Journal My Ever Changing 12G Long

[JPog]

Thought I'd share my 12 Gallon Long with everyone here. After downsizing from larger tanks (and stems, more on that later), the 12G has been my main setup. Although it's only 12 gallons, it's 3-feet long so does present as a larger tank. The downside is, it is very narrow (8") and presents some challenges, especially with hardscape. The tank is pretty much an epiphyte setup with ferns, anubias and moss.

This is the original hardscape consisting of seiryu stone, spiderwood and pool filter sand

Soon after the initial planting

and after it fully grew in

I had an itch to change it, so I removed the spiderwood and everything attached to it and literally pushed the two pieces of seiryu stone together and made an island of sorts with some added giant hairgrass

A more recent change included removing all, well almost all of the seiryu stone and dropping in a large piece of manzanita wood and added lots of mini pellia and more buces. This is pretty much where the tank is now, although I did make some other changes recently which I'll post soon enough.

 

[BigWave]

@JPog looks great. If ya need any advice on 12 Longs holler. I had 2. An Aquamax and a Mr Aqua. Sold the Mr Aqua last year. Got a love hate relationship with these tanks. Love the length but the width doesn't cut it for me. Should have got a 22 Long instead. My opinion these tanks are more for slower growing plants like your setup. Growing stems in them gets out of hand real quick.

 

[Art]

@JPog looks great. If ya need any advice on 12 Longs holler. I had 2. An Aquamax and a Mr Aqua. Sold the Mr Aqua last year. Got a love hate relationship with these tanks. Love the length but the width doesn't cut it for me. Should have got a 22 Long instead. My opinion these tanks are more for slower growing plants like your setup. Growing stems in them gets out of hand real quick.

This was my experience with my UNS.

 

[JPog]

@JPog looks great. If ya need any advice on 12 Longs holler. I had 2. An Aquamax and a Mr Aqua. Sold the Mr Aqua last year. Got a love hate relationship with these tanks. Love the length but the width doesn't cut it for me. Should have got a 22 Long instead. My opinion these tanks are more for slower growing plants like your setup. Growing stems in them gets out of hand real quick.

Thanks! Funny that you said that, because after I had the 12G for a while I was like, yep could've had the 22G. Very challenging, even with the Bolbitis it grows out pretty fast. Once it gets established it really takes off.

 

[Tank_scape]

Thought I'd share my 12 Gallon Long with everyone here. After downsizing from larger tanks (and stems, more on that later), the 12G has been my main setup. Although it's only 12 gallons, it's 3-feet long so does present as a larger tank. The downside is, it is very narrow (8") and presents some challenges, especially with hardscape. The tank is pretty much an epiphyte setup with ferns, anubias and moss.

This is the original hardscape consisting of seiryu stone, spiderwood and pool filter sand

Soon after the initial planting

and after it fully grew in

I had an itch to change it, so I removed the spiderwood and everything attached to it and literally pushed the two pieces of seiryu stone together and made an island of sorts with some added giant hairgrass

A more recent change included removing all, well almost all of the seiryu stone and dropping in a large piece of manzanita wood and added lots of mini pellia and more buces. This is pretty much where the tank is now, although I did make some other changes recently which I'll post soon enough.

I love the evolution of this tank. Every rescape seems to make it better then the last. Each rendition is great in it own way. Nice work

 

[JPog]

I love the evolution of this tank. Every rescape seems to make it better then the last. Each rendition is great in it own way. Nice work

Thanks, I really appreciate that! Welcome to the forum!

 

[Ultum_Hiep]

Beautiful scapes out of that tank! I love the simplicity and elegance of them, combined with great water clarity and husbandry, it makes for a very impactful and peaceful tank.

 

[JPog]

Beautiful scapes out of that tank! I love the simplicity and elegance of them, combined with great water clarity and husbandry, it makes for a very impactful and peaceful tank.

Thanks much for those insightful comments. Big reason I enjoy this hobby so much is the peacefulness one can feel from their planted tanks.

 

[Quagulator]

Great looking tanks. I like all the scapes.

I was very close to going the 12L route while back. Part of my wishing I have a 12 long, part of me doesn't though.

Looking forward to seeing what else you can do with this tank!

 

[JPog]

Great looking tanks. I like all the scapes.

I was very close to going the 12L route while back. Part of my wishing I have a 12 long, part of me doesn't though.

Looking forward to seeing what else you can do with this tank!

Thanks much Quag and good to see you on THIS forum. I know, I also have a love/hate relationship with this tank size.

 

[JPog]

Hey all, I'm back after a stressful move. Not sure I'm going to keep it this way, but needed to get things going.



Many of my other stems are floating in my stem dominated tank and I plan on getting that up today. They look remarkably well after a week in paper towels. All my fish/shrimp made it fine in buckets for a week as well.

 

[Quagulator]

Looks great for after a move.

It's always super stressful and usually quite hectic during moves, I used to move my 10 and 20 gallon's to and from college every Christmas / summer.

 

[JPog]

Thanks @Quagulator, yeah guess I'm out of practice, first move in 27 years, LOL.

 

[Art]

Twenty-seven years?! Wow. My wife and I seem to move every five years or so on average. Her hobby is flipping houses and, unfortunately, it’s usually the one we’re in!

Tank looks great. Be sure to update when you’re set up.

 

[JPog]

Quick update: Added some more stems/other plants and positioned them to work with the hardscape better.
@GreggZ you could see a few of the Furcata in there.

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

I just love the Riccardia, it adds such beautiful texture to any setup and softens the hardscape in such an appealing manner. Is this your only running tank now? Was wondering what happened to your Xyris sp red.

 

[JPog]

I just love the Riccardia, it adds such beautiful texture to any setup and softens the hardscape in such an appealing manner. Is this your only running tank now? Was wondering what happened to your Xyris sp red.

Thanks, yep the Riccardia aka Mini Pellia is a great plant. Initally people used riccia / typical moss over rocks but the Riccardia has a tigher form and doesn't get all over the tank. I do have another tank (60P) full of stems, moss buces and the Xyris. I recently moved (yep sold the house), but I'm temporarily renting until a more permanent location is decided on. Still on Long Island LOL. I'll get some new pics up soon, moving with these two tanks, even though they aren't big, was not fun. Plants/fish made it through, but I definitely had some algae issues I haven't experienced in well over a decade. Here's a pic before I moved. Trying to get used to this no hardscape thing, so not sure what this tank will become in the long run.

 

[gjcarew]

Classic, posting once a year with stunning aquascapes. Nice to see the evolution of the 12 g long!

 

[JPog]

Classic, posting once a year with stunning aquascapes. Nice to see the evolution of the 12 g long!

Thanks, yeah, I've have to step it up on this forum. I think there's a required minimum here.

 

[JPog]

Some updated shots. Stems are tough in this tank due to the height, so simplied it a bit. Got these nice Furcata from someone and really like the way they look behind the wood.