Temperate Rainforest

[Kudaria]

I think I may have messed up using the slate for this instead of a rounder stone...

Anyway I want to keep the flat piece of driftwood as a focal point of the tank and then add in plants around it to suggest an actual sized slice of rainforest. Crypts come to mind for fern like plants, and I may need to take out the myrio as I'm not sure it will fit in with my idea.

Suggestions for plants or other things I might add to emphasize the rainforest theme?

[Kudaria]

Well I found a scene of the type that I would like to recreate, now I'm just trying to think of what plants would work.

[TECKSPEED]

I would say use some moss to cover your slate, may be difficult to get the moss to attach, then maybe some java fern.


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[Kudaria]

I did cover two pieces of slate with the moss. One of them is in the front left of the tank. I was thinking now that I would bury those pieces into the substrate so that they appear to be flat pieces of moss covered ground.

I picked up a stump like piece of driftwood today that I'm planning on taking a saw to so that it will fit in the back left corner of the tank. As soon as I get some more moss I'll go ahead and cover it with moss too.

I also picked up some moss balls which I think will work rather well with the scape. I'm not sure whether or not to just leave them in their ball form or open them up and use them to cover some rounded stone.

[I3raven]

Originally Posted by Kudaria

I did cover two pieces of slate with the moss. One of them is in the front left of the tank. I was thinking now that I would bury those pieces into the substrate so that they appear to be flat pieces of moss covered ground.

I picked up a stump like piece of driftwood today that I'm planning on taking a saw to so that it will fit in the back left corner of the tank. As soon as I get some more moss I'll go ahead and cover it with moss too.

I also picked up some moss balls which I think will work rather well with the scape. I'm not sure whether or not to just leave them in their ball form or open them up and use them to cover some rounded stone.

You should try buying oval/round shaped stones and attach fissidens fonatanus. It should help recreate the look you want.

[Kai808]

I would add a slope to substrate. It looks a little flat for a scape.

[Kudaria]

Originally Posted by Kai808

I would add a slope to substrate. It looks a little flat for a scape.

I agree, which I why I ordered another bag of substrate. It should be here Wed. and I'll add it to the tank to create more of a slope. That's what I get for trying to do it with a tad bit less than two bags.

[Kudaria]

Originally Posted by I3raven

You should try buying oval/round shaped stones and attach fissidens fonatanus. It should help recreate the look you want.

Oh wow, that's a beautiful moss and it sounds like it will cling to the stones by itself after awhile. I'll definitely add that to my list of mosses and keep an eye out for it.

I'm starting to think, that like in the picture, a few different types of mosses will add some visual interest to the scape. My question is how many different types? I've already got christmass moss and marino algae balls and now I'll likely add the fissidens to the mix. Should I stop there or go with yet another type of moss for four different looks.

[Kai808]

Mini pellia and mini fissidens, are also nice but very slow growers.

[Farmer]

I certainly agree that you need to slope the substrate. I also think you need to be adding a lot more height with your rocks (or wood). Once your moss grows you will find it hard to see you even have rocks there.

I agree with I3raven. But you ought to be able to find suitable rocks without buying them. Even in a city.

Linds

[pirayaman]

first get round stones they are called river rock around here. landscape supply place or a river. then deff moss fissens would look great but get a couple others for a dash here and there

[Jeff5614]

It might work to mix some riccia in also and some bolbitis for that ferny look.

[Kudaria]

Originally Posted by Jeff5614

It might work to mix some riccia in also and some bolbitis for that ferny look.

I'll have to keep an eye out for that bolbitis, it does look like a fern. Right now I've got some Green Gecko's and a Blyxa Japonica along with the mini pelia moss coming in the mail along with some fissidens.

By the end of the weekend I should have some new pics up with whats been done so far.

[Kehy]

Reminds me a bit of the Hoh Rainforest. Gotta love having both rainforest and desert in the same state, hahaha. Not nearly enough moss though.

[Kudaria]

Alright I did a bit of work on this tank tonight. Everything for it hasn't come in yet but a few things did, namely the fissidens and bacopa australis. I'm expecting in a few more plants - Blyxa Japonica, Crypt Green Gecko, Hygrophila 'Tiger', Limnophila Aromatica, and a small bit of mini pellia and notocyphus lutescens mosses.

What I'm trying to figure out now is what to do with the marimo balls...can you cut those and place them upon a rock?