60 cm Bolbitis and arcuata

[defdac]

(Picture from my flickr page: The aquarium today on Flickr - Photo Sharing! )

60 litres, 2x24 HO T5 (Aquarelle and Deltec Midday) from a Aquamedic Sunbeam, Eheim 2222 that doubles as a CO2-reactor (no sponges, only ceramics), 1 bubble/sec. Black 1 mm gravel with 0,5 cm kitty litter beneath.

The setup is on wheels so I can move it around when photographing (older picture and the filled CO2 spare tanks on the left is not used by the setup):


The care is pretty much standard IE with 50% wc each week. I've made a dry mix of PMDD that I dose the day after the wc so the pH have gone down a bit so the micro chelates are happier. The micro is pretty much like CSM+B so it need all the help it can get to work.

Since the main problem in this tank are getting enough micro nutrients I also dose 2-3 dropps of Ferrogan each time I feed the fish.

[blue33]

Beautiful scape, i love your acruta!

[defdac]

Thanks! =)

I would like feedback and harsh critique, especially from those just clicking through this thread and thinking "That's nice, NEXT!".

[J House]

Nice looking plants, good contrast. Right now the bolbitis on the right (mid-right area) is too high and competing with the acuata. I would bring that area down so it wraps around the front of the arcuata (like it does on the left). This will create a fuller look and the arcuata will occupy it's own level in the back. You could add some hardscape but it can work without it as well IMO.

[defdac]

Very good points all of them. Will see what I can do.

I've given up hardscaping a bit since availability for nice looking stones and roots are next to nil in my home town. Since I'm a "city boy" I never have a good chance of stumbling over nice natural looking rocks either.

[Roy Deki]

Very nice tank...The different textures and contrast in color is very pleasing to the eye.

[Maciek]

I like it. Without acruata it would be boring, you have made a good choice to plant it there. 60 cm tank is not really so easy to set-up nicely, but you did it, congrats!

[defdac]

Since this tank/thread is amongst the lowest rated, more pointers to what will make this above average would be appreciated =)

[XPLOSV]

IMO this is tank is nicely setup,
how ever I would like to know why? "60 cm tank is not really so easy to set-up nicely"

I'm still learning.. interesting...

[defdac]

60 cm is one of the more common tank sizes in Japan. The same proportions as other tanks, but perhaps a bit small. Both plant- and fish choice is somewhat limited.

It obviously didn't struck a chord with this crowd which is a good sign it's very average/boring. I need to replant the HC-rug anyway and really need to slope the gravel much more and also renew the kitty litter. Perhaps bring a piece of driftwood back into the mix when redesigning it.

[akmal]

plants look healty and thriving, which is always a good sign. the tank definitely needs some sort of a hardscape to anchor the arcuata and make it a stronger, more appealing focus point. chunky but a bit branchy driftwood IMHO is best in this tank considering the plants you have in there. Bolbitis might grow too big tho, unless you stunt the growth a bit.

just my 2cents

[brams]

I really like the hardscape and the colours. I have no probs with the plants growing big but i think that the Bolbitis a to big plant for that small tank. I think that a plant with smaller leaf but same massize would make the impression much better. Maybe Rotala green or walichii, maby some kind of fern... Why not try Blyxa Japonica, my favvoplant all times... It would give the same messy look!
Other I wouldn´t mess around to much. It looks great! =)

[George Farmer]

Very nice. I have a few comments for you, if you don't mind?

Some more effective transistion and texture from the foreground HC to the background would improve things.

From the photo it looks like a nice carpet, well done there, then big wall of arcuata and bolbitis, with the exception of the hairgrass and anubias. Classic field in front of wall syndrome (FWSS).

Maybe some nice rocks and more anubias. Even crypts maybe. Maybe some more hairgrass intermittentally planted amongst the HC carpet to give more texture. Any or all of these would help to blend the fore and background.

Midground is probably the most important aspect to successful aquascaping, IMHO, where a lot can improve.

Also, the dark blue looks a little too unatural for me. For a final photo shoot white or black would look better IMHO.

All this said, it does look very nice. I figured you may appreciate some more constructive feedback though, judging by your comments.

[defdac]

Ah great thanks George. You're spot on regarding the FWSS and I've started a discussion in a Swedish forum how to bring out more 3D of a front view. More sloping is one thing I have to do, perhaps lighting with more shadows which brings out the 3D from the bolbitis - as you say it looks like a wall when viewing it straight ahead.

I will try to focus more on the midground and create more open space and "air". I really do *not* want a wall. In general I don't like planted walls or ditches with a many different plants.

The dark blue will be gone when I paint the room white.

Very very very good constructive feedback. Thanks!

[Anti-Pjerrot]

Field in Front of Wall Syndrome - FFWS

I agree with Georges comments - midground is everything.
As you say Defdac - Debth could be improved. You could try to trim the lawn all down, and add some more substrate on it at the back, and let the HC grow over it.

When you add some midground plants/hardscape - it will give an impression of a deeper tank.

I would leave an opening to the background as you have, to improve the debth feel and give a contrast to the bolbitis there.

[Maciek]

how ever I would like to know why? "60 cm tank is not really so easy to set-up nicely"

I guess the main difficulty is lack of space. You should really be careful when choosing layout materials - they must fit the tank in 100%. Moreover not every plant is suitable for a small tank - their choice must be well-thought. And at last you have to put it all together so that the tank looks bigger than it really is - not so easy I guess

Defdac, sorry for the OT!

[J House]

I don't disagree there is some FFWS going on, but the Bolbitus can really break that up with it's horiziontal growth. With the Bolbitus in front and to the side of the Ludwiga it would definitely give it more 3D effect and overhang the foreground somewhat. I think you have very good constrast just placement needs to be change. There is also anubias and hairgrass which will give it more interest as well.

[defdac]

Thanks!

I have never considered Crypts because I find them boring, but also a bit big. I have alot of Anubias but it can't create that overhang "reaching out" 3D-effect. Anubias grows to tight for that. I wanted the Bolbitis to do the "reaching out in the open space"-thingy, but it looks a bit artificial with the plain HC beneath - Floor then immediately a wall of plants. Not good.

Hm.. Crypts.. They might do the trick there..

[defdac]

.. or Blyxa as Brams mention hmm.. But it might be abit to dense. It should be something really sparse/thin. Like a Crypt..

[George Farmer]

Crypts are great. Long-term, sustainable and low maint. Not too distracting for your layout either.