Journal Long-winded ramblings about Dutch-style aquascaping

[Art]

Safe travels.

What are you thinking in the mid ground?

 

[gjcarew]

I currently have eriocaulon lineare, blyxa japonica, myriophyllum matogrossense, rotala nanjenhsan, rotala orange juice, and hygrophila triflora. Not sure what will stick around, it really just depends on what is growing well and how the scape shapes up

 

[gjcarew]

I'm back

Quick pic before I head out of town yet again. I'm trying a bunch of species to see what does well and what colors I get from them.

All the groups are super tiny right now so I'm just going to let the grow out for probably the next month then start scaping.

I'm really hoping the eriocaulon linear survives because it is a stunner, but I'm net zero on growth the past few months.

I've been seeing more hygrophila triflora around here and I can see why. That's another really lovely looking plant.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I've been seeing more hygrophila triflora around here and I can see why. That's another really lovely looking plant.

First thing I noticed, it’s a tough plant and bushes nicely. I had it for a while but I couldn’t find a spot that complimented it and it’s colorful tops.

Looks great in your tank.

 

[gjcarew]

We have lift-off (for many of the plants).

Starting to look good, and with a pretty nice variety of colors.

The eriocaulon lineare has really perked up since being moved somewhere with more light.

I bought two trios of Japan blue-gold guppies from the co-op today. Currently still much more gold than blue but I'll update as they color up.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

What crypt is that in the back right corner?

 

[Art]

That is a beauty, @gjcarew!

 

[gjcarew]

What crypt is that in the back right corner?

Balansae I think

 

[gjcarew]

I think I accidentally forgot to turn the CO2 back on when I turned it off to help the guppies acclimate

Anyways, nothing too bad other than the ammonia gracilis stunting. Idk why I'm trying with this genus again, it's always a headache.


I did a little rearranging to try to find out how these plants would look in a more Dutchy layout. I don't like it so far

I still need a street and hopefully once that's in the arrangement will be more clear. But it's probably just going to take a bunch of fussing over things. I do think I have a better number of interesting colored plants, but they don't have the density to really be visible yet

 

[Unexpected]

I feel like you've forgot to turn CO2 on before .

 

[gjcarew]

yeah dude I have no excuses, I'm just a forgetful mess.

Alright, I have one excuse. I got rid of my bubble counter to install a flow meter, but somehow I got water backflowing to it and it broke. So now I can't visually tell if CO2 is being injected, so I didn't catch this as quickly as I should have.

 

[Koan]

I always have to set a timer reminder on my phone for those things

 

[Kwyet]

Doesn’t the solenoid have a light to show it’s running?

 

[gjcarew]

Doesn’t the solenoid have a light to show it’s running?

Mine doesn't. It's inconvenient

 

[gjcarew]

Can't find lobelia cardinalis ANYWHERE! I may need to capitulate and buy some online.

The echinodorus Aflame and eriocaulon lineare are both cool colors, but neither really stand out or are vigorous enough to be noticeable amongst the other plants. So I'm kinda at an inflection point - keep going with plants that are going to take a long time to grow in (if they ever do), or just go with something easier.

I guess it depends on whether I go for the AGA again this year. I think my style has drifted away from what the judges are looking for.

 

[Kwyet]

KGTropicals has it. They say stock is low though, so you would need to order soon.

 

[SkaleyAquatics]

I guess it depends on whether I go for the AGA again this year. I think my style has drifted away from what the judges are looking for.

You have to do what you enjoy. Whether that be going for AGA or just pleasing yourself with your style. I mean if your style isn't too far off from Dutch enter anyways and just temper your expectations.

 

[gjcarew]

I found some lobelia cardinalis at Petco and got rid of a few species. Now it's at least dutch-shaped. Of course the lobelia cardinalis needs to grow in, and the water is a bit cloudy since this is right after a water change, but overall things are going OK!

 

[gjcarew]

After the water cleared up

 

[gjcarew]

Anyone managed to un-stunt ammania gracilis? A few stems are good but some stunted and haven't come back after like a week... Should it trim the tops of the stunted ones to see if they'll develop new apical growth? Just get rid of the stunted stems?