exciting times

[newbreed]

It looks great and the Val will thicken up pretty quickly!! :encouragement:

[ninja]

The tank looks great Ineke! Love the layout! I don't know why you think you aren't good at scaping?

(Just waiting for Ninja to mention about your heater!! ;) )

Shudup newbreed, lol.

Ineke, don't just lay out those pebbles, make a little hill or something and not in the centre either, unless you want it to look formal?

Have you got some smaller pots, you could make a rocky outcrop with some caves in it. Take the pebbles out and make it outside the aquarium with your caves and glue the rocks around and on them. If you don't want little pockets between the pebbles, glue the whole bottom onto a piece of glass and fill cracks with sand topped with glue and throw sand onto the glue while its wet to give a natural look. Or stuff moss into the cracks. Black silicon will do the job also.

If you do want it to look formal, make a path to each cave from the pebbles.

Just my suggestion only, ok?

[ineke]

The little rocks are holding back the substrate as it is much deeper at the back, it doesn't show up in the picture very well but when you stand back from it it is well defined- sort of like an underwater bank. I think if I move those stones it will all tumble down as it has already covered half the rocks that were there.

I will see what I can do with the caves- I have some in other tanks with plants growing on them but then it will be less formal.

Will have a little play and see how it looks but that is my downfall , a little here and a little there and suddenly way too much stuff in the tank.:)

[ninja]

Oh, I see it now, like a sloping rockery, cool. I had a huge long one in my last house, filled with cacti and succulents.

I do think they will get covered by the substrate though, could you make a wall by siliconing the rocks together?

[ineke]

I think once the substrate really settles it won't fall so much its fluval shrimp substrate and is very light initially but settles after a while. But I will have a little play just have to be careful it doesn't cloud the water and settle on everything:encouragement:

[ninja]

I have pebbles coming over the wall.

[Squiggle]

Looks awesome Ineke, I have a few ideas too but I'm going to leave it to master ninja to give you some guidance on this one, too many ideas from all over the place will make it end up looking like crap. I really like the way you have done it though, for a "beginner" you've done a very good job, well done! :victorious:

[ineke]

Thanks jay, I think? I agree the orange caves stick out too much but I really need to keep this one simple otherwise I will play with it too much. The effect of a bank with the pebbles doesn't show up in the photo but when looking at it in real life it is quite apparent.

[ninja]

Yep a good idea, keeping out of it Squiggs, you have taught us too much already?????

[ineke]

Yeah Squiggs you have made us demon hijackers. Damn now I'm hijacking my own thread AGAIN

[ninja]

Ineke Ffs?

[Squiggle]

I didn't do anything! I was complimenting you & I still get in trouble, damn it!

[ninja]

You taught us, do not deny!!!!!!!

[ineke]

Ineke Ffs?

I know sorry got caught in the moment what can I say???;) Maybe I can get that removed too !

[ineke]

You taught us' date=' do not deny!!!!!!![/quote']

I was a shy retiring sort of person before I got mixed up with Squiggs , honest:D

[ninja]

Me too.

[BlueBolts]

When I decommissioned the tank, some of it went to Wayne...can't remember where the rest went to...have you tried Jeff yet ?

[Wraithie]

looking good ineke :) you could try attaching moss to the caves if you want to soften their look

[ineke]

I looked on his website and have also asked on Facebook, and looked at other plant sellers but haven't been able to find any. I have decided just to use my moss on SS mesh and hope it grows a bit bushier, then when I eventually need to catch shrimp I can just remove the mesh.

[ineke]

looking good ineke :) you could try attaching moss to the caves if you want to soften their look

Thanks Wraithie I have had success doing that and also attaching Java Fern to them but it won't hide the orange front. I do have a heap of Subwassertang that would probably do as I don't have any spare moss at the moment, I tied it all to my SS mesh and have to wait for it to grow.

[Wraithie]

I could source some moss for you but it will be a couple of weeks till i go visit that friend.

[ineke]

Thanks Wraithie that would be quicker than waiting for mine to grow:)

[Wraithie]

Im quite certain i will have leftover from what i have for my current setup, but i also plan on getting some different stuff from my mate, i will get some extra and post to you :)

[ineke]

PM sent:encouragement:

[newbreed]

Sent you a pm Ineke!! :)