Journal Trying to make a high-end aquascape from scratch

[gjcarew]

Been working in the yard so not much maintenance. I have started trying to get a general Dutch shape going on. It's kinda tough when the filters are running because they create very heavy flow which leans all the plants over. So I can't really visualize it with the filters off (like this picture). I need to think of ways to slow or spread out the flow

 

[gjcarew]

I forgot to take nice photos but here's one immediately post-trim.

Stuff keeps getting blown around, I need to figure out how to point the flow for my lily pipe outflows further up. Maybe I just need an actual lily pipe or spray bar or something

 

[BenB]

Looks good!

 

[ample]

Is that Echinodorus Aflame up front and center?

 

[gjcarew]

Is that Echinodorus Aflame up front and center?

Yeah

 

[ample]

Really nice. I'm really interested in getting a couple plants. How has the growth and management been for you? Any particular insights? Great layout btw, plants all look very healthy.

 

[gjcarew]

Real easy. I've put them through the ringer. They do alright in low tech but the leaves get more brownish, in high tech they are that nice burgundy color. Easy to prop via splitting when they're happy

 

[Koan]

Maybe I just need an actual lily pipe

New one from Jardli, not actually too unattractive

 

[gjcarew]

Just a little trim + water change. I need to find a different plant than the pogostemon helferi for the foreground. Also probably replace the nymphaea minuta as its growing kinda leggy and I don't know how to trim it to make it grow how I want.

I'm not going to go through the self flagellation of declaring everything that isn't perfect like I usually do because tbh this is good enough for the amount of time I spend working on it. You can't expect 2-hr aquarist results when you're putting in half-hour aquarist time.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

You can't expect 2-hr aquarist results when you're putting in half-hour aquarist time.

This should be a sticker. Gonna post this everywhere lol

 

[BenB]

You can't expect 2-hr aquarist results when you're putting in half-hour aquarist time.

Totally missed this the first time I looked at the post. Makes me laugh.
I hate arm-in-tank-time, but honestly just a few minutes can have a huge impact.

 

[gjcarew]

It's such a weird thing where I often times procrastinate getting started, but then once I do find it very relaxing and rewarding

 

[gjcarew]

Ok I realize it basically the same picture but it's my journal and I think it looks nice

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

You did a great job managing that Stargrass. I found it too unruly for me to easily make into bushes, but yours looks great!

 

[BenB]

Ok I realize it basically the same picture but it's my journal and I think it looks nice

What did you take the pic with?

 

[gjcarew]

What did you take the pic with?

My phone

 

[gjcarew]

Newcomers! Pearl gouramis and nesea pedicellata "golden". Nesea pedicellata is deceptively easy to grow, you just have to leave it alone. Actually, that's kind of the hardest part. Move it, trim it, breathe on it wrong etc. and it stunts at the top.

The Pearl gouramis are still juvies but I can tell they're gonna be beauties once they grow in.

 

[Naturescapes_Rocco]

I want to grow that Golden Nesea so bad but I just know it's going to stunt in my tanks I hope to see yours thrive.

 

[ample]

This is looking great. Love the pearl gourami. I've always wanted to keep them but never had a setup large enough. Everyone here is doing awesome plant-forward scapes and it's making me want to do my own farm tank again, but I'm currently renting and don't have the space. I used to have a collectoritis tank years ago, before I knew what I was doing, and there are so many species I'd love to keep again now that I have a little more knowledge and budget. Golden nessea (I used to know it as Ammania pedicellata?) is one of them!! Such a unique golden/pink plant.

I want to grow that Golden Nesea so bad but I just know it's going to stunt in my tanks I hope to see yours thrive.

Can you elaborate on this? I grew it briefly a long time ago but don't remember it giving me any issues despite struggling with other species in the same tank.

 

[gjcarew]

This is looking great. Love the pearl gourami. I've always wanted to keep them but never had a setup large enough. Everyone here is doing awesome plant-forward scapes and it's making me want to do my own farm tank again, but I'm currently renting and don't have the space. I used to have a collectoritis tank years ago, before I knew what I was doing, and there are so many species I'd love to keep again now that I have a little more knowledge and budget. Golden nessea (I used to know it as Ammania pedicellata?) is one of them!! Such a unique golden/pink plant.


Can you elaborate on this? I grew it briefly a long time ago but don't remember it giving me any issues despite struggling with other species in the same tank.

Golden nesea/ nesea pedicellata/ ammania pedicellata is kinda notorious for thriving when other plants don't. Lean ferts, low CO2, low-medium light. It can do well with higher ferts/light, but that means it will grow faster and you'll have to trim it. And it tends to stunt when you trim it. So essentially you end up with a like 50/50 window of the plant looking good vs. either being too tall or stunted in "American" style planted tanks