46 Gallon Planted Journal(updated pics finally! 8/3 :)

[gremmy]

Nice Tank!

I love that Killi. Very cool.

If you're looking for ideas (like I am), you might want to purchase Amano's Nature Aquarium World Vol. 1; it discusses layout principles and gives hundreds of color photographs of his beautiful aquariums.

Some people feel that an aquarium built on "the rules of aquascaping" looks artificial, but my opinion is that artificiality is not caused by the rules but rather by the specific aquasape. The rules themselves apply to anything visual, from paintings to movies to architecture and beyond. The book is really excellent.

I do have some personal recommendations. I hope they don't come across as rude or abrasive, as I have a tendency toward being straightforward. I am also the first to admit that I am not an expert and am only trying to help.

My own tank still needs lots of work, for what it's worth. Anyway, here are my suggestions:


1) Think natural. Pieces of wood partially buried by current and time, etc.

2) Get rid of the river rocks. I think they are too big for the tank, they overwhelm the foreground, and they do not look natural there, partly because rounded river rocks only look natural in very specific types of aquascape.

3) Strangely, I think the statue looks okay, and I could easily understand either decision (taking it out or leaving it in).

4) My suggestion is to rearrange (and possibly reduce) the java fern so that it compliments the structure of the wood instead of drawing the eye to the empty spot in the middle of the wood. The fern overwhelms the wood in the same way that the rocks ovewhelm the foreground. It looks like a very nice piece of wood -- position it in the midground and show it off with a nice complimentary arc of fern. Try to duplicate a natural growth pattern.

5) I agree that the wood should be moved a bit to the left or right, following the golden ratio.

6) To give your tank a sense of depth, put down a nice lawn in front of the wood and grow larger plants behind it (as you seem to be doing now).

I hope that helped!

[organic sideburns]

Gremmy, Awesome reccomendations man not rude at all..

I will try and get ahold of some riccia that I am thinking about planting infront the the driftwood to have a lawn effect..I just have to wait for the c02 and more lighting arrives sometime in the next couple of days..

I am planning to move the driftwood more to the left of course, and take out some of the java fern. Also, I am going to try and find some taller background plants to plant behind the water sprite and red ludwiga..

Great comments!

[organic sideburns]

Heres a list of some plants I am thinking about gettting next week when my c02 and lighting is set up.. Any suggestions?..:

Riccia or Glossostigma
Either christmas or taiwan moss
Anubias
Hairgrass
Hygrophila, Green
Tall background plants ( maybe corkscrew val or jungle?)

[organic sideburns]

Here are some shots I took tonight if anyones interested..:

Another cool shot of my female golden wonder killi:



Group shot of all 4 of my golden wonder killis:




A view of my bedroom showing my 55 gal saltwater ( my other tanks are on the other side of my room):



Few shots of my reptiles:









My 20 gal high tank that is cycling with unwanted plants from my 46 gal bow:

[unirdna]

Your interests, hobbies, and.......tenacity remind me of....well, me - 20 years ago. You've created a perfect sactuary. I would very much liked to have had such a place when I was young, but I had to share with a little bro . Your killi shots are splendid. Great stuff!

[organic sideburns]

unirdna, thanks for the compliments and thats cool that I remind you of you 20 years ago!..Your 46 gal bow is a real inspiration for me I love grassy plants.

[organic sideburns]

Well my pressurized co2 system came in tonday and my dad is picking up a 5 pound tank as I type soo I will set it up later tonight!

Wish me luck because I am nervous using the no name bubble counter it came with ( anyone have any tips on this system?? )..:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113779

[qoperator]

You are on the right track. Your tank is looking good. I am also in the mix of the co2 buisness. Your system looks solid. From what I have learned just hook up your co2 to come on and go off with your lights. When starting off just start out very slow. Watch your ph and kH ratio. Keep us informed.

[unirdna]

Sideburns,

Have your dad ask for a washer when he gets the tank. It's a penny-size piece of hard cardboard with a hole in it. It fits (smashes) between the regulator and the tank. Without one, your tank will likely leak.

That bubblecounter looks fine. Fill it up, mount it on the side of your stand, and run tubing in and out. I would place the check valve before that bubble counter to ensure that you don't create any backpressure on the counter. The reg can handle lots of backpressure without any worries.

Looks like a solid combo. Good price considering it comes with a timer and diffuser. I don't use a timer, I run CO2 24/7. But, since that timer comes with a grounded socket, if you don't use on the reg, it could be used for lighting.

[organic sideburns]

Yea I have a washer and its running now..thanks

[organic sideburns]

Hey guys, I did a lil aquascaping tonight..I took most of the river rocks out, moved the driftwood and took out a few plants etc...I also have added the pressurized co2 and new lighting ( 65 watt single strip to go along with my 110 watt hood..a total of 175 watts over my tank!)..Heres a before shot of what the tank looked like around 6 tonight..:



Heres a pic of the tank in the middle of re-aquascaping it..:



And heres the after pic..(a lil cloudy sorry!).. I like it because it kinda looks like theres 2 islands with a pathway going down the middle-left side of the tank. What do you guys think?..:



Left side of new aquascaped tank..:



Right side..:



Heres a snail I found hanging on one of my plants..Is that a bad snail that will eat my plants or multiply tons or is it harmless?..Thanks!..:



And heres my co2 set up..Azoo regulator..:



Uhh..Just a random picture..Its showing my aquaclear filter with a sponge stuck in between the filter output and canopy so theres not much surface aggitation..Does this look okay because I hope I'm not wasting too much co2 through the surface aggitation..:

[aanderson09]

that budah looks awesome in your tank, I love the mix with it and the crypts, it makes it look like an alter, it reminds me of a buddah I've seen on my hikes (1/2 mile hike up into some forests, I have no clue why it's there), I'll take a pic next time I go there and post it

[organic sideburns]

Thanks for the comment Anderson, I like how the buddah looks also and I plan to keep it there... The after aquascape is a bit empty looking which is okay because now I can really watch my plants grow..I cleared out my whole foreground tho and I am looking for a foreground plant, maybe dwarf hairgrass and some glosso?..I still need some taller background plants also.

[Buck]

I had to go back and look again...I missed the buddha the first glance...LOL

The tank is lookin good and once everything gets growing it should fill in nice.

[organic sideburns]

Seriously all thats been on my mind latley has been this tank..I really hope I start seeing some growth improvement soon (been about 4 days since the co2 and lighting has been set up..)

..I have only noticed less algae, and greener java ferns so far since I added pressurized co2 but my ludwiga and water sprite isnt showing any improvements..I will be pacient and post pics tomorow after I get back from the biggest fish store I can find around here (Aquarium Center..2500 square foot store..)

I am going to pick up some forground plants, either glosso, hairgrass, or riccia ( w/e they have in stock i'll get!)..Maybe I will pick up a few more stem plants like some taller background plants. Look for pics tomorow night!