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Thanks folks for the input

Before I forget it, this is from an entry I made on page 12 of this log, from March 17th, stating "I added the 2026 filter to the tank"
The intake is also clearly visible in each shot of the full tank

This filter, btw, has not even been cleaned once ever since, not even after or during the redos. I think it will see a little cleaning this weekend though.

tetratech - the back part of the tank has the plastic strip and I plan on adding both in and outflow in that area, to the left side. Yeah, my holes look rather small to me and I don't think a fish/shrimp would fit through it.

Not to downplay tetratech's influence on lots of things I do with my tanks, the pipes are not part of that. This has been inspired by actually seeing them in action in the tanks of a few of my fellow NJAGC buddies.

I truly hope I don't break them when I add them to the tank, most likely today

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Not to downplay tetratech's influence on lots of things I do with my tanks, the pipes are not part of that. This has been inspired by actually seeing them in action in the tanks of a few of my fellow NJAGC buddies.

Just so I get this right. Is there anything super special about these other than them looking really cool?

Before I forget it, this is from an entry I made on page 12 of this log, from March 17th, stating "I added the 2026 filter to the tank"
The intake is also clearly visible in each shot of the full tank

I guess my attention to detail is rather limited these days.

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

Is there anything super special about these other than them looking really cool?

Well, if I go by what my NJAGC members tell me then the water flow seems to be distributed by the funnel very nicely, causing a good mix within the tank.

Otherwise, they look cool and are less offensive inside the tank than a gray spraybar and intake.

I guess my attention to detail is rather limited these days.

Don't worry Wings, so is mine, with the exception of this tank. All others are blah-blah

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Not to downplay tetratech's influence on lots of things I do with my tanks, the pipes are not part of that. This has been inspired by actually seeing them in action in the tanks of a few of my fellow NJAGC buddies

So do you have enough room to put the on the side where the strip would go so the funnel faces side to side vs back to front? If not I guess you could corner it. You could also completely remove the glass top. I've had no issues with my 46g with the top remove and the light on legs. One additional benefit of the lily pipes is that the opening for the return water is on the bottom of the funnel. And since the funnel is large the opening for the water sits far below the tank edge. Is allows alot of evaporation before air mixes with the return water hurting co2 levels.

My Scapes

So do you have enough room to put the on the side where the strip would go so the funnel faces side to side vs back to front?

That's what I am hoping for

I actually haven't measured it yet, but I am sure i will come up with something.

I don't think I will go without a glass top, I don't like too much evaporation. I saw what a difference this makes on the 40G where I easily lost about 2 to 3 gallons a week when not using a top. In this tank that would be 10%.

Hey, here is another look at the Red or Yellow Nose Shrimp, turning the tides towards the notion that they are Red Nose:

Attached Image:

Shrimpster

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And here is a look at the group of Pygmy Cories, during their "every-other-day" feeding. Usually they hang in gangs of 2 or 3, or even by themselves, but feeding brings them together.

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Da Gang

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Quick Update,

Well, that didn't work out the way I thought. In particular the inflow looks rather weird on this tank, sticking way too wide into the water column and away from the side, bummmer.

In addition, I sure had placement issues, just like tetratech hinted to. I am not willing to remove the top and as such found a compromise, I just use the outflow pipe and I placed it on the other side of the tank (right). I didn't cut the hose from the filter and as such a switch back to the Eheim system can be easily accomplished (I hope).

Here is a quick shot of the tank,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Half Hearted Attempt

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

*sigh* this is just gorgeous, ingo, i absolutely love it.

justin

Thanks Justin,

Glad you like it. I decided to keep the setup with only the uptake pipe from Cal Aqua and may use the inflow in another tank at some other tank.

Here is a picture taken this morning,

Ingo

Attached Image:

For The Time Being

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hey,

Maybe you like this cropped version better, let me know what you think about it.

Ingo

Attached Image:

Same Image - Different Crop

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ingo , actually I think the uncropped version is better , gives the tank a little more volume
if you know what I mean .
This shot is a little too red though , a white balance issue maybe ?. The colour on the
previous shot looks more natural . I always have problems getting that part right in my shots .

