ZTM's 10 gallon Journal - New fish 11/11/08!

[fishman9809]

still got a lot floating, eh? the floating thing on the right, is that an API master kit cover?

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Originally Posted by fishman9809

still got a lot floating, eh? the floating thing on the right, is that an API master kit cover?

I don't see what you're talking about

[fishman9809]

i use mine to hold plant trimming til sale. if you dont use it, it sure looks like you do

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Oh that...the breeding tank. Yeah, I don't know where else to put them

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Here's a FTS taken at 10:40 pm:


I used some aluminum foil to reflect some more light:

And refilled my CO2, so everything is growing now

I'm currently trying to expand the Rotala patch so that it covers the pre-filter. Hope it works out

[Wingsdlc]

Hey it looks like your four leaf clover is starting to grow in.

The tank is looking quite nice!

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Yes it is, and so is the Rotala. I LOVE your plants

March 19, 2008:


July 3, 2008:


It grew ALOT is all I have to say. I'd like some opinions from people (cough Tex Gal, who has the best 10 gallon in the world) on how to aquascape it to make it look like the awesome ones in magazines.

[JoshP]

tin foil is supposed to be very bad as a reflector. Thats what I have read many times at least.

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Well I noticed a difference before and after I added the tin foil

[Wingsdlc]

how to aquascape it to make it look like the awesome ones in magazines

I think one of the biggest things I have found to work in an aquascape is perspective and plant groupings. Place small leaf plants behind larger leaf plants makes the tank look deeper and tight groups of plants make it look more natural.

Photo work also does wonders. For some reason angled shots always look way sweeter than a straight on shot.

[clwatkins10]

Originally Posted by JoshP

tin foil is supposed to be very bad as a reflector. Thats what I have read many times at least.

Actually this was proved false by hoppycalif. It is almost as good as glossy white paint

[kittytango]

I love the tank. will the differnet shrimps you have interbreed? I like the breeder box idea for babies. Keep the pictures coming!

[ZooTycoonMaster]

Cherry Shrimp and Crystal Red Shrimp will not interbreed.

And actually the breeding box is to hold plants that I'm selling

[Tex Gal]

Originally Posted by ZooTycoonMaster

Yes it is, and so is the Rotala. I LOVE your plants It grew ALOT is all I have to say. I'd like some opinions from people (cough Tex Gal, who has the best 10 gallon in the world) on how to aquascape it to make it look like the awesome ones in magazines.

Thanks a lot for such kind words. You flatter me!

I think you have come a long way with your tank! It was a good idea for you to put the reflective aluminum on your hood. It helps a lot in tanks like ours. I was trying to find out what wattage your CFL are but didn't see that. How many wpg do you have? I guess you know what I have on my tank. Since I switched to the more powerful lights I am FINALLY!!! having success with downoi, (like the 4th or 5th try here!!!) I certainly wouldn't want to recommend plants that need more light than you have.

Wingsdlc gave good advice about perspective and plant groupings. I would carry that one step further. The smaller the tank you have, the smaller the size plants you can use. The crypt in your tank is the largest plant I would use. Plants that are large and will be VERY hard to keep small enough are your ludwigia, sunset hygro, & the sword in the back. (Is wisteria in there too?.. if so it also gets too big too fast.) If you did use the wisteria and ludwigia, you'd have to trim them about every day! You would have to keep them very small for those plants. It would be working against the nature of the plant. The rotala green is a great size for your tank! I like it in the back where you have it. I would maybe think about plants like that. You could used Rotala Wallichi, Rotala Nanjenshan, a dwarf Bacopa. Micranthemum umbrosum is a great background plant for a small tank. The idea is smaller plants, different leaf shapes, textures & colors. Each shape and style will play off of one another and be interesting. Look at the plant finder and pick out some you like. There are so many choices.

The marsilea is nice. I do think with more light it will hug the substrate like glosso. You could have little peninsulas of different leafed plants coming from the midground breaking into the Marsiliea. Suggestions include compact hygro, downoi, Ranunculus inundatus (You get the idea). It will give you interest and depth.

You need a middle ground. Your crypts will make a nice middle ground at their present size. Fill in your middle ground with your log coming out of it and up. You could also use flame moss (as it grows up_and Anubias, lobelia cardinalis (small). You get the idea.

I hope I haven't spoken out of turn. I really think you have come a long way. You have done some great things.... You are just not done... (We never want to be done- we'd get bored! ) Just remember 3 tiers of plant levels, not in straight lines, with different leaves, shapes and sizes. You are really learning fast!

[ZooTycoonMaster]

They were 2x20 watt screw-in CF, but one of them blew out, so now I'm getting a Nova Extreme T5 2x24 watt (thanks waterfaller1 ) hope fully by the end of the week.

Maybe I could replace all the Water Sprite with Hygro Polysperma? Idk Water Sprite grows too fast for me

I could see what kind of plants my LFS has...90% chance they won't have Downoi, which I really want

The right side of the Marselia isn't doing to well, I hope to get some ET soon, if my dad will let me

Do you (or anyone else) think that the Java Moss on the driftwood is too puffy? I could trim it smaller and re-string the smaller portions onto empty spots on the driftwood.