Mini-S: New scape, suggestions?

Senior Shrimpo · 11-28-2012, 01:23 AM

Hey all! You may know me as a shrimper but the reason I got into shrimps was planted tanks!

I have a Mini-S that I've had for a while, as well as some old hardscape materials; I decided to throw them together to make some sort of something or other. This is still in the design phase, it might go all rock at the moment or I might keep the manzanita (special thanks to PC1 for it, you're the best!) and the Seiryu that's in it currently. But as I have to soak the wood first I have a while to decide.

Anyway, anyone have any suggestions?? Should I ditch the driftwood and go all rock (I'm thinking Unzan stone, waiting for Adg to email me back about stones) or keep it like this/move it around a little? Also-- what plants should I do? I was thinking HC foreground and then I'd add some pellia or fissidens to the manzanita, but I'm starting to like the idea of DHG belem as the foreground to look more natural and wild.

OR:

^^Hehe there it is on my shrimp rack, next to all my shrimp stuff :P

Any suggestions, comments etc. are greatly appreciated! I wanna take my time, get feedback, and learn throughout this; this is my first real CO2 fueled aquascape and I want it to look nice.

Thanks!

freph · 11-28-2012, 01:51 AM

I feel like there's too much soil in there. Otherwise, I like it. Very natural looking. Maybe you could tinker with the rocks a little more to make it look more a tiny bit more natural but for now it looks pretty darn good.

**MABJ** · 11-28-2012, 02:05 AM

I'm with freph. I love it!

Some things you might consider trying..

Instead of a front to back slope, a side to side slope might look more dynamic in a tank with little horizontal play space.

Otherwise I love it. We approach aquascaping the same way

I'm definitely following along, as I LOVE small tanks. I keep them myself lol.

MABJ's iDevice used for this message :p

ADAtank · 11-28-2012, 04:31 AM

That stump is too big and there is too much soil. Try some branch wood that will fit

Erirku · 11-28-2012, 04:40 AM

i agree with the others:
1) That DW is too BIG!!!
2) Too much substrate!!!

**MABJ** · 11-28-2012, 01:20 PM

I love the stump, even if others dislike it!

I think it could be positioned differently, but I do like it.

MABJ's iDevice used for this message :p

Green_Flash · 11-28-2012, 09:30 PM

I would go with some nice Unzan.

houseofcards · 11-28-2012, 10:00 PM

I think that could definitely work. I like big pieces in small tanks, but it can't be touching or almost touching the side (which it appears it is from the pic anyway) and there might not be enough distance between the ADA light and the wood to fully appreciate it. Just my 2 cents.

somewhatshocked · 11-28-2012, 10:02 PM

Keep the stump! Just lower your substrate a ton, as others have suggested.

Fissidens will be a nice size for the tank, as well.

Perfect tank for shrimp.

**Betta Maniac** · 11-28-2012, 10:22 PM

I like the stump too. It would be great with some kind of emergent plants coming off it.

**MABJ** · 11-28-2012, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Betta Maniac

I like the stump too. It would be great with some kind of emergent plants coming off it.

+1

I like this idea.

marioman72 · 11-29-2012, 03:45 AM

love the size of the stump! looks a lot like the base of a tree, there could be less soil, but i agree with some of the other comments, try arranging the slope in a different angle maybe at a 45? But love the look and scale of the layout, i can imagine a glosso carpet with lots of Anubis in this tank.

Senior Shrimpo · 11-30-2012, 02:12 AM

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I realize there's way too much soil in there haha. Before the tank had been home to some hermit crabs my niece surrendered to me and I had a big slope and branches so they had more floor space.

I decided I'm gonna go with Unzan stone. But in the mean time I can have a little fun and do Seiryu scapes like this:

Note: this is just an exercise in scaping and visualization. I gave myself 15 random rocks and 10 minutes to make something cool. I did take out a lot of substrate. I kind of like it but I still definitely want the Unzan lol

**sayurasem** · 11-30-2012, 02:16 AM

The first one is unique!

**MABJ** · 11-30-2012, 03:23 AM

I like them both a lot. The second is done often, but it is also more attractive overall.

MABJ's iDevice used for this message :p

11-28-2012, 01:23 AM	#1
Senior Shrimpo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 880	Mini-S: New scape, suggestions? Hey all! You may know me as a shrimper but the reason I got into shrimps was planted tanks! I have a Mini-S that I've had for a while, as well as some old hardscape materials; I decided to throw them together to make some sort of something or other. This is still in the design phase, it might go all rock at the moment or I might keep the manzanita (special thanks to PC1 for it, you're the best!) and the Seiryu that's in it currently. But as I have to soak the wood first I have a while to decide. Anyway, anyone have any suggestions?? Should I ditch the driftwood and go all rock (I'm thinking Unzan stone, waiting for Adg to email me back about stones) or keep it like this/move it around a little? Also-- what plants should I do? I was thinking HC foreground and then I'd add some pellia or fissidens to the manzanita, but I'm starting to like the idea of DHG belem as the foreground to look more natural and wild. OR: ^^Hehe there it is on my shrimp rack, next to all my shrimp stuff :P Any suggestions, comments etc. are greatly appreciated! I wanna take my time, get feedback, and learn throughout this; this is my first real CO2 fueled aquascape and I want it to look nice. Thanks! Last edited by Senior Shrimpo; 11-30-2012 at 02:13 AM.. Reason: added pics

