Epic Overhaul/Builds: 3D Backgrounds 300g-125g-120g

[JK47]

I pulled some young anubias from the 125 gallon as well that has split off my big mother.. (mother is an easy 22"x18" piece) We'll see how it fairs in this tank.



Stocked up WOOT!!! This is going to be a grow out for a male female pair of Laetacara curviceps. AWESOME and underated fish. I am lucky to own them. Laetacara is a wonderful genus.



FTS with my new babies.



I snagged a couple of scrubbies from the 300 gallon and stashed em under the HOB and where the canister intake will go.



Black mesh I used on the 120 gallon. I thought I was going to use it and loaded this pic on accident to be honest, sorry..



This is what I meant to load. These are from Walmart and is $2.00. It's the nylon mesh used for knitting or some other hobby thing.



Close up clear mesh jobber thingy that I decided to use instead of the substrat pro.



I folded the mesh in half and put it in the chamber I built for the plants.



I stashed the heater underneath this mesh. The plants should take root into the mesh and I can pull them out as one tray for future cleaning or rescape the plants should enjoy the heat from the heater as well. Not a bad idea huh..??? I like it and it's clean..





more pics in a sec

 

[JK47]

Now comes time for the big boy MFK member "Hydrophyte" said that Spathiphyllum can be used in ripariums. I have no skill in comparison but I like the idea of trying a riparium grow out. Maybe Hydrophyte will try a 3D background on a tank...???

Pics are pretty self explanitory.













Close up on the Spathiphyllum planted down in the mesh. I LOVE it so far.



I got it as clean as I could before adding it to the tank..



Full tank shots are looking pretty dang good right now.





Last of the pics in a sec

 

[JK47]

More shots of my 1.5" TL Laetacara curviceps they were supposed to be Laetacara dorsigera but when I got there they weren't. I am happy none the less, Laetacara curviceps stays much smaller about 3"-3.5" range.












Side shot roots over the heater. This is a total gamble or not that it will work but it should be fun trying. I need some plants for the forground. I don't know what a good plant would be, any suggestions??



I love how the natual sunlight hits the sand and rocks. Shimmers like a saltwater tank..





This is the best FTS I can get as it sits right now. I still need to get a new stand, buy the Eheim 2211 canister, decide on a T5 and figure out how to mount it. The most important part is handled though. Tank is cycling (more of a mini cycle) and fish are in. From here is just future upgrades.

View attachment 542968

That's it for todays pics. How did I do..???

 

[ceeej31]

How did I do..???

awesome, that is honestly one of the nicest 10g I've seen in a long time

 

[Dan F]

Incredible work, as always!, but it's posts like these that really make me regret I'm on dial-up...

This thread has given me inspirations in so many directions I'm starting to get dizzy.

When I "finish" my 210 I am going to start some sort of 3-D project, probably incorporating plants in some way.

 

[aclockworkorange]

Oh Justin. Blah.

Foreground plants: dwarf baby tears, the small anubias (name escapes me), dwarf hairgrass, micro sword, java moss, the tiny crypts (name also escapes me).

 

[aclockworkorange]

I emptied out the water and moved it in exactly as it was in the garage. It's so nice and refreshing having a tank you can move on your own 1/4 full lol.. If you guys have large tanks, give sa small one a try. It's lovely having a smaller one

SO NOW YOU COME AROUND!! Seriously, call me more, I know a lot about small tanks, you just never ask me stuff! Time to get you a co2 system and pimp that tank out!

 

[JK47]

awesome, that is honestly one of the nicest 10g I've seen in a long time

Thanks Colin!

Incredible work, as always!, but it's posts like these that really make me regret I'm on dial-up...

This thread has given me inspirations in so many directions I'm starting to get dizzy.

When I "finish" my 210 I am going to start some sort of 3-D project, probably incorporating plants in some way.

lol Dan! I promise my internet is slower. I have a pillow holding up the screen on my laptop seriously..

Oh Justin. Blah.

Foreground plants: dwarf baby tears, the small anubias (name escapes me), dwarf hairgrass, micro sword, java moss, the tiny crypts (name also escapes me).

Not sure I know what you mean there? Thank you for the recommendations on the plants...

 

[David K. Bradley]

As far as additional plants, Justin, I'd try an Echinodorus quadricostatus or E. tenellus (smaller in leaf width and height than E. quadricostatus). Both are excellent for tank fronts. Four others that come to mind, great for aquascaping of tank fronts are: [1] Riccia fluitans, [2] Microsorium pteropus, [3] Sagittaria subulata var. pusilla, & [4] Cryptocoryne affinis. All of these would work for the front. All of these are green in color and should be fairly easy to grow.

But with all of these plants you now have in the 10 gal., I must agree with aclockworkorange, you may need to purchase and use a CO2 system, with possibly a Carbon dioxide solution 4 mg to 6 mg per liter, added via diffuser.

One other suggestion here for you to ponder is, many good looking tanks incorporate red colored plants to offset the continuous green colors in one's tank. When you research the remainder of you plants for your tank front, may I suggest you look for at least one red colored plant that would be a middle foreground plant. Possibly position it just to the right of your tree trunk, and centered between the tank front and the BG. Check it out and see what you think and share your oppinion with us. I'm curious now to know what you think.

These are just some ideas I had. I hope they help.

 

[JK47]

As far as additional plants, Justin, I'd try an Echinodorus quadricostatus or E. tenellus (smaller in leaf width and height than E. quadricostatus). Both are excellent for tank fronts. Four others that come to mind, great for aquascaping of tank fronts are: [1] Riccia fluitans, [2] Microsorium pteropus, [3] Sagittaria subulata var. pusilla, & [4] Cryptocoryne affinis. All of these would work for the front. All of these are green in color and should be fairly easy to grow.

But with all of these plants you now have in the 10 gal., I must agree with aclockworkorange, you may need to purchase and use a CO2 system, with possibly a Carbon dioxide solution 4 mg to 6 mg per liter, added via diffuser.

One other suggestion here for you to ponder is, many good looking tanks incorporate red colored plants to offset the continuous green colors in one's tank. When you research the remainder of you plants for your tank front, may I suggest you look for at least one red colored plant that would be a middle foreground plant. Possibly position it just to the right of your tree trunk, and centered between the tank front and the BG. Check it out and see what you think and share your oppinion with us. I'm curious now to know what you think.

These are just some ideas I had. I hope they help.

Well long story short, I was having as look at some of the plants you were suggesting and some conversations with clockwork and it looks like I have allot to learn about plants. I did not realize how deep a topic it really was. I have never done well with plants so I can't think of a better way to expand on my hobby than learning plants. I think your 100% correct on the red colored plants in the center. I think it will look really good against that ADA wood too. It won't be in this thread but I will keep doing my homework and try and redo the 10g properly.

You win clockwork, when I finish the 300g and 120g, I'll go CO2 and planted in the two small tanks. I'm not selling my cichlids though so don't ask lol!

Grabbed a couple more gallons of white vinegar and a plastic tub. It was a tight fit but just enough to soak the areas I coulnd't get to.





After soaking all night the coraline peels right off like butter! The tooth brush is the way to go.



Ding ding ding!!



You can really tell the difference when you see them next to one another.



The tooth brush gets those teeth nice and clean







I have one left to go. I should be done by about 2pm or so.