2.5G Aquascape – 3 Weeks

July 20th, 2008

Three weeks ago, I setup this 2.5G aquascape, and if you compare it with my previous update, you can see that some progress has been made. The HC has grown tremendously, largely due to the injection of pressurized CO2. The java fern in the background as stayed largely the same, but that’s about how I want it to be.

2.5G - 3 Weeks

Aquascape, 3 weeks after initial setup.

Unfortunately, the downoi has all but melted. I suspect that the combination of the buffers in the ADA Aquasoil and the added CO2 has made the water a bit too acidic for its taste. I think the tops have started growing again, so hopefully in a few more weeks it will grow back, obscuring the ugly CO2 reactor on the left side. (Sorry, I don’t remove equipment when taking incremental shots. Note, however, that if you ever enter a contest to do so because some judges view a perfect aquascape, but see a filter intake, and act as if a mortal sin has been committed. End rant.) Comments welcome on what I can do to improve this scape.

8 Responses to “2.5G Aquascape – 3 Weeks”

  1. Mallory Says:

    It looks great… I wish I had some suggestions, but I don’t!
    How are the anubias planted? Roots in the Aquasoil and rhizome exposed?

    The Malaya is such a beautiful color, but I’ve always been nervous about using it because people say it disintegrates much earlier than Amazonia. What do you think of it so far?

  2. guitarfish Says:

    Thanks Mallory! The anubias are tied to tiny rocks, with the rocks/roots push slightly down into the substrate out of view. The rhizome is above the substrate.

    I haven’t heard that about the Malaya. So far, three weeks in, it seems to be identical in utility to the Amazonia, just a lighter color.

  3. Tmom Says:

    I’m beginning to warm up to the soil after reading a lot of plant forums this weekend and seeing how it looks when plants have grown in. I love the fern in the back:)

  4. Phillip Brown Says:

    No suggestions, more a word of congratulations – looking damn good.

  5. guitarfish Says:

    Thanks for the comments Tmom and Phillip!

  6. Chris Says:

    Nice java fern. Is that the tropica variant, or is it trident, or are they the same?

  7. guitarfish Says:

    Chris, on the left it’s narrow leaf java fern. The right is the trident java fern. Tropica is much different, as it has larger leaves with spikes/teeth coming off of the edges. Also, tropica only reproduces along the rhizome, where the trident variety exhibits the same leaf form in plantlets.

  8. 2.5G - Not Quite There-- Guitarfish Says:

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