Serious rescape!!

Hi Guys!

Ok I need as much help and advice as you guys can give me. I have 2x54W T5's and pressurised CO2 over a 2ft 80 litre tank (62 x 33 x 39).

I will attach some pictures of some ryuoh rock that I have and am thinking of doing an iwagumi style rescape of my tank. What plants would you guys advise? I currently have loads of blyxa available, some mayaca fluviatilis, quite a big piece of staurogyne repens and a brown crypt.

In my mind, I have a well carpeted tank with a few plants between the rocks and possibly some plants to cover the back of the tank but I do not know enough plant types to know what I want yet?

Have been doing some research and hemianthus callitrichoides (HC Cuba) looks really good. Is this plant overly difficult to grow? And where could I get hold of some (it seems to always be sold out everywhere)?

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

Hi, looking at your light spec I'd say you will be fine growing HC. What substrate will you be using?. The purist out there will advise not to use many plants, but I currently started out my Iwagumi and deviated slightly, its personal preference i.m.o. Key thing is to get the balance right, have a google.....golden ratio, iwagumi....good info to get you going. And be patient with the HC.

 

Oh wow its 24W not 54W haha my bad!

 

With 24W and not 54W is that still ok considering the tank isn't very deep? I will be using Fluorite Black cause its what I've had for a while and changing over to Aquasoil is a bit pricey at the moment.

Is DHG easier to grow than HC? Monte Carlo looks really cool... The quick bit I read says it grows easier than HC? Have you seen any in the Pretoria/Joburg area?

 

LOL yeah a 60 cm 54W could be quite intense...

You not the carpet type? So would you suggest another combination of plants other than carpeting?

 

Cant say, seems a bit borderline, but as you say its not very deep. Only way you will know if its starts growing vertically then not enough. There are guys that can comment here, I'm sure they will. Sorry I didn't give you the answer you wanted.

 

It's all good hopefully some of the more knowledgeable guys on the topic can weigh in!

 

Any more thoughts or advice?

 

Does anyone have some extra Monte Carlo that they would like to sell or trade? Still not too sure on the other plants I want but having a look at the Monte Carlo it look like quite a good carpet plant.

 

Well I have that T5 Odyssea setup so there are reflectors but based on the reading I've been doing I do not think I will have enough light for HC.
@shihr are you saying MC will need the same amount of light as HC? Would glosso be a safer option as a carpet?

 

Damn haha I was really hoping I had enough light... Measured it now and the plants would be 34cm away from the light, would that make a big enough difference? My DIY skills are next to zero... My staurogyne repens is growing well but isn't giving me the "delicacy" I want at the bottom. @shihr what other carpet plant could I consider then? As a side note, would this be enough light for Alternanthera reineckii mini and can we get this off BetterWeather?

 

I haven't seen it in SA but have just been reading and it has come up quite a lot... Thought it would be good to have some small red plant amongst the green. @shihr so I could try MC and stay at 2 BPS with the CO2 and dose exel as well and maybe I'll have some luck?

I haven't really researched too much about moss. What moss would you suggest for the bottom? Is it difficult to get the moss to carpet instead of growing in a bush?

 

haha it's all good

By won't grow as nice do you mean I'll have to trim more to get it looking nice or the plants themselves won't really look as great?
Should I still dose exel as well then?