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

[loucas6290]

what kind of sand are you using?

[marioman72]

read every page from the very beginning over the past few hours, showed me a lot of bad habits that i have learned, and what i can do to better my self. definitely great techniques and how toos. hopefully will learn much much more thanks for a great read!!

[FlyingHellFish]

Originally Posted by orchidman

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.

I tired your method and it still isn't working. Everything just rots away without soil. I think the moss was even dying, maybe the moisture not high enough.

[orchidman]

Originally Posted by FlyingHellFish

I tried your method and it still isn't working. Everything just rots away without soil. I think the moss was even dying, maybe the moisture not high enough.

What moss did you use? If you used quality sphagnum moss you shouldn't have that problem. Sphagnum moss is dead from the start.

[FlyingHellFish]

Well, I had the bright idea of using my clippings of taiwan moss. The part under water did fine, but the top part, along with the Cuba and various other plants, die really quickly.

How do they get the soil ball to stay in place? As soon as that bad boy touches water, it just breaks apart.

I was thinking of taking a foam ball, covering it up with soil and rocks, while having only the bottom part touching the water. So when you water the bowl, the foam sucks it up.

But.......

At last.....

I'm too lazy....

[orchidman]

Originally Posted by FlyingHellFish

Well, I had the bright idea of using my clippings of taiwan moss. The part under water did fine, but the top part, along with the Cuba and various other plants, die really quickly.

How do they get the soil ball to stay in place? As soon as that bad boy touches water, it just breaks apart.

I was thinking of taking a foam ball, covering it up with soil and rocks, while having only the bottom part touching the water. So when you water the bowl, the foam sucks it up.

But.......

At last.....

I'm too lazy....

i wrapped a rock with sphagnum moss http://www.newworldorchids.com/images/goods/moss5.jpg and then tied around it with fishing line. the moss wicks the water up. it doesnt brake apart if you tie it well..

[Francis Xavier]

The first article in a four part series, Adventures in Aquascaping column in TFH was published just recently - in the January 2013 issue the first segment covers the preplanning stage and thought process behind the original Mini M layout here!

Pick one up!

[bluestems]

How's the Wabi Sabi doing? Any chance of ADG stocking ADA wabi sabi's in the near future?

[amphirion]

Originally Posted by FlyingHellFish

I tired your method and it still isn't working. Everything just rots away without soil. I think the moss was even dying, maybe the moisture not high enough.

sphagnum moss tends to break down quicker if exposed to hard water or strong nitrogen rich environments when mosses and bryophytes take over.

[FlyingHellFish]

^ My tap water is super hard

[Francis Xavier]

Through a random stroke of luck:






The Cube Garden Superior 60-P

[@marko@]

that looks fantastic.
what kind of setup are you gonna make it?

[d2mini]

Frank, it was awesome to meet you today and I loved the little tour of ADG!
Just found this thread and can't wait to go through it all.

Thanks again!

-dennis

[Francis Xavier]

Hey Dennis!

You'll have to share what you do with some of that great rock in your aquarium here!

[Francis Xavier]

Originally Posted by @marko@

that looks fantastic.
what kind of setup are you gonna make it?

I'm going back and forth between stone and stone+driftwood. Going through the inspiration stage!