I'm interested in your comment that you are going to keep all the plants low .
Does that include background plantings as well ?


Garry

Garry,

Thanks for the input. You nailed the white balance thingy on the head . I was playing with taking RAW shots and that is what happened, LOL. I usually find my shots too green because of the 6,700K lighting, this time I went too far into the red when picking my "white" spot in the picture. I promise I will keep on working on it.

With regards to the plants. Yup, all that grows on the bottom will stay low, with the exception of the single Alternanthera in the right corner (growing reaaaaalllly slowly) and the few Wendtiis in both back corners. Height is supposed to be achieved by the plants on the sticks, aka Petites and Flame Moss.

Thanks for the input,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ingo , Ok , I didn't look hard enough at the Driftwood sticks ,I get it now .
The tank will look like this for a long time at that rate of growth .

On the Camera issue , I have the same problems , which I deal with partly thru
white balance in the camera and partly thru post processing. Takes a bit of time
and I don't always get it right either


Garry

Nice change. What type of moss is that? Fissidens?

Ingo

I love the look you have with this tank. The twigs of DW plus the flame moss really do make it look like the wood is on fire. Awesome look. Whats the full name for the petites. I cant see them well enough to really know what they are.

Shane

Thanks for your input as always, Shane
http://thetanklog.blogspot.com/ - [ Thanks to ScottF ]
http://www.natureaquariumclubofutah.com/main.html

Here is another lousy look at the tank.

The moss is Flame Moss and the petites are called Anubias nana petite.

Just a picture,

Ingo

Attached Image:

11/10/2007

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi,
Is that pieces of Flame Moss in clumps scattered in the
foreground?
IMO, I don't think I like them there, it obstructs
the beautiful carpet that is growing along the substrate
and the view toward the rear of the tank.

Frank



-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Flame moss!!!, i can see it now. I agree with frank on it obstructing the foreground, but it still looks good to me. You could move the all of the flame moss to the rest of the space left on the branches and get a low growing variety of moss or another type of plant.

Ingo , Whats lousy about it ? This is a stunning design and I for one would like some closeups and views from some different angles . So how about it give us a closer look .
Garry

I can really tell now that you have flame moss up front. Before I thought it was Hair grass. I also think it is a little bit distracting.

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

Here is another lousy look at the tank.

Oh your just asking for trouble by saying that.


My Scapes

A little update with a few pictures.

The tank has seen its share of neglect over the last few weeks, so lots of stuff has surpassed the tolerated levels. Here is a shot from earlier this weekend.

Attached Image:

Bad Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I also played for a while with a white background, that is what you see in that last shot.

Here is a look at the BGA invested foreground.

Attached Image:

BGA on Sand

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

This is the tank after much needed maintenance, many trims and the addition of Maracyn into the sand had happened.

Attached Image:

After Cleanup

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a series of pictures of the tank's shrimpsters.

First one the younger Red Cherry Shrimp marching over the BGA invested sand

Attached Image:

RCS

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

A look at the RCS and a new shrimp, the CRS, side by side. Overall I got 4 CRSs on Friday.

Attached Image:

CRS and RCS

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a closer look at a CRS by itself, mine of course are non-special bread and do not have the extreme beauty others do, but good enough for me.

Attached Image:

CRS

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Last but not least, my resident Red Nose Shrimp, one of two, the third committed suicide by climbing out of the tank and roasting under the light on top of the tank.

That's it,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

Red Nose

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ingo , Great shots of the Shrimpsters Wow the tank did get away from you a bit , but I think your trimming has got it back under control . Just a quick question from a dumb learner, what is Maracyn and what is the purpose of adding to the sand ?


Garry

CRS! Very nice even if they aren't the top dollar shrimp. Do they breed like RCS?

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

Garry,

BGA - Blue Green Algae - is actually not an algae but Cyanobacteria, and Maracyn (maker is Mardel) is an Antibiotic (Erythromycin) that kills it.

