Sneak Peek

Big Vine

Big Vine

Elite Fish
#41
Feb 7, 2006
3,895
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Florida
#41
Thanks for the feedback...here's some more pics!

Happy couple...female on right.


The couple again...female on bottom.

(blurry---thanks to 0.31 WPG---but gives you an idea of how they look without the flash)

The sub-dom male (at least I think it's a male).


Close shot of the female under 0.31 WPG and no flash.


VirgoWolf said:
Are you moving the cherries over tot he 3gal then or just letting them take over the 38gal? LOL
Click to expand...
Well...heh...err...
I can't find any of them in the 38 gal. I think the angels and/or platies must have eaten them. :(
On the bright side, the plants are starting to take hold, so it's not a total loss.

BV
 

VirgoWolf

VirgoWolf

Superstar Fish
#42
Feb 16, 2006
1,933
4
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Michigan
#42
Meh, not too supprising. If you want more, just let me know, I am going to be moving my cherries in with some livebarers soon, but heavily planted medium light, so hopefully I can get enough cover in there to avoid too many winding up as snacks, but I'm not too worried about it.

I really like these salvivis now, Sean. These latest shots are really tempting me! LOL I wish we would find out where we're moving soon so I can plan more with my tanks. Yours is really looking nice.
 

Big Vine

Big Vine

Elite Fish
#43
Feb 7, 2006
3,895
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#43
I had 3 other rocks laying around, so I decided to replace the two cheesy ornaments with them.

Salvini pair is just left of center at the bottom of the tank (female on right).


Excuse the water-marks, but I need to keep including photos with the flash-on until I get a new lid/lighting so that you can actually see what's in the tank.


My plan...
-add a few more rocks (same type)
-add more driftwood---I'm thinking a gigantic pile of intertwining long, slender pieces to place randomly on top of some rocks; especially in the middle of the tank (this will be a tall pile)
-pull up ALL of the fake plants and add a few hardy plants (will only have 0.73 WPG, so I'm thinking anubias; even though I was hoping for swords...oh well)

Let me know what you think! :D

Virgo...thanks! I'll wait for the plants to fill in a lot more if I decide to try cherries again down the road.

BV
 

P

papyrus

Medium Fish
#45
Mar 12, 2007
76
0
0
#45
The salvini cichlid is beautiful!Vine,Those little blue crays are awesome,I have always loved cray fish but I really don't know...Why??????(smile)-D
 

VirgoWolf

VirgoWolf

Superstar Fish
#46
Feb 16, 2006
1,933
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#46
Big Vine said:
Virgo...thanks! I'll wait for the plants to fill in a lot more if I decide to try cherries again down the road.

BV
Click to expand...
Sounds like a good plan. They really do appreciate the plants. I can't wait to get mine moved up to the 29gal I'm getting.

I like the rocks better now, that idea you have for the driftwood sounds awesome! Watch the sharp edges though, you'd be suprised at how suicidal fish can be LOL.
 

Big Vine

Big Vine

Elite Fish
#47
Feb 7, 2006
3,895
9
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#47
Thanks!
Yes, Helena, the rocks are real. Plant-wise, I'm almost certain I'll just stick with anubias.

VirgoWolf said:
that idea you have for the driftwood sounds awesome! Watch the sharp edges though, you'd be suprised at how suicidal fish can be LOL.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the tip. The last thing I want is to have to eat a salvini on a 'skewer' for dinner. :p

BV
 

Big Vine

Big Vine

Elite Fish
#49
Feb 7, 2006
3,895
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Florida
#49
Just about there...

Aquascaping is just about done.
You can see the driftwood I added today and put in place of the fake plants.


I'm still debating on whether or not to add anubias plants since I will only have about 0.73 WPG of lighting when all is said and done.

I may also add in some 'thickets' of slender driftwood pieces to pile loosely here and there; in between/around the bulkier pieces that are in there right now---especially in the middle and toward the right side of the tank.

As you may have guessed, the setup is supposed to have a 'wild,' almost 'ominous' look to it...

BV
 

VirgoWolf

VirgoWolf

Superstar Fish
#50
Feb 16, 2006
1,933
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#50
Wow, that's alot of driftwood! LOL Looks good though. Definitly needing some green, or at least some more of that rock, the left side has alot of the light rock color and the rest is pretty dark. Kinda throws me off balance, but then again, it's supposed to be natural, which has no balance, and I am completely OCD, LOL.
 

Big Vine

Big Vine

Elite Fish
#52
Feb 7, 2006
3,895
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#52
Yeah, I know what you mean Virgo. It's tempting to wanna brighten it up---but that's what I've got a separate planted tank for! *SUNSMILE* (at least that's what I keep trying to remind myself :rolleyes: )

Still, a hint of green wouldn't hurt, so I'll add a few anubias and/or java fern once I get a proper lid/lighting---all I've got now is one pathetic 17 Watt bulb (24 inches). :eek:

If I see anymore interesting-looking rocks like the ones I've got, I may pick up a couple more, but mostly I think I'll be leaving things as is. Same goes for driftwood...I think I've got enough---especially when I factor in the adult size of the fish.

Thanks for the feedback.
BV
 

MOsborne05

MOsborne05

Superstar Fish
#54
Oct 3, 2005
1,584
3
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Gibsonburg, OH
#54
Looks great :) I don't know if anubias would work with that lighting, but java fern and java moss should. If you attach some java moss to the driftwood, it should eventually spread and cover it. It would look really cool and give you some green to brighten the tank up a bit.

Where did you get those rocks? I like them and I'll be needing some soon :)
 

Big Vine

Big Vine

Elite Fish
#55
Feb 7, 2006
3,895
9
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Florida
#55
Bob...count again, but thanks for the comments. ;)

Thanks MO! The more I think about it, the java fern sounds pretty cool---plus, it's about the closest-looking low-light thing I know of to swords (which is the type of look I'm after)---so I'll definitely go that route. Fortunately the anubias can be pretty versatile too, so I can always attach it higher up on some driftwood so that it's closer to the lighting, if need be.

The rocks I got at Petland...yes, I actually paid for them, lol.
Next time I end up needing rocks (i.e. for my upcoming 38 gal. mbuna tank :p), I'll dig em' up myself.

BV
 

Orion

Orion

Ultimate Fish
Moderator
#57
Feb 10, 2003
5,803
3
38
Kentucky
www.thefishcave.net
#57
I like tall pieces of driftwood, but IMHO those look a bit to placed to me. It doesn't have the wild look to me. Looks good, just not wild. Maybe mix in the rocks and driftwood a bit more.

Java fern would be good if you want to take the time to let it grow. It's done wonders in my 75 gallon of spreading over the driftwood with only a shop light over top for lighting and no ferts or Co2. Of course the driftwood in mine is laid out in more of a horizontal shape rather than so many vertical pieces, but it would still look neat.

Coming along quite well!
 

Helena21

Helena21

Superstar Fish
#58
Oct 7, 2005
1,850
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Essex, England
#58
I count 8...lol
Looks good..now time for the plants!!
Yeah, BV..dont ever buy rocks again...the whole world is basically made from rock, theres millions of them!! LOL! i got all mine from the back garden :p
 

lordroad

lordroad

Large Fish
#60
Sep 2, 2004
989
7
0
43
Shelby, NC
www.joshday.com
#60


That's a hell of an aquascaping... personally I would not change a thing. It looks great... reminds me of a ruin, like Stonehenge. I love how the central pieces of wood spread away from each other... is it a few big pieces together covered by gravel?

I say scratch the plants. Looks great as is!
 

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