Raven_Wilde's 'Ebiwagumi' Edge (Updated Pics 6/6/2012)

[FlyingHellFish]

ROFL... I am now extremely concern about my short term memory, I am also now extremely familiar with petrified wood.

[raven_wilde]

Originally Posted by FlyingHellFish

I am also now extremely familiar with petrified wood.

Me too... I didn't know that the color of the rock was dependent upon contamination by certain minerals or metals.... veeerrry interesting!

[plecostomouse]

great tank
i like how you made the moss carpet

[raven_wilde]

Took some pictures to document plant growth today....



A composite of the layout from the top down:



And a quick comparison with this shot from last update:



I'm also please to announce that our first batch of babies have shown themselves! So Exciting!!

[raven_wilde]

also, I'm thinking of removing the crypts and replacing them with moss carpeting. Reason: while they are growing, they are growing slow and I feel that they will probably do much much better in my 30 gal.

Maybe I'll get some flame moss and put that in the back behind the rocks.

What do you all think?

[Shrimp_Newb]

Very nice!

Originally Posted by raven_wilde

I'm also please to announce that our first batch of babies have shown themselves! So Exciting!!

Congrats!

[Shrimp_Newb]

Originally Posted by raven_wilde

also, I'm thinking of removing the crypts and replacing them with moss carpeting. Reason: while they are growing, they are growing slow and I feel that they will probably do much much better in my 30 gal.

Maybe I'll get some flame moss and put that in the back behind the rocks.

What do you all think?

I think this could be very cool. And the crypts aren't really living up to the tank.

[trutrax]

Wow! Looks awesome!

As for replacing the crypts with more moss. I'd leave it or replace with a different plant. I feel the crypts add a nice breakup to the moss layout. with more moss, you loose that contrast.

[raven_wilde]

Originally Posted by trutrax

Wow! Looks awesome!

As for replacing the crypts with more moss. I'd leave it or replace with a different plant. I feel the crypts add a nice breakup to the moss layout. with more moss, you loose that contrast.

any plants suggestions? I'm kinda at a loss over what to replace them with if not moss.

[trutrax]

Originally Posted by raven_wilde

any plants suggestions? I'm kinda at a loss over what to replace them with if not moss.

I've always liked Micranthemum umbrosum. It's got great vibrant green leafs. I got some in my tank. It'll grow fast, but is easy to trim and keep down (and make it grow new shoots by the root creating denser foliage. Oh and you can easily re-plant the cut trimmings and they'll root. Just a thought.

[raven_wilde]

Originally Posted by trutrax

I've always liked Micranthemum umbrosum. It's got great vibrant green leafs. I got some in my tank. It'll grow fast, but is easy to trim and keep down (and make it grow new shoots by the root creating denser foliage. Oh and you can easily re-plant the cut trimmings and they'll root. Just a thought.

Its pretty, and I do like the texture that it would add... however I do think that it would require too much light and would not do very well in the Edge.

Accommodating the low light in this tank is the biggest factor limiting my plant choices. I have ordered some flame moss from the S-n-S and I plan on deploying it towards the back of the tank (but I won't remove all of the crypts just yet). We'll see what kind of difference it makes.

[igolf2]

Hi, Love your tank! I just set up one of the new Fluval edge 12 gal. tanks. Not overly happy with the LED lighting as it just does not seem enough for the depth of the tank, I am supplementing with a 26w CFL.

As far as plant choices to go with the moss I am using some different varities of Anubias to offset the flame moss and mini pellia along with some java fern and Ludwigia repens which I have been told are easy lower light plants.

[igolf2]

BTW - Bought this light and a 10K bulb off eBay and could not be happier - looks like it was made for the edge and really suppliments the LED light - have not used the 50/50 bulb that came with it.

For $40 total it is exactly what I was looking for!

[Ebay Link Removed]

[igolf2]

It was from TopDogSellers - guess I can't link.....

[raven_wilde]

Thanks for the tip... but I'm not looking to upgrade my lights at the moment. Its in a pretty good balance right now and I think if I were to up the lighting then I would need to start injecting CO2 somehow. Anyway... since the main goal of this setup is to breed shrimp I want to avoid CO2 at this point and just focus on keeping this tank as clean and healthy as possible.