Wings,

Agreed, they are pretty low class, and I can't see them 99% of the time as - unlike all other shrimpsters - they are rarely out in the open. And from what I know, yes, they breed like RCS, conceptually speaking, with baby shrimp that will survive in fresh water.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Ingo ... so how goes the battle against the BGA ?

Garry

Garry,

The BGA is gone after only two treatments of half dosage. I don't have a new tank shot, but I can report that the Wisteria needs a major trim, it reaches above the lower branches.

Here is one detail shot though

Ingo

Attached Image:

Snail Ahoi

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I love this tank....

Especially the open area on the top of the tank. I love the area in the middle, the path...

Great Job, and it looks awesome!!!

Keep up the Good work!!!

><> ~=!Vote Today!=~ <><
-----> View My Dragons <-----

Time for a quick update:

I placed the 96w light over this tank to get the sides more ""enlightened" but overall it is too much. So I added some water lettuce from the 125G to reduce the light somewhat. I also removed all mosses, flame and fissidens, from the branches as they turned into algae (thread) magnets.

Here is the tank,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

1/20/2008

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

love the look of this tank and it has surely come a long way!!! is this really a 29g? it looks HUGE! my 29g looks so small compered to this, but i guess goo aquascaping does a tank good! grat DW and well AMAZING!

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

Nice aquascaping LF. I like this tank. Enjoyed the shrimpsters too

Cheers
TW

great tank, great scape, I love the sticks/"tree" look. Could something like those sticks work with fish as well as shrimp? I guess I would be leery of having a male betta with the twigs, but other types would be ok, yea??

Ingo...hmmmmm ...not sure if its the camera shot ...but the tank looks a little green...as in algae green . 96w on a low tech tank = lots of problems ....or so I thought .
Can you enlighten (no pun intended) ?

Garry

Thanks folks for the input, here are some comments:

brandeeno - Thanks for the compliments, and yes, it is really a 29G

Robyn - long time no see, thanks for the compliments.

ScottF - I am most certain that fish are ok with the twigs, not any more dangerous than rocks that are not smooth.

Garry - You are right, the tank looks a little green. 96w of 6,700K do tend to give it a rather greenish color, in particular in pictures (no time for fancy color corrections, LOL). The green background doesn't make it appear less green either, LOL.

Funny thing is, last weekend I changed the background color, just for the fun of it (I tend to do that once in a while). So now it is red.

Here is a shot from last weekend,

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

A Red One

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Hi there

Red background - looks very dramatic LF (that's a compliment BTW)

Cheers
TW

LF

Thats definetly a different shot of the tank with the red background, doesnt look too bad at all. I was wondering and im sorry if i missed this but do you get your shrimp locally or from online??

Shane

Thanks for your input as always, Shane
http://thetanklog.blogspot.com/ - [ Thanks to ScottF ]
http://www.natureaquariumclubofutah.com/main.html

Very nice background, it shows the aquascape so much better than the door. Hey, what about some vertebrate life, a few fishies would compliment the layout (I hope you relaize my wording taking into account that you put the focus in your tanks on the plants and not the fish)

a school of 15 cardinal tetras would look stunning in there...

also what do you use for your background?

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

hey there ingo,

long time no post!

as far as the scape is concerned, i think you need to reduce the plant species in the tank, keep the foreground plant only (sorry, don't know what it is), and clip/plant it into a shape so it just looks like hills of green with the dead trees 'growing' out of it.

as far as wildlife, i was just thinking the same as brandeeno - what this tank needs is a dazzling shoal of cardinal or ember tetras! embers would be great as they are so small yet quite bright. dunno how they'd go against the red background...

or, a single sturisoma panamense or other whiptail catfish - it would sit among the branches at times and look quite dragon-esque.

i've put a post up of my planted tanks at last - do pop in if you have time!

Hi there, thanks for all the input, here are some comments:

Robyn, thanks for the compliment. Yes, the red is dramatic, LOL, but it contrasts the dark blue of the 125G, which is located to the left of this tank, rather nicely. I will see what the feedback of the local club is when the members see the tanks live for the next time.