11-28-2012, 01:51 AM	#2
freph Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (13/100%) Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Fayetteville, NC Posts: 2,112	I feel like there's too much soil in there. Otherwise, I like it. Very natural looking. Maybe you could tinker with the rocks a little more to make it look more a tiny bit more natural but for now it looks pretty darn good. __________________ 20L - Mini M Last edited by freph; 11-28-2012 at 02:05 AM.. Reason: q

11-28-2012, 02:05 AM	#3
MABJ Invert Warrior (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NY Posts: 3,098	I'm with freph. I love it! Some things you might consider trying.. Instead of a front to back slope, a side to side slope might look more dynamic in a tank with little horizontal play space. Otherwise I love it. We approach aquascaping the same way I'm definitely following along, as I LOVE small tanks. I keep them myself lol. MABJ's iDevice used for this message :p __________________ Check out my tanks: Mark's Almost ADA \|18" Long DBP Tank \|10" Tall CRS Spec \| .5 Gallon cube \| Wabi-Kusa Thread \| New to shrimp? Need help? Check out these threads: \|Essential tools to buy\|List of inverts\|Sage advice\| Mark A Belcher Junior, A proud member: DBP Club

11-28-2012, 01:20 PM	#6
MABJ Invert Warrior (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NY Posts: 3,098	I love the stump, even if others dislike it! I think it could be positioned differently, but I do like it. MABJ's iDevice used for this message :p __________________ Check out my tanks: Mark's Almost ADA \|18" Long DBP Tank \|10" Tall CRS Spec \| .5 Gallon cube \| Wabi-Kusa Thread \| New to shrimp? Need help? Check out these threads: \|Essential tools to buy\|List of inverts\|Sage advice\| Mark A Belcher Junior, A proud member: DBP Club

11-28-2012, 10:02 PM	#9
somewhatshocked Obsessed? Maybe (View User Tanks) PTrader: (262/100%) Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 7,646	Keep the stump! Just lower your substrate a ton, as others have suggested. Fissidens will be a nice size for the tank, as well. Perfect tank for shrimp. __________________ 12gal Long \| 20L Shrimp Tanks \| 3gal Longs \| 10gal \| 45-F \| 5.5gal Tigers \| 20cm Cubes

11-28-2012, 04:31 AM	#4
ADAtank Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (1/100%) Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SAN ANTONIO Posts: 255	That stump is too big and there is too much soil. Try some branch wood that will fit

11-28-2012, 04:40 AM	#5
Erirku Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (4/100%) Join Date: May 2007 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 114	i agree with the others: 1) That DW is too BIG!!! 2) Too much substrate!!!

11-28-2012, 09:30 PM	#7
Green_Flash Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (7/100%) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: United States Posts: 1,456	I would go with some nice Unzan.

11-28-2012, 10:00 PM	#8
houseofcards Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (51/100%) Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 2,099	I think that could definitely work. I like big pieces in small tanks, but it can't be touching or almost touching the side (which it appears it is from the pic anyway) and there might not be enough distance between the ADA light and the wood to fully appreciate it. Just my 2 cents.

11-28-2012, 10:22 PM	#10
Betta Maniac Wanabe BKK Herder (View User Tanks) PTrader: (17/100%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: IHella<3Oakland Posts: 2,089	I like the stump too. It would be great with some kind of emergent plants coming off it. __________________ BKK Money Pit 20G Long SE Asian Biotope

11-29-2012, 03:45 AM	#12
marioman72 Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: bristol, RI, U.S. Posts: 317	love the size of the stump! looks a lot like the base of a tree, there could be less soil, but i agree with some of the other comments, try arranging the slope in a different angle maybe at a 45? But love the look and scale of the layout, i can imagine a glosso carpet with lots of Anubis in this tank. __________________ 20L and 10g de-rimmed journal 3g betta iwagumi 29g "Jagged Peaks" _DSC5750 by marioman72, on Flickr

11-30-2012, 02:12 AM	#13
Senior Shrimpo Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8/100%) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 880	Thanks for the suggestions everyone! I realize there's way too much soil in there haha. Before the tank had been home to some hermit crabs my niece surrendered to me and I had a big slope and branches so they had more floor space. I decided I'm gonna go with Unzan stone. But in the mean time I can have a little fun and do Seiryu scapes like this: Note: this is just an exercise in scaping and visualization. I gave myself 15 random rocks and 10 minutes to make something cool. I did take out a lot of substrate. I kind of like it but I still definitely want the Unzan lol

11-30-2012, 02:16 AM	#14
sayurasem SCAPEr (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2/100%) Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Loma Linda, CA Posts: 2,405	The first one is unique! __________________ #364 \| Eheim Pimp Club #500 \| 12G Rimless Club \| 12 Gallon Loooooooooong Journal

11-30-2012, 03:23 AM	#15
MABJ Invert Warrior (View User Tanks) PTrader: (12/100%) Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: NY Posts: 3,098	I like them both a lot. The second is done often, but it is also more attractive overall. MABJ's iDevice used for this message :p __________________ Check out my tanks: Mark's Almost ADA \|18" Long DBP Tank \|10" Tall CRS Spec \| .5 Gallon cube \| Wabi-Kusa Thread \| New to shrimp? Need help? Check out these threads: \|Essential tools to buy\|List of inverts\|Sage advice\| Mark A Belcher Junior, A proud member: DBP Club

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