[ScubaSteve]

Last tank shot before I took it down last summer. 15 gallon coming soon!

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/1...9-gallon-rescape-more-pics-3.html#post7651849




3.2.15

 

[ScubaSteve]

After starting my first planted tank two years ago, I decided I was going to break down my 29 gallon and start a 55 gallon. Well, the wife and finances got in the way, so I decided I would redo my 29. I am tired of the jungle look and want something cleaner. I am planning a manzanita and sieryu stone scape. I'm going to take my current onynx sand and use some of it as a base (HATE the color) and cap it with Flourite black sand. I sold my Aquatic life t5ho dual fixture and decided to go with the Ecoxotic E-60 fixture. I am going to do basic EI ferts and I have a paintball CO2 setup. I will be updating with my aquascape pics later in the day. For now, I leave you with the most recent pic of my current setup...Lol.

OK... Here's an extremely early outline of my planned scape. I have another shipment of smaller stones coming in on Tuesday. Please let me know your thoughts and ideas. The manzanita is pretty set... But I have more, so i can cut and add if needed.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Also... Sorry for the horrible pictures. My cell camera isn't that great.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I realize that the branches look stunted... I've adjusted that. Will post pictures soon.

 

[ChemGuyEthan]

Hmm, it's a little hard to picture, but given the symmetry of the substrate setup, I wonder if it'll look lopsided with all the branch-work on the left and just rocks on the right? Do you have a few smaller branches maybe to add on the right? Leave the bulk of the wood on the left, but then just a few to accent the right.

Otherwise, that's an excellent use of the white egg crate. Also, the old tank looks good! I totally understand rescaping things (I can barely be satisfied with a scape for 3 months let alone years, haha). I think the redo will look good though. Keeping many of the old plants for the new layout?

 

[ScubaSteve]

Thanks for the complement! I do have extra branches...but, I was going for the 2/3rd's, 1/3rd look...I laid the wood down flatter and it covers a little past the middle of the scape now. When I get the rest of my rock's in (not sure when that's going to be, seems the USPS lost the package), I will experiment with some wood on the other side.

Yeah, I've been wanting to change my scape for a while now, finally decided to go ahead and do it. As far as plants go, I gutted everything, darn crypt took over my whole tank the last two months and I didn't want to put that in the new scape. I have some fissidens for the branches, some anubias nana petite, s. repens, crypt parva and a few others on the way. I will put out a list of everything soon.

Hmm, it's a little hard to picture, but given the symmetry of the substrate setup, I wonder if it'll look lopsided with all the branch-work on the left and just rocks on the right? Do you have a few smaller branches maybe to add on the right? Leave the bulk of the wood on the left, but then just a few to accent the right.

Otherwise, that's an excellent use of the white egg crate. Also, the old tank looks good! I totally understand rescaping things (I can barely be satisfied with a scape for 3 months let alone years, haha). I think the redo will look good though. Keeping many of the old plants for the new layout?

 

[mesohorny]

i've seen that grating used widely in the hobby; where can a fella get it?

Bump: and for what it's worth, I can see what you're going for; I dig it so far.

 

[falcooo]

i've seen that grating used widely in the hobby; where can a fella get it?

Home Depot, lighting aisle

 

[ScubaSteve]

I appreciate that...you can find it at Home Depot or Lowes...in the lighting section. It's called light diffuser.

i've seen that grating used widely in the hobby; where can a fella get it?

Bump: and for what it's worth, I can see what you're going for; I dig it so far.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Update...Last night, I was up until 1am and was able to transfer my fish and my old driftwood to a new 15 gallon tank I've been meaning to set up for a while. Anyway, I was dumping some water from my 29 gallon outside and tripped and fell on my back and now I can barely stand up! My plants are coming today, so needless to say, I am freaking out a little. I don't think I will be able to get my 29 cleaned and scaped in time. How long can the plants stay outside of water and stay healthy?

 

[NotCousteau]

Just throw them into a container of dechlorinated water and let them float. Keep them someplace they get sunlight or use your tank light. They'll be fine for a while.