Shane, thanks for the compliment as well, and the shrimps were bought locally.

catdancer, yeah - I sometimes wonder if I should add some life to the tank, LOL. The few pygmy cories are rarely seen, sometimes I wonder if they still are alive. Recently I saw 4 out of 5, so that's good. I have one red nose left, and maybe one cherry, plus maybe 4 crystal reds.

brandeeno - Cardinals, good water quality, meaning another thing to worry about. Nah, not now! The background is made of thicker cardboard sheets found at hobby stores.

Justin, yeah, scape could be better, but time is limited . I did some trimming of the HM in front of the right group, but way more needs to be done to whip this tank into shape again.

Here is a look at the tank this weekend,

Thanks again for the input,

Ingo

Attached Image:

2/18/2008

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I see, reminds me of my dwarf puffer tank. 4 of them in there and nowhere to be seen in pictures. however, you could easily add some tetras, just as an example for a family of ornamental fish or some rasboras in a tank of this size. Not necessarily the cardinal tetra, although you have soft water, right adn therefore you provide ideal conditions for these fishes. I like the scape but think that some more plants clinging to the branches of driftwood would provide nice accents.

Claudia

Too bad the shrimps aren't working well for ya. Any thoughts as to why?

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Critical Fertilator: The Micromanager of Macronutrients

I was going to ask that same question matty. I recently purchased some cherries and im having a similar experience with loosing them. Thats why i asked about purchasing them because I thought if LF bought them offline then I would try the same source.

Tank looks great LF and I agree with claudia on the plants on the wood as would stand out more.

Shane

Thanks for your input as always, Shane
http://thetanklog.blogspot.com/ - [ Thanks to ScottF ]
http://www.natureaquariumclubofutah.com/main.html

Claudia - I will have to think about new fishies for this tank, maybe in a while. As I have spent so much time in the last maybe 6 months working on my scaping skills (and this tank is not so great, I know) I forgot all about fish.

Matty - The shrimp are not NOT working, there are just not that many. At least one red nose jumped ship and was grilled on top of the glass, a red cherry died of old age, and the crystals are probably all still here.

Claudia and fishmonster - don't know about plants on the branches, all mosses collected algae and other plants are just too big.

Some Low-Grade (meaning in shot quality and shrimp quality) shots of the crystals:

Attached Image:

Shrimpsters I

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And another one of one of these two shrimp, with a third in the background.

I only recently learned on how to grade these shrimp in the first place.

Attached Image:

Shrimpsters II

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

And the other one from the first shot, this one I believe is a male while the one in the last shot is probably a female. One more reason not to add fish to the tank

Ingo

Attached Image:

Shrimpsters III

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

maybe if you added a single pair of some sort maybe apisto would work? they stay small and there are nty of plant for babie shrimpies to hide, no? well it is your tank... we cant tell you what to do...

but i still think it lacks some life!

\\\\\\\"an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure\\\\\\\"

This tank used to seem so bright and happy. Now it seems quite dreary. Maybe it is the floaters cutting down on the lighting.

How are your little cories doing? I am sorry your shrimp aren't working out too well.

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

Ingo ...Well I haven't commented since you changed the background ..
IMHO it doesn't do anything for the tank ..takes the focus off what is a stunning design .
I find it very hard to look at the plants and scape with that background .
Anyway just my 2cents .

The more I look at the design ...I tend to think that the Wood on the left should go and
that side should be kept low ..then the right side should have some tall plants added to
the wood . Or Plant both sides heavily to give the river thru the jungle look .
Again just my opinion but this tank looks and feels unfinished as it is .
So your probably going to say MYOB ..but when I look back to the first stunning photo of
this scape the potential hasn't really developed...a problem I understand very well ..
believe me I feel that way about my tank .

Any way just some thoughts ...hope you don't mind .


Garry

So your probably going to say MYOB ..

Absolutely NOT!

