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I was browsing through past AGA aquascaping contest winners for ideas for my 75-gallon. I saw this tank and really liked it. But since it wasn't what I was looking for, I moved on. This morning my eyes opened up and I realized that I knew exactly what I wanted to do with one of my 29-gallon tanks. The tank I linked to above was my inspiration.

I've already made some adjustments with the materials I already owned. I need to do some shopping to finish the tank, but I'd like some advice before I invest any money into the plan.

Here is what my tank looks like now. It's 29-gallons with low light. The temperature is 78F and pH is 6.5 It is currently stocked with a juv. apistogramma cacatuoides, two nannostomus eques (I'm planning to up this school when my lfs gets more in), and a schneeball pleco.

As you can see, I have an anubias ciliata in the back right corner. In front of that is crypt lutea and anubias nana "petite." On the right is crypt wendtii "tropica" and lace java.

I was thinking I could put an ech."ozelot" in front of the heater and crypt. crisptula var. balansae in the back left corner. I also want to grow java moss on the "bridge."

Can anyone suggest ideas for the foreground? Or does anyone have alternative suggestions for other areas of the tank. Keep in mind the plants much be low-light easy plants.

thanks!

edited to update link

Last edited by zoeandmaia at 04-Sep-2005 18:55

Nice choice of aquascapers. Jeff Senske is without my favorite 'scaper. That AGA tank is actually unusual for Jeff. He doesn't ususally use a lot of stem plants. His usual set up's are low maintenance low light tanks and nobody does it better IMO. With that in mind look up more of his work for ideas..

As for your own tank, firstly please please please lose the blue gravel !

Great job on the sand and creating the 2 islands. But for the islands it's very hard to create that mound effect with just plants. A branchy piece of driftwood on either island heavily decorated with Ferns /Anubias/Bolbitis. Narrow Leaf fern would be absolutely fabulous darling Sorry came over all interior designer.

Yes taller crypts like Balansae and or Spirallis would be great in the rear corners.

For the bridge beg steal or borrow weeping moss.

For the foreground - smaller rocks with moss to age the tank + masses of anubias petite. Maybe smaller crypts like Parva or Willisii.

This tank can easily be a stunner.

Here's a link to a site with pics of Jeff's other work and a lot of Oliver Knott another great natural scaper you'll see what I mean.

http://www.plantella.com

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

i think you are almost there in what you are trying to do. it will look much better when you have a tallplant hiding the filter and some mosson the bridge, but dont over do the moss.

my only complaint with your tank is you really do need to remove the blue gravel to maintain the awsome natural look you have almsot finished creating. and possibly ad a few larger cobbles in the mid/foreground. and the oddpebble in the sand.

please post more pics as work progresses and thetank matures.

The gravel is actually brown with green mixed in. The photo makes it looks blue. Still, I'll see what I can do about picking the colored gravel out.

The lace java fern on the left is attached to driftwood. I'll add more driftwood and more fern. I like the idea of adding moss covered stones in the foreground and then petite anubias nana behind the stones. I'll probably put some dwarf sagitteria sublata at the "mouth" of the "river." I'll allow the anubias ciliata to fill the back right corner and fill the back left with crypt balansae. In front of the equipment I'm thinking either an ech. "ozelot" or a broadleaf crypt undulata. Here's a link of a "doctored" photo to give an idea of what the finished product may look like.

I want moss on the "bridge." I was planning on using good old java moss. I've never heard of weeping moss, Bensaf. I found a couple of websites that mention it, but no photos. Do you have any photos? Any idea where I can find some?

Bensaf, thanks for sharing the link. There were some really amazing tanks featured on that site. I always enjoy seeing what other people are doing with their tanks.


edited to update link

Last edited by zoeandmaia at 04-Sep-2005 18:55

Oh, and I don't like the open space in the center of the tank. I don't want to plant anything there because it would ruin the "river." Any ideas?

as i suggested, maybe just a few cobbles to break up the sand area slightly. i would leave the upper areas clear in the center.

hembo, I forgot to comment on your idea of putting cobble stones in the "river." I do think it is a great idea. It will break up the streak of white and make it look more natural. I'll look for cobblestones at my lfs. Thanks for the idea.

Zoe,

Here's a pic of the weeping moss. As you can see it gets it's name from the way it grows downwards. I just thought that would look great on the bridge over the bare river. Almost like a waterfall effect.

Not easy to get, but getting easier. Aquabid or a good online retailer should have some. I've seen it on aquariumplant.com from time to time.

Be warned though the price will make you weep About $20 a pot. I'd pay it though.

bensaf attached this image:

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

i nkow its not the greatest of pictures butyou can see here where we have tried a similar idea with cobbles and a sandy beach area.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v444/wendy1979/fish020.jpg