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"Don't take offense (and remember who is talking), but now the land mass looks like a big blob and way to solid in its vertial arrangement" - Boy, if I only knew how to spell

Anyway, I liked it better when it was more like the one below, although that one has some minor problems as well, in particular too sharp of an edge between sand and "land".

For me, the main advantage of that arrangement is an almost 360 degree visual experience, as one is inclined to turn to the sides of the tank to see what is behind that rock. Now, on the other hand, it is obvious on what is behind there - more rock.

Ingo

Attached Image:

Earlier Tank

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

For me, the main advantage of that arrangement is an almost 360 degree visual experience, as one is inclined to turn to the sides of the tank to see what is behind that rock

I'll tell you what's behind the rock. GSA , cause I can't reach it and my otos have been moved out.
I think I'm gonna throw my apistos into the 72. I like the shrimp crawling and cleaning the rugged terrain.

My Scapes

Instead of individually dosing this tank and since it's evaporation is high due to the open top I think I'm going to just top off with water from my 72g, which would probably be twice a week. This will the tank will get traces of everything, but not in large quantities. I guess I might still want to dose excel. What do you guys thing of this plan.

I'm really at a lose fiquring out moss. I really don't think it needs much in terms of ferts. Sometimes it looks great other times it looks "dusty" and not really alive.
The tank has pretty good flow from the aquaclear 20.
It looked it's best when the crs will roaming the place.

My Scapes

It looked it's best when the crs will roaming the place.

I concur.

I don't think apistos are suited to this environment as well. They're a type of fish where you make everything as jungle like as possible and let them sort their way through it - this is a minimalist type set up, just rock and moss, and benefits from having small, peaceful fish and shrimp. In addition, the larger size of the male apisto throws off the perspective a bit - without him it looks like a real mountain range - his presence gives away the size of the rocks.

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Back in the saddle!

In terms of ferts for your tank.

I am doing similar thigns with my 2G Hex. Every week during the water chages I save out about a gallon that I use for a water change in the hex. 90% of my plant mass is Java moss and it seems to be doing just fine this way. Every once in a while I will give it a dip of Excel.

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I don't think apistos are suited to this environment as well. They're a type of fish where you make everything as jungle like as possible and let them sort their way through it - this is a minimalist type set up, just rock and moss, and benefits from having small, peaceful fish and shrimp. In addition, the larger size of the male apisto throws off the perspective a bit - without him it looks like a real mountain range - his presence gives away the size of the rocks.

What about the old scape vs the new. Do you see the eventual melting of the rock into the range?

Sounds good wings

My Scapes

I definetely see what you're trying to do. I think the rock on the left needs to get good and fluffy, same as the one behind it. Right now there's too much skin showing, so to speak... It's a different look altogether, the identity of the last one was the rock itself as the mountain surrounded by jungle, like an aerial view - this one could very well be a scene from that scape - a close-up view of that mountain, zooming in on one section where a bare piece of stone juts out from an overgrown mossy area.


At least that's what I see... I could very well be delusional from wokring nearly 40 hrs in the past 2 days...

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Back in the saddle!

...a close-up view of that mountain...

That is probably why I liked the old one better. It appeared to be more scape, a whole mountain vs. a wall on a mountain.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

O.K is it LF or LP? Which do you prefer.
I guess I'll have to come up with a plant name. I'm really not an "Ulimate Fish Guru".

Anyway based on the last two comments. I think Nowher is with the program and LF or LP is not buying it. Anyway I respect both of your comments. That's the fun thing about planted tanks, everyone sees something different.




My Scapes

O.K is it LF or LP?

I don't know which it is. I like little fishies and I am just a little planter. But I guess I will have to come up with something else as well, this one was added as soon as the option became available.

But if in doubt, I am LF and will always stay LF

And - given that I am not Mr. Nano, I would say that NowherMan6's advice has more weight.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

BTW.... I forgot to add a while back that your male is looking really sharp. Great fish!