Everybody is allowed to say what they have on their mind, in the worst case I just don't agree

Let me try to explain this tank's current layout to you, with regards to history and the other tanks:

First, the 20G got a mainly rock layout, then this tank got a sand bank. Both of these tanks can rather easily be changed to something completely different as I have done so many times in the past. But, the point here is, what is the result of combining rocks with sand: RIGHT, MY 40G!

I have not had a rock layout or sand before, so I needed to gain pratical experience before commiting a whole tank to it.

In short, the 20G and the 29G are experimental tanks not even intended for showcasing, I play here with plants, hardscape, background, and anything else possible. They are not meant as permanent installations either and as such finding the right fish for a current layout may be the wrong fish for the next one.

Does that make sense?

As to the red background, I will keep it a few more weeks, even if its purpose is only to create a riot at the next NJAGC meeting which will be held at my place again

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Here is a quick update.

I did some more trimming/replanting as the HM grew a little out of control, but now the tank bottom is even more bare.

And for some reason it is a long time ago that I got a good shot of the tank

Ingo

EDIT: Do you see the two Pygmy Cories and the two CRS?

Attached Image:

3/1/2008

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I spy the shrimp! One just on the left side of the sand and the other to the right of the sand on the driftwood right above the wisteria. No luck on the cories though...

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

Ingo

The cories are on the left by the glass ehehe... dude i really like this tank and the red background. BTW when is that meeting you were talking about?? have they seen it yet? I gotta know the outcome of that.

Btw you should check out the changes to my tanks and let me know what you think

Shane

Thanks for your input as always, Shane
http://thetanklog.blogspot.com/ - [ Thanks to ScottF ]
http://www.natureaquariumclubofutah.com/main.html

Yup, shrimp and fish were found.

Shane, I will check your tank when I have more time, promised. There are so many tanks from you folks that I need to check

Anyway, new shot as today is this tank's

BIRTHDAY

The tank is now 3 years old, but of course not in the same layout.

Ingo

Attached Image:

3 Years Old 3/15/2008

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear 20G tank
Happy birthday to you

Hip, Hip, Hooray

Looking great and I still think the red background looks v. dramatic & quite stunning - quite the sunset look.

Cheers
TW

Happy birthday dear 20G tank

+ 9



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

Ingo ...Happy Birthday to the tank ...hmmm I think we need help BTW have you hosted the meeting of your club yet ..if so how did they like the red background .?

I see a few new plants starting to appear ( I think ) or is it just growth .? Whatever ...I like the fact that the sticks are starting to get some fullness about them .


Garry

have you hosted the meeting of your club yet ..if so how did they like the red background .?

Actually, they liked it quite a bit, as it looks better in nature than in pictures.

I see a few new plants starting to appear ( I think ) or is it just growth .?

Just growth Garry, nothing new has been introduced into this tank in ages.

I did take, just for the fun of it, a flash picture of the tank today. Of course this is not the true visual experience when standing in front of the tank either, but I found the outcome interesting. I did take a similar shot for the 20G (good catch Wings) as well.

Have fun,

Ingo

Attached Image:

29 In Flash Light

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Well, IMO, you just GOTTA love that red background.

Cheers
TW

Hi LF,
The red background in this last picture is way bright, far
more so than the others. Different, yes, terrific - no.
I'm sorry but IMO it grabs ones eyes staring past
the plants and the aquascaping to see the brilliant read.
I guess I'm "old school" as I think the background should
complete the tanks appearance and not fight with it for
attention.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Thanks Robyn

Frank, do you read what I write or do you just look at the pictures?

Of course this is not the true visual experience when standing in front of the tank either, but I found the outcome interesting

If my tank would look like the image makes it look like then I for sure would not have kept the red background.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I'm sure in reality the tank is quite stunning, but with your little effect it reminds me of a Tim Burton set.

My Scapes

Hi Ingo,
Actually I do read the writing in every post on this
forum as well as the other forums I moderate.
However a picture is worth a thousand words, and when
the next remark is praising the picture, I just had the
emotions of the picture overcome the narrative below it
and reacted to the picture. And, I did say IMO (for those
who love the red back ground).

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Ingo ...so no update for a while ...are we in for a suprise


Garry