesn't it? I remember why I thought #127, because #126 was a really cool layout in a much larger aquarium by a Japanese shop owner, and I was surprised to score higher.

The whole trip was pretty amazing - I learned how the Sumida guys take care of the world's largest planted aquarium, amazing what you can learn speaking some Japanese! Those guys are the real heros behind that aquarium - and you'll never hear about them outside of that video.

For yellow - up your potassium and iron, remember that the planted aquarium isn't a static beast. Meaning that just because, say, one pump of Brighty K on day 1 is enough, it doesn't mean it's enough on day 30. So you're slowly adjusting over time to compensate.

Of course, maintaining good trimming technique to keep it trimmed shorter helps quite a lot, as the lower portion will die from lack of light if it grows over itself too much.

that is amazing!

[CryptKeeper54]

Ditto. That video was intense. So much work and dedicatin for those tanks.

Congrats Frank on your masterpiece nano tank.

[theblondskeleton]

[QUOTE=Francis Xavier;2067951]

TBS - thank you very much my friend! When will you enter?

[QUOTE]

Haha, as soon as I can catch up nah, I'll likely enter this coming year as soon as I get the 120P in presentable shape again. We'll see how she fares. I hope you can get more folks stateside to enter! Let's represent, people!

And again, really remarkable work, Frank. That final shot is quite beautiful. It's one of those works you can go back to over and over and just immerse yourself in for a while. I have yet to hit that with my aquariums, but all things in their own time. It appears I have a lot to learn about wabi sabi, myself

[Francis Xavier]

Originally Posted by CryptKeeper54

Ditto. That video was intense. So much work and dedicatin for those tanks.

Congrats Frank on your masterpiece nano tank.

Thank you for the cool props!

[QUOTE=theblondskeleton;2069103][QUOTE=Francis Xavier;2067951]

TBS - thank you very much my friend! When will you enter?

Haha, as soon as I can catch up nah, I'll likely enter this coming year as soon as I get the 120P in presentable shape again. We'll see how she fares. I hope you can get more folks stateside to enter! Let's represent, people!

And again, really remarkable work, Frank. That final shot is quite beautiful. It's one of those works you can go back to over and over and just immerse yourself in for a while. I have yet to hit that with my aquariums, but all things in their own time. It appears I have a lot to learn about wabi sabi, myself

That's probably one of the coolest compliments I've ever received - that means a lot, thanks!

As one of the contest judges described wabi sabi:

"I have a feeling of wabi sabi, *deep breath* when I am sitting on a summer day sipping tea while looking over the scenery of the land while a cool breeze crosses my face."

[Francis Xavier]

What is Wabi Sabi?

Wabi Sabi, a mysterious Japanese sense of aesthetics, which has most often been described as admiration for the imperfect - an admiration for something as simple as a patch of weeds growing alongside a rock, is easily misunderstood.

It is not quite so simple as merely saying that in your design you have achieved wabi sabi by letting things "grow wild," as there is a controlled chaos to it, a measured imperfection and an emotion.

To describe it, and for you to understand it, you must put yourself in an emotional state that inspires a deep, inner feeling.

Wabi Sabi is...like re-igniting that feeling of love you felt for someone for the first time, heart racing and blood rushing to your head. That feeling of anticipation, waiting for the next time you meet or talk to that person. At the same time, it's that feeling of heart-break that spurns from that same love. While also being the desire to do it all over again.

To feel Wabi Sabi is to feel that entanglement of emotion and to express it and inspire it in other people - in this case, with aquatic plants.

[orchidman]

well put! it sheds more light on it then other things ive read trying to describe wabi sabi. of photos ive seen, i know what they make me feel. the way you phrased it describes what that to a T!

[Francis Xavier]

Some eye candy - my latest layout in the Mini M at the ADG gallery.

[freph]

Very nice. I love how the simple sand, rocks and a central plant mass layouts look. Has a very nice feeling of wasabi...err...wabi-sabi.

I see you've got some of the grout stuff in the silicone corners as well...any clues as to how to get at it or get it off? It seems like it's bonded with the silicone somehow and just refuses to come off. I've had diatoms grow on it but they come right off and that stuff remains.

[@marko@]

Is that a wabi kusa submerged?

[orchidman]

love the simplicity of it!

[andrewss]

museum quality

I love the clear everything, light stand, tubes, so clean

[FlyingHellFish]

Where all the updates? Don't get lazy on us Frank,

So I been trying to get the whole Wabi Sabi going and there a few different guides on creating the soil ball.

How do you make the ball stay in shape and not dissolve in the water? I been trying potting mix wrap with taiwan moss and normal ground moss, not going too well.

[orchidman]

Originally Posted by FlyingHellFish

Where all the updates? Don't get lazy on us Frank,

So I been trying to get the whole Wabi Sabi going and there a few different guides on creating the soil ball.

How do you make the ball stay in shape and not dissolve in the water? I been trying potting mix wrap with taiwan moss and normal ground moss, not going too well.

ive been using AAA New Zealand sphagnum moss wrapped around a rock. works well, i dont fertilize but you cuold fertilize the water you mist with or the water in the tank if its submersed. i guess you could add a root tab to the ball as well...

[FlyingHellFish]

Doesn't the plants have to be rooted within the soil? Do you just cover the rock with the soil and wrap it up with moss?

[orchidman]

Originally Posted by FlyingHellFish

Doesn't the plants have to be rooted within the soil? Do you just cover the rock with the soil and wrap it up with moss?

I don't use any soil as all. I just wrap the sphagnum moss tightly around the rock. Secure with fishing line. And then I place the plants on the ball and secure with more fishing line. The roots I have found will go into the sphagnum moss once they get going. And I jut lag the plants on top and secure with fishing line. After they start growing the stems will give shoot from the nodes along the stem and those shoots will grow upwards.