10Gallons Low tech - Tree with Deep Roots

[fishykid1]

Originally Posted by mistergreen

I visit CT often and see these stone wall up in the mountains. I believe some of them were built by slaves.

The walls were built by farmers and land owners as land property markers. My grandfather built his wall around 40 acres over the past 50 years. Around Ashford, CT and smaller towns, those markers are still used today as property barriers. Just a little history I've learned from CT family.

[mistergreen]

Originally Posted by chad320

Is there a light on this at all or is it just sunlight? This is a very nice example of a low-tech tank. I love the way the crypt has grown in. And im assuming you moved all of the DHG?

Yes, There's light... 2 spiral CF..
I tried sunlight in the previous life of this tank... It got swallowed up by clado.

The DHG died off... They don't like low-tech.

[mistergreen]

Oh yes, the shrimps.

[fishykid1]

Nice red red cherry in the middle

[mistergreen]

I'm redoing this tank. The life ran out of it. I'll post pictures as I set up. It will be a soil tank but not mineralized. I found top soil at home depot that virtually looks like mineralized soil with no work, no fuss. It even has a little clay in it already.

As expected, it won't look like what you commonly see. The new title will give you hints.

[DesmondTheMoonBear]

Originally Posted by mistergreen

I'm redoing this tank. The life ran out of it. I'll post pictures as I set up. It will be a soil tank but not mineralized. I found top soil at home depot that virtually looks like mineralized soil with no work, no fuss. It even has a little clay in it already.

As expected, it won't look like what you commonly see. The new title will give you hints.

What happened to the tank to cause it to run out of life? lol

Good luck with the new tank.

[diwu13]

Hey mistergreen, is your title from a Korean Drama? Pretty interesting but a really current drama got the "most watched show" in South Korean and it's called "Tree with Deep Roots" haha.

And I notice tons of those rock barriers all around here!

[mistergreen]

Originally Posted by DesmondTheMoonBear

What happened to the tank to cause it to run out of life? lol

Good luck with the new tank.

I think it ran out of nutrients and there was some mysterious bug that was killing off fish & even shrimps so it was a good time to restart.

Originally Posted by diwu13

Hey mistergreen, is your title from a Korean Drama? Pretty interesting but a really current drama got the "most watched show" in South Korean and it's called "Tree with Deep Roots" haha.

And I notice tons of those rock barriers all around here!

Yes, I know of the drama. I got hooked on it too although the second half of the series wasn't as dramatic as the first.


Ok, some pictures. The inspiration is simply me looking at the roots of a tree and to me everything start first with the foundation. So the substrate/hardscape should look interesting on its own.


Dry test to see which branches are proportional to the tank. The branches are from a cut down maple tree. I have plenty of it.


The big branch knot looks interesting but was too big for the tank. These sizes feel better.


I glued the sticks to slabs of slate. I'm setting up the dirt tank as well.


Initial layout



Filling up the tank with substrate. I use black flora max mixed with a little rough sand to give more of a natural texture.


Final layout







I'm looking to filling this tank with low lying plants. I though about moss but they tend to grow up instead low and out. I might try UG, Utricularia graminifolia but I'll have to find it first. I don't have it on hand. They might grow in a low-tech plants.

[mistergreen]

Added some plants left over from before and my 5G




I haven't filled in with water yet. I'm waiting for some more plants (C. parva & christmas moss) to come in later next week. The parva won't grow but it'll look pretty.

[mistergreen]

It's finally filled.

[mistergreen]

ok update for this tank. The christmas moss took off!



I recently add nano fish & micro crab thanks to nsjinkzd

[moonwasaloon]

That looks more like Flame Moss to me

[mistergreen]

It might be flame moss.

I added a paper background to hide the wires.

[Volkswagen]

Very cool!

[mistergreen]

Update
Just did some pruning and a water change.