Hi folks! This is my first post here at this amazing forum. I introduce my last layout pretending to be a biotope of an African river... Tis aquarium is the first thing you see when you enter my home and it's separating the hall enrance from the living room, so it has viewing sites from both sides. SETUP: Tank: 60 x 42 x 45 (cm) Filtering: Eheim 2213 Light: 48W (2 x 24W T5) CO2: no Co2 injection Plants: Bolbitis Heudeloti, Eleocharis parvula, Anubia sp, Anubia barteri var nana, Anubia barteri var nana petit, Nymphae Lotus Zenkery (red) Photos from the hardscpae composition: Installing the sub soil (fertile): Final result before planting Living room view Final result with water and plants: Living room vew Hope you like it. Feel free to comment (good or bad) Cheers roud:
Nice. It's a biotope and an aquascape at the same time! to stick with the geographic theme, how about some vallisneria in the bac, behind the wood and bolbitis?
Hi, thanks for the comment, that would be a good adition, but instead of the vallisnerias (that is a relatively common plant ins this type of aquariuns) I introduced a plant that it's the first time I mantain and i think it would compose better de rear part of the layout, that plant is Nesae pedicellata. Actually i have made a little changes on the plants disposition, i made 2 new aditions, Nesae and Anubia barteri var barteri. I have introduced my "cleaning team" as well, Neritina natalaensis snails. New photos will become available soon, i hope.
Actualization on the photos... This photos aren't as good as the first ones... that's the result of my newbie rank as photographer :boo:
Looks good, if you want critiscism, highlight the post, and you will see it, if not dismis what I say. In my eyes the driftwood looks "off". I cant quite put my finger as to why, but I believe its the angle, and it looks like it wouldn't be like that in nature, thats the only way I can describe it. The wood looks like it is just sitting, even though its actually stuck in the ground. It might look better in real life, just because there is a 3D aspect to it. It will look fine once grown out. This is just the observations of a noob.
Hi, thanks for the comment, the wood really looks a bit artificial in the 2nd photo (behind view of the aqua). But at this time I had given more relevance to the first photo view, because it's the view that I see from my living room... When I introduce the fauna, maybe I will have to put some background to minimize the stress to the fish ando to give them more hidding places, so I really don't give many imortance to the view on that 2nd photo. Let's see how plants grow and how the fish will treat them...Because I have never kept this kind of cichlids I don't know if they could harm the plants or not. The fauna will be mainly Norman's lampeye and Anomalochromis Thomasi. Feel free to post your opinion (good or bad).
Hi folks, long time no actualization... There were some changes made to the aquarium. I introduced some new fish, Pelmatochromis Thomasi aka Anomalochromis Thomasi... Short time after they arrival (1\2 weeks ago) they have layed some eggs, infortunately they were all eaten... that's what inexperience does :ehhh: Here are some actualized photos on the layout... Happy new year to all!:rock:
I've said it before but.......Love your scape! But I didnt mention the fish, though. Also some beautiful fish!!
fishman9809 and MiKlo thanks for your comments! In your oppinion wath could I do to improve this scape? Happy new year to you all :rock:
Hey, thanks for your comment carolina I had made some changes but I'm not happy with the result so I'll do some experiences more and then I post some pictures.
I like the rockplacement especially seen from side with the driftwood, but the driftwood is bad from both sides. Either you combine it with more driftwood or remove it completely. The plant placement is ok from the oposite side of the driftwood, but the driftwood side has naked stemplants and lacks midground planting. Its like youre making an iwagumi, but needed to use driftwood for the sake of the african plants. The stemplants will also only fit one side if ure not using some kind of midground transition.
Anti-Pjerrot and hydrophyte thank you both for your comment. Anti-Pjerrot, you are not the first person that states that the wood is completely misplaced and "out of the felling". When I started the tank i didn't really agree with that but now... :eyeroll: At this time I won't take the wood out (but I totally agree that It would only benefict the layout), just because it provides a good hiding zone for the fishes, but I thank you for the comment, that's one of the lessons I've learn with this scape! (I'll try not to repeat the mistake in the future). At this moment I've mentalized myself this is only to have 1 viewing side... the side of the driftwood is to be with a black background like it is wright now... just bacauseo the fishes sake (when i remove the back ground thay become all stressed). The main thing I learn about that is that when you have a 2 side seeing aquarium you have to plan it to have a lot of hidding places for the fish, otherwise they won't feel confortable. Other thing is that you have to put front and midground plants on the both sides, witch left very few space for stem plants (thanks on your observation). I can only say that I've learned a lot with this scape (and still learning with your comments)... for the next aquarium I'll try to change some important aspects that aren't so good ins this aqua. Wrigth now I won't do any major changes in the hardscape, only in plants... bacause my priority is the fishes for now. Once more thanks for charing your vision of my tank and all the aspects that I could improve on it.
Thanks for your comment , the wood seems to be a concordant point in all the comments. Without any doubt a point to take a note for the future. Regards
