whetu Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Here's my first photo post on this forum - so bear with me if it doesn't work! This is my planted tank - 1200mm x 400mm x 450mm. I have mostly Amazon Swords and Java Fern, and at the moment some Ambilia free-floating on the top of the tank because I haven't quite decided what to do with it! The bubbles are as a result of my spray bar getting out of position. There aren't usually bubbles in the tank but I thought they were fun for a bit of a change. I have since repositioned the spray bar. No more bubbles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Ok this is where I tell you I was lying and my first ever pic on this forum was a hoax! This is what my tank really looks like: The key difference is the darned filter intake on the right. It is the bane of my life! Please help with suggestions on how I can make it "disappear" in real life the way it did in the top photo! I woudl like the intake to stay at this level in the tank rather than drop it down behind the plants & rocks. There is a second intake already lower in the tank, and I like having the two intakes at different heights because they remove different stuff from the tank. So how can I aquascape the tank so I don't see the intake, while also retaining its effctiveness. Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkLB Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 :bounce: Very nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Very nice - I don't know if this might help but in the local lfs I saw imitation tree trucks in tanks with the filter intake stuck inside them. It depends if its 'the look' you want or not. I would work in mine as I have heaps of wood anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 It looks absolutely beautiful whetu. this is the reason I like planted tanks so much, and have spent soooo many hundreds of dollars getting the right equipment for the plants. Clown loach paradise you don't have to make the intake disappear. A bit of x mas moss and string goes a long way on those intakes - as long as you prune it, it should look great. alternatively a piece of driftwood can cover the pipe perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Thanks everyone. Hmmm... I will look into the fake wood option. Surprisingly, I already have a LOT of driftwood in the tank - you just can't see it because all the Java fern is growing over it! If I can find a fake hollow log that looks realistic enough, I might use it to hide the intake. I also have a lot of rocks. In the left hand back corner there is a stack of rocks all siliconed together with gaps between and this is where the loaches hang out a lot of the time. But you can't even see the rocks any more. It's surprising there's even room for the fish with all that other stuff. :roll: Phoenix, I have considered wrapping the intake with java moss or something, but surely it would just get sucked into the intake and block it all up? I don't know if you can see from the photo, but I have the hose for the other intake all wrapped up and it does camouflage it nicely. But I only wrapped the hose, not the actual basket over the intake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 those log things look pretty cool. the brand is "blue planet". bear in mind they cost a bomb for what they are- like $40+ so i think it's better to just get some more drift wood. either that or some ambulia. plant it in front of the filter and it will grow to the top, and you will not know the intake even exists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Plant the Ambulia in front of it - and the heater! Nice tank, btw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 WOW I think that is the most nicest planted tank I have ever seen, it is truely stunning .. very nice work that is just an inspiration Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrienne Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 what ferts and lighting do you have or use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supasi Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Very nice Whetu. Id be proud to call that my own. Maybe could you change the filter inlet type?? I have an Aqua One CF1200 filter and the inlet is dark gray. Definately not as as obvious. Might blend in a bit better. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rox Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Wow thats very impressive, I love planted tanks. The only reason not to Africans Truely a credit to you, so glad you shared with us :bounce: :bounce: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Whetu that is such a GORGEOUS tank. You have done so well. The effect is amazing. As for the intake you could get an extension pipe and lower the grill behind the plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AquaVitamins Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Your tank looks lovely!! Good job!! Try Some Drift wood to cover you filter intake, It can look really cool if you attach some Java moss to it as well Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 beautiful tank whetu Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Thanks everyone for your kind comments. In reality, it's just a slightly overgrown and very low-tech setup! :oops: Lights: 1 x 40watt & 2 x 30 watt tubes, all the cheap "daylight" tubes from Bunnings. The tank is near a north-facing window though, and I think the natural light does help.Ferts: I have recently added JBL balls under the swords. I was using Nutrafin Plant Gro liquid ferts but I stopped because I seemed to get a green water bloom every time I used it. In fact the swords are showing signs of nutrient deficiencies so I'm looking for answers for that at the moment.There's no CO2 and the substrate is just a (very thin) layer of dark gravel. I am intending to add more gravel, but at the time I set up the tank I couldn't afford more! As for the filter intake issue, I did try planting ambulia in front of it for a while but it just got sucked in! I also tried covering the intake basket with a black stocking. It looked very good initially (I was quite proud of it as a solution) but then the stocking started to get sucked in too! I didn't realise you could buy different coloured baskets for the intake. I will look into that as a black or dark grey one would certainly look less conspicuous. The filters are both Eheims so I hope I can find something suitable (and cheap!) hmmm... I wonder if I could rig up one of those little mesh pots that plants come in... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 I wonder if I could rig up one of those little mesh pots that plants come in... Yes. Cut some sponge to the fit in the top of the basket, punch a hole in the center that is slightly smaller than your filter hose diameter. Put together and bingo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 if you can get someone to lend you another one of those inlets for a day or two - you can take yours off, dry it, put silicone on it, and sprinkle sand or something like that on it. I did it for a customers tank, and he was thrilled. it had an awesome layered look, and looked awesome. As for the green basket thing, well - maybe that can be covered with a plant, or better still put it lower to the ground so it cant be seen. PS- if you bought a fluval there would be no bright green filter parts in the tank ha haahhahahahha :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 PS- if you bought a fluval there would be no bright green filter parts in the tank ha haahhahahahha :lol: *whacks Phoenix & steals his fluval* Here's the same tank in March. If you think the heater is an eyesore now you should have seen it a couple of months ago! This photo shows the driftwood and rocks a lot more, and you can also clearly see the brown tips on the biggest sword and the twisted leaves on the others. :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemines Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Now that's some impressive java fern growth!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whetu Posted July 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 Now that's some impressive java fern growth!!! Yes, it seems to like my tank! I got it as little baby plants from fish_fingers in May 2008, and now just over a year later it's everywhere! :lol: Now I'm giving away my own little baby plants so it's a nice feeling to be able to pass them on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob1066 Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Fantastic looking tank It has giving me more reason to do a planted tank myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nemines Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 In fact the swords are showing signs of nutrient deficiencies so I'm looking for answers for that at the moment You could maybe try adding daily trace elements. Red Sea Flora24 or Seachem's trace would probably work - the Seachem one is the least expensive of the two per 100mL and says to use it only twice a week, while the other is daily and only requires i think 1 drop per 50L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
REEVESTA Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 I wish my java ferns were that big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 Looks mono tone green IMO Need to bring some colour into it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.