75G Scape – Holiday Update
December 29th, 2007Here’s an updated picture of my 75G tank. As you can see, it has really started to fill in, and besides needing a trim, I’m pretty happy with how it’s looking. The Utricularia graminfolia in the foreground has started growing over and on top of itself, and the Ludwigia and Limnophilia aromatica on the left/middle have started to layer themselves and bush out quite nicely.
I’ve still got a little bit of black-brush-algae on some of the rocks and wood, but it’s being kept in check by my algae crew, and actually gives the tank a bit of a natural flare. (Or that’s the story I’m going with for now.) The Blyxa japonica looks as good as it ever has since I’ve been growing it, and the Blyxa aubertii is actually starting to look a tad nicer as well, since I moved it from my 40G. All-in-all, I’m looking forward to shaping this scape slightly with some trimming, and fine tuning, but the initial work is done. I’d love to hear your comments/critiques!
December 31st, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Kris
Looking good. Having a hard time distinguishing some of the texture though. I think that a crypt or something with a bit less green in the mid ground would help delineate between your foreground and background plants and really add some depth to the tank. I think its also because of how small the photo is compared to what it probably looks like up close. You seem to be losing some of your red stems to the light from above which impacts the depth of the picture but like I said really love the layout and the variety. Excellent job.
January 1st, 2008 at 10:55 am
Rob, thanks for your comment. You’re right that the tank looks awfully green. My reddish plants aren’t showing up really well. In person, the Blyxa aubertii, ludwigia, rotala macrandra, and p. stellata are all shades of bronze to red. Part of it may be that I need to trim the r. macrandra and p. stellata so that they’re not lost to the light as you observed. Per your suggestion, you may be able to see the tank better in a larger version of the photo here:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2160/2146855641_c5498a04ce_o.jpg
January 13th, 2008 at 12:44 am
Hey!
I been checking you web almost at least once or twice a week for quick a while now. I am so impress by your work, I dont know if I will ever reach your great style, but just know you have a fan over here, far from been like you but constantly looking at your job, especially your 40G tank and 75G tank. I have a few questions like:
What type of camera you use to take those amazing pictures?
How you maintain the water so clear?
What type of fishes
January 13th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Thanks for your very nice compliments Holy G. It’s just a matter of practice to be able to put a nice tank together.
Your questions:
1. I use the Canon Rebel XTi (400D) for my pictures. We have a variety of lenses, and again, it takes practice to get any decent shots. My tip, take A LOT of pictures, and eventually you’ll end up with a few nice ones.
2. The water stays clear because I do water changes every 1-2 weeks. Also, I don’t overfeed, and I tried to dose fertilizers properly so that algae doesn’t cloud. Basically, if the plants are healthy, most of the time the water will be clear.
3. I have a variety of fish. Various Australian rainbowfish, apistogramma, small catfish such as cories or botia sidthemonki, and some dwarf west africans like kribensis. If you click on the “Tank Logs” or “Fish Profiles,” you should find more on my fish.