01/10/13 pic heavy update!:getting back in the saddle (long post)

[geektom]

Understood- I like them, and I want to make sure the Pelvicachromis taeniatus have enough places to stake out territory when I add them in January. If the breeding caves end up being enough I might pull the rocks.

I am also hoping that as the moss covers them, it will soften the lines and make it look more that holes in a natural bank, rather than stacked rocks.

[kwheeler91]

I like it! I do agree you might wanna "messy up" the rocks a tad so it doesnt look so artificial. maybe bury the cave under the pile of rocks and the tank would look 100 percent authentic. But its your tank and it still looks good either way. Keep the pics comin.

[geektom]

Can you guys help me understand "negative space"? Does that mean it is better to have nothing there?

[zoragen]

I think that's basically what it means.

I like the rocks but fewer of them & more jumbled.

[The Dude]

I like it. As you said, get some good moss growth around those rocks and they'll look alot better. I personally don't like stems or vals. I think your tank would look better and more "African" with just java fern, mosses, and some Anubias nana. I really like to see the hardscape at all times and I'm not a big fan of plants all over. I think with this tank less is more. If you have another tank to put the others in, you could use that tank as a growout to see what else you like. That's what I do. It's nice to be able to add a little and remove a little at a time until you love it. Just some thoughts

[geektom]

My daughter took a clearer picture for me. The water has cleared nicely and the rhombo barbs and sidthimunki are swimming around like crazy, even schooling together at times. The Congo tetras are being shy, but it seems to take them a day or 2 to adjust each time I have made a change.

I am going to give they plants 7-10 days to settle in and then I will do some trimming- mostly the vals- to remove dead/damaged leaves. Both species of Nesea arrived bent, and I could not un-bend them without breaking the stems. I am hoping the will straighten up in the tank and grow some roots and then I can be more delicate with their placement.

[MABJ]

WOO love it!!! Great job.


MABJ's iDevice used for this message :p

[geektom]

My two Nesea sp. are starting to grow! The golden's new leaves are nice and yellow, and the red is starting to "blush" and new, tiny red leaves are forming! So excited!

Anything I need to know when it comes time to trim? Will the bottom stems form new leaves?

[geektom]

Nice detail of the Nesea crassicaulis getting red:



To get it to fill in, once it has grown out more, is there a best place I should trim it? I notice all the leaf/stem junctures also have what look to be little flower-like growths- are those ne leaves forming? They look so different.

Thanks!

[rustbucket]

Pretty tank.
I would love to see pics of the congos, they are my favorite fish.

How many congos do you have? They are really shy when you have a smaller number, even at 5 mine hid all the time. In larger numbers when they are content they are awesome, not just in attitude but in colour.

Most plants don't mind a hard trim, just leave a few leafs on the bottom half. If your really unsure do what I do, I trim one out of the bunch and see how its grows before chopping them all

[zoragen]

Very nice! The moss & plants really soften the rocks.

[GreenBliss]

Your tank looks great.

[crazydaz]

I like the tank, and the rocks are a bit more toned-down now....they blend in instead of sticking out, which makes it look better to me. I absolutely love those barbs...they are phenomenal! Thanks for the pics!

[geektom]

Thanks, everyone! I have 4 congos in there now, and plan to add 4 more. My Pelvicachromis taeniatus arrive Friday!

[geektom]

Did some trimming and rearranging, and thought it would be good to share some pics! The water looks like it had lots of debris, but those are all bubbles!

I did not trim the N. crass, but I did carefully separate and spread out the stems, giving them more room and exposing more pink leaves:




My lace bulb is growing nicely!


Whoo hooo! Baby Downoi are starting!


I know I will have to keep trimming the larger leaves, but I am loving the color of this lily:


Anyone know what this cryptocorne is? I picked it up as a straggler:


Ok, so it is not an orange-eyed-crystal-bumble bee-kong, but it is still a shrimp!:


My cheater non-African catfish, Corydoras sterbai:


The only silver lining from losing all the rhombo barbs to ich, is that I was able to find some of what I actually wanted in the first place Barbus fasciolatus:



The baby Pelvicachomis taeniatus - they are only about 1.5"-2" long, but their coloring is starting to come in beautifully:







And finally, the mighty Congos!