My first high tech aquascape.

Hi everyone. I've been following this forum for a long time before joining.

I started my first aquascape about a week ago.

Tank info
60cm starfire.
Zetlight zp4000 60 x2
Dophin C500 with lily pipes and pressurized co2
Ada Amazonia substrate
Wood is similar to Manzanita but it isn't and Guiying stone used for hardscape.

Plant list
Rotala macrandra green and rotala pink
Monte carlo
Cryptocoryne parva and wendti green and brown
Bolbitis
Ecindorus purpurea
Anubias pongolino and bonsai
Riccardia moss on wood
Microsorium trident mini. (Trimmed heavy for new growth)

At the moment I'm dosing the seachem fertilizer range

Below are pictures of the tank with just hardscape, after planting and filling up and 1 week since start up.

Please feel free to give any advice or comments. Thanks

 

Looking great! I was always a bit skeptical about low-iron glass tanks making that much of a difference until i bought a small one for my brother first tank - truly noticeable.

I wondered about the dip in the middle being too central, but there is enough variety on opposite sides to stop it from catching the eye too much.

Are you running the 2 lights to make up for the spread or for greater intensity? For the C500, is the flow too much or manageable?

Plant choice is interesting, good blend of low maintenance and fast growing stems.

I'm looking forward to seeing how it fills in - especially that riccardia, as i love how mosses look but hate the maintenance.

 

Welcome- tank looks great! Nice setup and look forward to seeing things progress

 

Thanks so much. The dip in the middle will be filled by the mini trident and there are rotala macrandra planted in the middle background which still need to grow.

I had one zetlight running but the spread was not enough so I got another and placed one in front and one at the back lighting is now perfect

The c500 cannister has the perfect amount of flow for this sized tank. It's not too much nor too little.

 

Very nice!

 

Thanks I'm impressed with the growth myself. I'm still unsure of what I want to stock it with. I'm gonna add some ottos and amano shrimp as soon as it's cycled. Any suggestions on other type of fish that will suite a scaped tank?

 

Ember tetras are awesome! A nice splash of colour. I keep Gertrude's rainbows in my scape, but they don't live long.

 

Hi @DocY , welcome on board!!

Love the scape, stunning pieces of wood there

Keep the updates coming!!

 

Awesome, thanks. Each website i go to has differing specs for the flow of the C500, so some actual user experience is useful

 

Thanks for the great advice. Especially on the amano shrimp and ottos. I kind of like the lambchop rasboras more. Will see when it's time to add fish.

The filter was running on another setup so it was kind of established. I have been adding stability and the fish shop gave me one of those biodigest viles which contain beneficial bacteria. Will test water this weekend and see.

 

Yes I was also confused regarding the specs but I checked on the dophin site and got some advice from a family member. Was sceptical at first. The flow is perfect for a 60cm. However it was slightly restricted with the inline co2 diffuser which I replaced with a normal in tank diffuser

 

I have a thing for Harlequin Rasbora, and 10 - 15 or so in that tank will look stunning.
I have 30 in my 4ft, and with them all schooling together it is quite a sight.

 

Went to lfs for something and checked out the harlequins they so cool. Water still testing positive for some ammonia so waiting patiently to add livestock

 

HI. Was out of town for a week. Will upload some pictures this evening. Tank is doing great. Very little algae but getting it under control. Growth of plants is excellent. Will have to do some trimming of the rotalas this weekend.

 

Tank is going to be 4 weeks old. Going to shop for a clean up crew hopefully this weekend. Happy so far. Got a bit of BBA on anubias while I was away but spot dosing with excel and trimmed off the leaves that had it bad. All seems to be good now.

 

Looks really good!!

 

What kind of cleaning crew are you thinking of? Fish or shrimps? Or snails?