I really don't know where I stand on the new look any more...umm just put me on the fence until my but hurts!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

I forgot to add a while back that your male is looking really sharp. Great fish!

A Belated thanks Wings!

Anyway here's a current shot. First the female. I'm still not sure if this one's gonna make it. The pinched stomach that I suspected as an internal problem as been second my Bensaf . I've been treating with metro for a few weeks now every other day 1/2 dose. I recently increased to full dose. In my estimate, she looks the same. LF I see what ou mean about the elongated body. Mind defintely is more slender throughout while your cac females have some bulkiness to the body behind the head.



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My Scapes

The male is looking good as always:



Attached Image:


My Scapes

tetratech,

Glad you see the difference, but sadly do I see whay you mean when you talk about her seeming to be sick. There is a real dent in her belly and it appears worse than in an earlier picture.

Does she eat? How is her poop?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Does she eat? How is her poop?

She eats fine and her poop looks normal. I guess I'll continue with the Metro treatment.

My Scapes

Now I am purely guessing:

How would a female look after she lad her eggs? Can it be that the sudden disposal of eggs causes an indented stomach because the volume of the fish has been reduced?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Nice thought LF, but I doubt it. I looked at pics from day 1 and the pinched belly was there, somehow I missed it at the LFS . I've had them a month already.

My Scapes

Hm,

Even with the knowledge that internal parasites vary in duration until a fish succumbs to it, a month of visible signs for such a small fish is a very long time. What do you think about that?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Even with the knowledge that internal parasites vary in duration until a fish succumbs to it, a month of visible signs for such a small fish is a very long time. What do you think about that?

Well, this is where my knowledgable falls short. I'm no "Ulimate Fish Guru" am more like a "Planted Tank Geek with an Attitude"

My Scapes

tetratch, I think these things can be very slow acting. I have seen the same thing in my male cac ever since I bought him, but it is only since Friday that I thought he acted sick.

I think these internal parasites can be slow acting & by the time the fish act sick, it is too late. That's what I'm hearing from an apisto site I visited too. So, it's probably good that you are treating sooner, rather than later.

I'm currently treating 2 of my males too, but in at least one of them, I fear I it is too little, too late.

Good luck.

Cheers
TW

tetratech - That is why you have to post more. This way you will be able to change your title

Anyway: You guys make me a little worried and I am wondering if it would be a good idea to treat mine, just in case. In gernal, I am not to wild about overmedication, or medication if there is no visible need. But then again, once it is visible it may be too late.

Did you try peas or something along that line?

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

tetratech - That is why you have to post more. This way you will be able to change your title

What I don't post enough to change my title?

My Scapes

What I don't post enough to change my title?

- Well - No -

Do you remember a long time ago I was just surpassing you around the 3000 post mark. In the meantime you added about 850 posts while I added about 2,200

That is almost 3 times as much

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Do you remember a long time ago I was just surpassing you around the 3000 post mark. In the meantime you added about 850 posts while I added about 2,200

I don't get it, so what parmeters are needed?

My Scapes

You guys make me a little worried and I am wondering if it would be a good idea to treat mine, just in case.

Probably not, unless you see some mishapped belly or not natural behavour. In hindsight, I could say both gave me early indicators- the cac had the underbelly that didn't look quite right right from the get go & the bita just didn't behave right - hiding, scared even of food - although he would eventually come out & eat - but scared of the food actually being put in the tank. Then of course for at least 6-8 weeks that scale being pushed outwards & I foolishly did nothing all this time.

I am far from an expert & I think that I might consider the "just in case treatment" but that's just 'cause I'm now spooked. If yours have good body shapes, eat well, interact as expected, it may not be good to over medicate -same as it isn't good for humans to over medicate.

Anywho, that's just my 2 cents.

