Journal 20g Long Nature Style: Rescape

[Lush_Aqua]

This is my first journal. Would love the feedback as I progressively alter this aquascape with replacement plants. This is one of my 5* currently active planted tanks operating in my home.

This is 2 weeks after resetting an old low-tech 20g tank re-using most of the plants seen in the photo.
I'm frequently studying ADA style setups and am often looking for educational content aquascaping. My current issue is not having enough tanks to simply practice repetition of new designs with various pieces of hardscape.

Eventually I'd like to attend some US-based aquascaping competitions. I acquired this manzanita driftwood recently from Aquashella (New Jersey) this year while mostly hanging around the aquascapers setting up the competition tanks. I did get a chance to meet @Jeff Miotke and chat about how I just joined this forum!



























As for the tank details...

==Hardware and setup==
Light: Brand new Chihiros B60 LED Light. (Tank was previously growing all these plants with an off-brand amazon light).
Substrate: Fluval Aquasoil + Root tabs / Aqua Natural "Delta Sand"
Hardscape: Ghost Wood (Manzanita) & Hakkai Stone
Filter: Generic Box-Branded HOB filters. (I plan to purchase the Hygger Backpack filter. Had to leave some things on the Christmas list. )

==Plants==

• Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Green'
• Cryptocoryne Wendtii 'Brown'
• Cryptocoryne Lucens
• Anubias Nana
• Corkscrew Vallisneria
• Limnophila Sessiliflora
• Ludwigia Repens
• Hygrophila Pinnatifida
• Rotala Bloodred
• Echinodorus 'Ozelot'
• Anubias Congensis

Just about as generic of a plant list as you can get for a low-tech setup. I plan to test out a number of other plants as I replace some once the tank is fully established. Most of the mindset right now is growing fast plants to soak up nutrients.

Feel free to be critical of my plant placement. The given scenario of this setup was to re-use as much of the previous plant material as possible, but I'd like to still exercise some competition principles and what may be judged more harshly. I am aware the aquasoil needs cleanup, but I would love to know if there are flaws in the balance of the hardscape/scaling/plant use of this tank.

Unsure if I'd like to add C02, but I'm considering to add S. Repens, Blyxa Japonia, and more H. Pinnatifida.

I'd also like to know if any of you have experience with Fissidens Fontanus without C02. I have clumps of it growing in another tank, and it's a bit cramped. I'd love to build some matts and house it in this tank where it can get more of the spotlight.

As for fertilizers, I'm stuck deciding between continuing to use EasyGreen and APT1. EasyGreen had been used for this tank with lean dosing. I only discovered APT products this year and use APT3 for my high-tech setup.

 

[Kwyet]

I think it looks great! I really like the manzanita. My only suggestion would be to extend some parts of the scape into the front sand area so it doesn’t look so straight.

 

[Lush_Aqua]

I think it looks great! I really like the manzanita. My only suggestion would be to extend some parts of the scape into the front sand area so it doesn’t look so straight.

That's what I've been looking at. I'm hoping I can create some small Fissiden bushes to offset that line

 

[BigWave]

Fissidens will grow alright without CO2, only quite a bit slower. Id suggest growing out your mats in the other tank then transfering over. Mosses love higher gH tanks along with cool 60+ water haha but that impeeds alot of what we do at around 70 or more.
On the subject of fertilizers - They are all pretty much the same chemicals used to make them just different ratio's (ppm values). As you've learnt dosing Easygreen lean does the same result as APT which is made to be dosed lean.
Your tank looks pretty good. Your learning to grow plants well and thats what counts. The aquascaping part will come as you experiment and get better at growing. Part of the excitement is learning how plants grow and act thus where to place them.

 

[techman81]

That's what I've been looking at. I'm hoping I can create some small Fissiden bushes to offset that line

Some small accent stone and gravel somewhat randomly spread out into the sand can also help achieve that look.

 

[VJM]

I practice by mocking up tanks with cardboard, leaving the front open. It’s not a perfect substitute, but it lets me explore using different materials/trying to copy layouts I like/ using the same materials to create different looks and moods. I agree so much that it takes a lot of practice at putting hardscapes together to get good at it.

 

[techman81]

My current issue is not having enough tanks to simply practice repetition of new designs with various pieces of hardscape.

You could also set up an Aquascaping Dojo.

 

[Sb1415]

Your tank looks great! I love the Manzanita wood.
This is not a critique but rather a preference that i found based on my first tank which was low tech with many plants you have used. I found that large leaf plants like large anubias, swords and large leaf java ferns provides a different visual from the thin leaves used in smaller ADA tanks. (in huge tanks, these plants with large leaves tended to become thinner in perception). Thinner leaf plants also seemed to compliment other plants like rotalas and crypts like yours.

Example: I am not sure what plant this is in your picture, but i think having a fine leaf version of this plant like a trident java fern would compliment the Manzanita wood in a different fashion.


Blyxa would be a great addition, but I have not used it without Co2 before. More of the H.Pinnatifida as in your other pic that you shared would be great as well.

In regards to the placement, as others mentioned, it might be nice to form a curve with the cryps on both ends coming forward a little bit which might increase your depth.

Again, this is just my preference and the tanks looks great as it is.

Look forward to more updates.

 

[Lush_Aqua]

Some small accent stone and gravel somewhat randomly spread out into the sand can also help achieve that look.

Yes I've seen a lot of folks add extra mixed-sized gravel between sand and rock touch-points. An easy fix for sure, but I'll have to add that after I decide where to add S. Repens or maybe even Helanthium Tenellum to help break the static line from my Delta substrate.

 

[Lush_Aqua]

Your tank looks great! I love the Manzanita wood.
This is not a critique but rather a preference that i found based on my first tank which was low tech with many plants you have used. I found that large leaf plants like large anubias, swords and large leaf java ferns provides a different visual from the thin leaves used in smaller ADA tanks. (in huge tanks, these plants with large leaves tended to become thinner in perception). Thinner leaf plants also seemed to compliment other plants like rotalas and crypts like yours.

Example: I am not sure what plant this is in your picture, but i think having a fine leaf version of this plant like a trident java fern would compliment the Manzanita wood in a different fashion.
View attachment 12293

Blyxa would be a great addition, but I have not used it without Co2 before. More of the H.Pinnatifida as in your other pic that you shared would be great as well.

In regards to the placement, as others mentioned, it might be nice to form a curve with the cryps on both ends coming forward a little bit which might increase your depth.

Again, this is just my preference and the tanks looks great as it is.

Look forward to more updates.

Thank you! The plant is actually one of the huge Crypt Wendtii Greens I've had for about 2 years. I think this crypt was already a bit large, and looking at it also located at the far left mid-section is starting to give me doubts about keeping it in this tank. I suppose over the years I had not realize how huge they got compared to when I had first planted them.

I agree with the concave shape toward the front as well. This was my first time using a sand substrate lining the front of the tank, so I focused a bit on making sure I reduced as much aquasoil from mixing as possible. Maybe a short carpet of H. Tenellum creeping from both sides will help create that depth. I've grown a nice patch of dwarf sag. in another tank because I really liked the texture it gives, but H. Tenellum can do the same with much less height.

 

[Lush_Aqua]

You could also set up an Aquascaping Dojo.

Eventually I'd love to. I think I'd have a big problem with buying more beautiful hardscape and creating mockups that I couldn't build into a tank. Way too tempting, and the lady of the house would surely have me on the street if she saw another tank in our home.

On a side note, I found a somewhat local aquarium store that started setting up display tanks for sale. They may be interested in allowing me to use their shop/material to build tanks! Very excited to hear back about this.