CryptKeeper54's Schuber Wright Mini 66 (pic heavy)

[CryptKeeper54]

Originally Posted by nanobettaman

I noticed your new Fluval thread had a pic of this tank in what looks to be dry-start mode...

Watcha doin' CK?

I'm trying to dry start java moss on branches but they dried out and browned quickly. Wanted to go for the amano moss on driftwood branches look. I hate tying stuff to wood and rocks and was hoping moss attaches itself this way. Added mini pelia and got my anubias petite in there also, probably gonna plant next week.

[Lowe]

Where's the water already??!! JK

Quick note, you're looking at 45-50 PAR throughout the bottom =)

[CryptKeeper54]

Originally Posted by Lowe

Where's the water already??!! JK

Quick note, you're looking at 45-50 PAR throughout the bottom =)

Lol...

Cool. Thanks for that PAR reading. I've been busy with a lot of projects so I'm not to sure yet. Trying to dry start some moss on branches as well.

[CryptKeeper54]

Note to self: DO NOT dose excel directly on anubias nana petite leaves while emeresed. Tried to kill off some black spot algae and ended up killing the whole plant. Such an idiotic, noob mistake. Moving on.....

[hedge_fund]

nice start

[CryptKeeper54]

Well....this was supposed to be my personal masterpiece but it's far from being that. Just a phone pic. Will post better pics when it grows out a little more. Hope it looks better when it grows out. I'm kinda disappointed with myself so I only took this one pic for now. I hate having nice, expensive plants without the aquascaping skills to show them off right. But I'm still having fun which is the important part of any hobby. Anyways, here we go.

Plants (I think this is what my LFS told me):

Eriocaulon kimberly?
Bucephalandra Teluyabur?
Didiplis diandra
Anubias nana petite
Myriophyllum guinea?
Java Moss
Mini Pelia

Substrate: ADA New Amazonia

Lights: stock (13w x 2 = 26w) ~ 9 hour photoperiod

CO2: GLA atomic diffuser, 3-4 bps

Filter: I opted to use a Fluval C2 instead

Also, adding Nutafin Cycle as directed. I recall Frank W. stressing the importance of bacteria so I figured why not give this a try when I start a new planted tank. Something I've never done before.

Gonna do daily 50% water changes for the first couple weeks. I gotta review Franks book regarding his recommended guidelines. I forgot already..... been super busy lately.

[Silmarwen]

Looks gorgeous. I love the branch with the riverstones

[CryptKeeper54]

I said I wouldn't post pics but what the hell. I cleaned up and took pics of all my tanks with my Nikon D5100 today. A long way from what I envision for this tank but I think I'll eventually get there (Or, at least I hope it gets there).

I never owned a tank with higher clarity glass until now. Well worth the extra dollars. Everything in it looks that much better. Hope I can keep it looking that way.









I wanted to make a bold contrast with the river rock and my Eriocaulon kimberly. I'm starting to see new growth. Hope I can turn it into a beauty.





I think my Myriophyllum guinea is melting away. Not sure why. Hard to see in pics but I was hoping it would fill the back in a bit, along with the Didiplis diandra. And just in case you were wondering, river rock over ADA New Amazonia of course.



And finally my Bucephalandra (Teluyabur?), at least that's what I think I was told...lol. The most expensive plant I have to date, but why not spend my money on a hobby I love. These are a slight variation (under low light rather than high) from what I saw at my LFS. If I can get these to look like the one's at my LFS, which also has a nice flower, then I would be a very happy camper. Unfortunately, I've been told these grow slow, but patience is a virtue I guess. I was thinking this would compliment my eriocaulon as a background plant.

[bluestems]

Originally Posted by CryptKeeper54

Update: this looked a lot better in my mind. The black sand with river stone combo. Black sand was supposed to top aqua soil. Now I'm second guessing, a beach sand look might look better as aweeby suggested. Going to simmer on this scape for a few days. I might just stick with it for the sake of trying to be different.....lol.

Looks like the pacific north-west... I like it! You may have inspired my next tank.

[CryptKeeper54]

Hope you can make it work for you. Should look cool.

[CryptKeeper54]

Quick update: added some h.micranthemoides and m.umbrosum to background (can't see, small and behind branchwood). Unfortunately, my erio and buces (see above pic for reference. One buce new leaf grew while majority of the leaves just melted away) don't seem to be fairing well but I'm hoping they will pull through. In retrospect, I think I would have matured this tank with cheaper plants, then add nicer and more costly plants. Had to batte some algae, and continue to do so but things are getting a little better. At least I think they are. Anyways, phone pics:





On the flipside, at least my nanas petite are flourishing and not getting attacked by green spot algae.

[andrewss]

I reaaaally like this scape... what are you planning as far as fauna goes?

[Green_Flash]

the erios is the plant in the front right yeah?

what is the background plant with the needle like leaves? some type of ludiwiga?

I like the river rock look.

[CryptKeeper54]

Originally Posted by andrewss

I reaaaally like this scape... what are you planning as far as fauna goes?

Thanks. I got a pea puffer in there for now, and an oto. Very entertaining little guy and the oto is keeping my pebbles free of diatom algae. You can see him against the red filter in that 2nd to last pic posted. Not sure if I'm gonna change the fauna. Still debating.

Originally Posted by Green_Flash

the erios is the plant in the front right yeah?

what is the background plant with the needle like leaves? some type of ludiwiga?

I like the river rock look.

Yes...Eriocaulon kimberly. Didiplis diandra is what I was told. Mini pelia also on the branchwood in a few spots. Hoping they grow in nicely.

[andrewss]

gotcha... those puffers are pretty cool

however I was thinking, given the stream/river look of the tank, a group CPD's would look pretty sweet (they remind me of river trout)