Cheers
TW

Well it's been a while, so here's a current pic. This tank continues to be very low maintenance. Now that it's all java moss I've completed stopped dosing the tank with the exception of about a 20% or so water change once a week in which I mix in tap and water from the 72g.

I've been playing around with the tank abit. Notice the change.

Attached Image:


My Scapes

Uhm...I don't know how I missed this thread for so long. Sorry tetratech. I do think your mountain is starting to compete dramatic wise with the glossofalls. Actually it's probably moreso. The rocks take up more than 1/3 of the tank.

I don't get it, so what parmeters are needed?

I think it's 5K posts. Something I'll reach in another 5 years.

Notice the change.

Hmm...the pic shrank? *squints* looks like there's a couple sticks over there with poofballs on the end...shishkabob? I don't know how I feel about the shishkabobs, but I like the rock structure. It will continue looking better as the moss fills in more. Complete 180 from where the tank started.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I don't get it, so what parmeters are needed?

I had to swear a FP oath not to give away what it taked to reach the next level , but Matty is pretty close with his assumption.

shishkabob?

To me it looks more like a palm tree on the beach, as can be seen on tropical islands. Nevertheless, it may be pushing the "immitation of nature" just a little too far. Otherwise it looks very nice, although the moss seems to be on the edge of needing a trimming in the front section.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

shishkabob

No more pictures for you!!!!

As I said I was just playing around with the tank. I like LF's palm tree view much better...

I java moss does need a trim also this tank is really ideal for shrimps to be crawling around the moss. I'm not sure if the apistos will eat the amanos. The rams and rainbows don't bother them in the 72g, but as you know the apistos ate my crs. This is also smaller quarters so the amanos might become food as well.

My Scapes

Yeah,

I have the same fears about shrimpsters and Apistos, in particular the males may try to take a bite. And with no claws to defend themselves, why not try to enjoy a few shrimp legs at least? Too risky for me, at $5 per Amano.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well I haven't given up on the twigs yet. BTW these were the sticks that were in the 72g and LF mentioned something about crushed crab legs now I get shishkabob from Matty. You guys are really making me hungry. Any I moved the sticks to the other side on an angle that to me anyway works well with the rock formation.

Anyway here it is:



Attached Image:


My Scapes

This probably won't be appetizing, but now it looks like ET's hand, only brown. Or it could be the hand of that monkey you guys are always talking about around this tank....I never did get that.

I do like it a bit more on this side than the other. I think alone those sticks will look a bit out of place. I think you need a few more, then either bunch them up somewhere so it looks more substantial, or ahve them seperate in a few different places, so it doesn't look so out of place. Just my opinion there. I'm not the aquascaper of the group.

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I have to say that I agree with Matty, although I am not the aquascaper of the group either.

If you really would like to use some twigs in the tank, maybe the solution would be to use more of them.

Or maybe have the completely covered in moss and let them stick out from the land into the sea (=sand) in an angle of less than 45 degrees.

Otherwise, the tank looks very nice, of course

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Alright tetra, you are back in action lets see some updates on your tanks!

55G Planted tank thread
19G Container Pond
[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y118/Wingsdlc/Ric

Alright tetra, you are back in action lets see some updates on your tanks!

And have it scrunitized by all the nitpickers here. I don't think I can handle that.

My Scapes

And have it scrunitized by all the nitpickers here. I don't think I can handle that.

What Nitpickers Where

What else is there to do? Once a tank gets pretty good then all that is left is nitpicking. Or would you like to read "nice tank" in every entry that I make?

In that case:

Nice Tank, tetratech

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

What else is there to do?

Make more tanks?

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Back in the saddle!

And have it scrunitized by all the nitpickers here. I don't think I can handle that.

He said that like he isn't one of those nit-pickers

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

We need an update tetratech, please. More pictures - you know I won't nitpick.

One day, when I know more, have more confidence, I will nitpick with the best of them - but for now, only curiosity from me

Cheers
TW