Sorry to hear about your back!

 

[ScubaSteve]

BTW...here's the equipment, fauna and flora list I've been promising. Let me know your thoughts and if you think I need to add or take away anything. Thanks for looking!

Filtration:
1 Eheim Classic 2213 (also getting a wavemaker to help distribute the CO2 and get a little more flow)

Lighting:
1 Ecoxotic E-60 LED fixture (LOVE this light, but I think I will have to add a second fixture of some sort, since it's only 24" across...thinking a 30" Finnex Planted +, but, I am going to try just the E-60 for now and see how it does).

CO2:
24oz Paintball Canister
Aquatek Mini Regulator with Solenoid
Small doses of Excel (hope to keep algae to a minimum)

Substrate:
Old Onyx Sand capped with Flourite Black Sand

Ferts:
EI dosing the following:
KNO3 3x a week
KH2P04 3x a week
Flourish 2x a week
Flourish Iron and root tabs as needed

Flora:
Fissidens Moss
Anubias Nana Petite
S. Repens
Ludwiga S. Red
Crypt Parva
Pogostemon Helferi
Limnophila Hippuroides
Rotala Roundifolia
Camboba Pulcherrima

Fauna:
Current:
6 Neon Tetras
6 Rummy Nose Tetras
2 Yoyo Loaches
4 Ottos
4 Amanos
Would like to add:
2 German Rams
6 Pygmy Cories

Bump:

Just throw them into a container of dechlorinated water and let them float. Keep them someplace they get sunlight or use your tank light. They'll be fine for a while.

Sorry to hear about your back!

Perfect...thank you! Makes me feel a little better.

Yeah, you don't realize how much you use your back until you hurt it. Chiropractor, here I come!

 

[mesohorny]

have you used an Aquatek Mini Regulator before? I was eying one of those--seems great, especially since I have some old tanks hanging out from my paintball days--and was a little hesitant based on some of the amazon reviews.

 

[ScubaSteve]

have you used an Aquatek Mini Regulator before? I was eying one of those--seems great, especially since I have some old tanks hanging out from my paintball days--and was a little hesitant based on some of the amazon reviews.

I haven't used it yet...but it seems like an extremely solid unit. Most of the reviews I've read seemed pretty positive. Also, my local LFS uses one on their 30 gallon and they love it. So, I am hoping that it works out.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Thought this was funny.... Kinda the way I feel...Lol.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Here's a small update. Got the 29 cleaned out and got the diffuser, wood and moss in the tank. Should have ordered more. Should have the scape done and all plants in tomorrow. Let me know if it looks better.

 

[ScubaSteve]

OK... Need a little help... Almost done with new scape... Critiques?

 

[tanksagain]

First of all, I think your new tank looks awesome and I look forward to seeing it planted. If I were going to change anything about the scape I would consider moving the large rock that is just right of center and leaving the middle more open. I feel like an opening in the middle with "stuff" on the outside sections gives a feeling of balance. Also, I would make the substrate line straight across the front. Just my two cents, hope it helps. I'm sure you'll have fun making lots of adjustments as the tanks takes form. Looks great!

 

[ScubaSteve]

First of all, I think your new tank looks awesome and I look forward to seeing it planted. If I were going to change anything about the scape I would consider moving the large rock that is just right of center and leaving the middle more open. I feel like an opening in the middle with "stuff" on the outside sections gives a feeling of balance. Also, I would make the substrate line straight across the front. Just my two cents, hope it helps. I'm sure you'll have fun making lots of adjustments as the tanks takes form. Looks great!

Thanks for the complement! I'll move that big rock and see how it looks.

 

[philipraposo1982]

are you going for a fallen tree look? cuz with that wood you could achieve something quite amazing i feel. BUT, if you are going to do so those rocks wouldn't work. reason is they are too mig and would take away from the overall scall of the tree and make it look like a bush instead.

If you are planning to do something like a fallen tree with a natural look to it I would suggest really small plants and rocks.

What kind of scape are you going for?