My planted 110 gallon build log **update** plants!!

[Sean W.]

The hardscape is going to be relatively minimalistic, i would really like to use sieryu stone, but at $4+ a pound i have a hard time justifying paying the $3-400 it would cost for as much as i would need, i hope to find a suitable substitute for it, maybe lava rock. I do want the father stone to be very large, have no doubt that its the center piece.

As far as plants go i have a few of the main plants in mind, here is a layout i put together about a month ago, it hasnt really changed except for the back left, at the time i wasnt sure what to use in that large empty space. I have 100+ stems of Rotala Rontundifolia coming today, depending on their leaf size and color ( it can vary depending on the origin of this particular species ), is what ill be using as the main filler in that back left corner. I also have a single stem of " Lobelia Cardinalis ' Dwarf ' " that is arguably one of my favorite plants at the minute that will for sure make it into the scape, id like to get a few more stems of it also.

 

[ktrom13]

The hardscape is going to be relatively minimalistic, i would really like to use sieryu stone, but at $4+ a pound i have a hard time justifying paying the $3-400 it would cost for as much as i would need, i hope to find a suitable substitute for it, maybe lava rock. I do want the father stone to be very large, have no doubt that its the center piece.

As far as plants go i have a few of the main plants in mind, here is a layout i put together about a month ago, it hasnt really changed except for the back left, at the time i wasnt sure what to use in that large empty space. I have 100+ stems of Rotala Rontundifolia coming today, depending on their leaf size and color ( it can vary depending on the origin of this particular species ), is what ill be using as the main filler in that back left corner. I also have a single stem of " Lobelia Cardinalis ' Dwarf ' " that is arguably one of my favorite plants at the minute that will for sure make it into the scape, id like to get a few more stems of it also.

View attachment 211349

Ive looked at that type of stone as well and i understand where you come from. Ridiculous price for a dang rock. Lava can look very nice if you set it the right way. Or maybe even round river rocks if you can get some for a decent price on ebay. The layout looks really good.

I watched your video, too. Did you finish straining all the floating twigs and other thibgs from the second part of the mineralizing video?

Sent from my SGH-T989 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

 

[SnakeIce]

I thought I would throw my 2 cents in.

I have come to understand that the foreground in a lot of tanks is about to 2/3s of the space when you lay a plan out on the bottom of the tank. It has taken me a bit of trial and error to realize this. To get the look of your inspiration tank the nearest rock would be in the back half of the tank. The area for stems should only be a narrow sliver in the back of the tank. If you turned your drawing around without moving the area for the rocks you would be on track, just rework the plantings from there.

In otherwords chop the back off your drawing just behind your rear rock and put that space in front as more hairgrass. Trust me, I've tried to copy the look of tanks like you want and started out like your drawing and been disapointed. Plants would grow and completely overtake the area I had left for "foreground". You have to give foreground the majority of your tank to have any left after the plants grow in.

 

[Sean W.]

Ive looked at that type of stone as well and i understand where you come from. Ridiculous price for a dang rock. Lava can look very nice if you set it the right way. Or maybe even round river rocks if you can get some for a decent price on ebay. The layout looks really good.

I watched your video, too. Did you finish straining all the floating twigs and other thibgs from the second part of the mineralizing video?

Sent from my SGH-T989 using MonsterAquariaNetwork App

I did skim the surface of the soaking dirt, i took a picture of it a couple posts ago.

I thought I would throw my 2 cents in.

I have come to understand that the foreground in a lot of tanks is about to 2/3s of the space when you lay a plan out on the bottom of the tank. It has taken me a bit of trial and error to realize this. To get the look of your inspiration tank the nearest rock would be in the back half of the tank. The area for stems should only be a narrow sliver in the back of the tank. If you turned your drawing around without moving the area for the rocks you would be on track, just rework the plantings from there.

In otherwords chop the back off your drawing just behind your rear rock and put that space in front as more hairgrass. Trust me, I've tried to copy the look of tanks like you want and started out like your drawing and been disapointed. Plants would grow and completely overtake the area I had left for "foreground". You have to give foreground the majority of your tank to have any left after the plants grow in.

Thanks for that! The drawing was something i through together in MS paint. Im sure its going to change when it comes time to setup the actual tank. You are right tho, i need to allocate more foreground space.


Drying out the soaked soil for the first time!

[video=youtube;7WNsy-bA6SA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WNsy-bA6SA&feature=youtu.be[/video]

 

[ROYWS3]

Shawn, have you thought about getting some large river rock from a garden center or landscape place?

Whew my wife and I were putting in some flower beds a few summers ago - she wanted river rock around the plants instead of mulch. We got a truck load of 1-2 inch river rock and While I was there I asked the guy if I could pick out 10-20 larger stones as accents. I got different shapes and sizes from a football on down to appx baseball size - same colors and textures as the smaller rock. Looks great and he gave them to me for free.

That might be an option for you

 

[fishorama]

There also might be some pretty granite stones etc at your rock/landscaping yard. They might not be open much in the winter depending on where you live. Or a walk next to a local waterway...but be nice & not to steal a neighbors' stone wall, lol, no matter how nice the rocks

 

[allathlete5]

Where in Southern California are you? I've found some pretty solid deals on rocks at southwest boulder & stone in fallbrook along with RCP block and brick in Murrieta! If you want I can probably see what kind of deal they'll give on 100ish lbs of sieryu stone

 

[Sean W.]

Where in Southern California are you? I've found some pretty solid deals on rocks at southwest boulder & stone in fallbrook along with RCP block and brick in Murrieta! If you want I can probably see what kind of deal they'll give on 100ish lbs of sieryu stone

I live in La Verne, that would be awesome if they could make me a deal. I want at least one huge one, around 40lb rock and then some smaller ones.

 

[Sean W.]

alright, finally starting to make some forward progress on this project. i was originally going to take apart the stand make the cross beams 1/2" longer, because the stand was only 18" wide, the tank is 18.5". I decided to add a 1/2" piece of ply wood to the back instead of taking the stand apart. I already had the plywood, so i didnt have to buy anything and i knew if i took the stand apart and put it back together it would never be as strong as it was the first time. So i decided to leave it be. Plus, this way i have more verticle space to mount life support systems too inside the stand. So it worked out.

Stand is now the proper width!


Here is the back of the stand showing the piece of plywood i used


Showing how the light poles are mounted to the stand


overall back shot


And the lights are still level

 

[rufioman]

^like a boss :cheers: