Journal Attempting a True Dutch

[Kwyet 452]

If you ever have plantlets I'll buy them, it's a beautiful plant!

You’ll be the first to know!

 

[JacksonL 1]

I think it’s a Reni, but it’s possible it’s a Red Rubin. I almost used it last year, but it got algae and I over trimmed it, so it was growing out in the 125 and then briefly in the 140. I’m afraid I don’t remember where it came from. The inner leaves get that deep red color and turn dark green as they age.

Beautiful tank, and I agree that sword is beautiful!
It has the colours of a reni, but it is far bigger than the reni I have had, which stays at about half that size.

 

[Kwyet 452]

Beautiful tank, and I agree that sword is beautiful!
It has the colours of a reni, but it is far bigger than the reni I have had, which stays at about half that size.

Thanks! It’s about half the size of the known Red Rubin that I have, but maybe it just hasn’t grown out as much yet. It’s 10 inches tall.

 

[Count Krunk]

Maybe plants look a bit different in every tank.

I know corals, esp SPS corals, can look very different tank to tank.

 

[Kwyet 452]

I feel like I should have finalized the layout by now, but I’m still playing with it. Also, I did a big trim on Monday, but my trimming skills are still not great. Still, I’m slowly getting there.



Some thoughts/concerns:

—the Erio Featherduster isn’t doing much for the scape. It was much larger and darker, but I felt it was creating too much symmetry with the sword. I may just take it out completely. BTW, I’m fairly sure the sword is a Red Rubin and not a Reni because it got quite large before I trimmed off the outer leaves.
—the Green Gecko Crypt on the left has Wendtii red or something mixed in with it. I think it looks cool, but I “think” it would be frowned on, so I need to pick one or the other and maybe add a few more.,
—I may need a nice, tall plant in the back right, but I don’t want something that will blend in with the greens that are already on that side, and maybe I just need to be patient and let the other plants grow up more.
—I think probably too much substrate is showing, and is it too colorful? I think it’s pretty, but should I put a lighter top over it before contest pictures are taken? Or should I try to get UNS to replace it, as mentioned in another thread? I don’t know if I want to disrupt everything to replace substrate right now. I figured if I was going to do that, I would wait until after the contest when I would be changing a lot of things anyway.
—As mentioned elsewhere, the moss is still infested with algae. I keep pulling off the top layer, but you can see that it’s getting quite stressed. I don’t intend for that much of it to show, so it might not be that bad. I could also just remove it if it comes to that, but it used to look so good. I would like to keep it, or maybe get some fresh, clean moss and start new panels. There probably isn’t time to grow new ones before the contest deadline though, whenever that is. I saw something that said it would be earlier this year though.
—I’m sure the layout could still be improved overall. I fix one problem that I see, think it looks good, and then come back and realize I created a different problem. At some point I’ll just have to stop and say this is as good as I can do this year. I enjoy the puzzle though.

The fish have colored up nicely. They don’t show up that much in a full tank shot, but up close they’re really something. They aren’t too good about staying in their respective top/middle/bottom areas of the tank though, lol!



Any comments/critiques are welcome!

 

[gjcarew]

I was playing where's waldo trying to spot the feather duster

I finally had to take the hint and think "what would be symmetrical to the sword?"

I'm going to butcher the species because I don't know what you have but here are a few thoughts:

• The large leaves plants (the sword and aponogeton) are blocking the groups behind them pretty heavily.
• The crypts and whatever the little round ball is on the left are too small. You need a bigger group there, and probably only one of those
• That myrio roraima is great. I don't have the patience for plants that grow that fast
• The acmella repens is a little awkward- is that a street? It seems too skinny and also kinda goes straight back, I find myself wishing it had a bit of a curve
• Is that lobelia cardinalis is in the back right? It's probably not gonna get the size you're looking for. Could be worth replacing soon instead of hoping it fills in the space.

Otherwise I think you're on the right track!

 

[Kwyet 452]

I was playing where's waldo trying to spot the feather duster

I finally had to take the hint and think "what would be symmetrical to the sword?"

I'm going to butcher the species because I don't know what you have but here are a few thoughts:

• The large leaves plants (the sword and aponogeton) are blocking the groups behind them pretty heavily.
• The crypts and whatever the little round ball is on the left are too small. You need a bigger group there, and probably only one of those
• That myrio roraima is great. I don't have the patience for plants that grow that fast
• The acmella repens is a little awkward- is that a street? It seems too skinny and also kinda goes straight back, I find myself wishing it had a bit of a curve
• Is that lobelia cardinalis is in the back right? It's probably not gonna get the size you're looking for. Could be worth replacing soon instead of hoping it fills in the space.

Otherwise I think you're on the right track!

Thanks for the input! The little round ball is Lysomachia nummularia aurea. The hygrophila behind the sword actually grows very fast and usually reaches to the surface. I cut it way back just a few days ago. I could shift it a bit as well. I’ll keep your suggestions in mind as I keep developing it.

 

[Kwyet 452]

Ack!!! The snake got out again! Hopefully he’s still in the basement somewhere. At least there aren’t any renovations going on this time, and now we know he likes the water heater.

 

[Kwyet 452]

Found the turkey! He had only made it as far as the bedroom closet. Thank goodness!

 

[JayP 433]

Found the turkey! He had only made it as far as the bedroom closet. Thank goodness!

So there's a snake...and a turkey?

 

[Kwyet 452]

So there's a snake...and a turkey?

He’s a rare species, lol!

 

[gnatster 452]

He’s a rare species, lol!

Snarkey

 

[Kwyet 452]

I did the final trimming and shaping today, leaving a little space for the plants to grow. I want to take final pictures in 2-3 days. I wish I had @Unexpected ’s trimming skills. I still can’t get the smooth, rounded shapes that he does. I think overall the design is better though? I hope so, lol!

 

[Unexpected]

I did the final trimming and shaping today, leaving a little space for the plants to grow. I want to take final pictures in 2-3 days. I wish I had @Unexpected ’s trimming skills. I still can’t get the smooth, rounded shapes that he does. I think overall the design is better though? I hope so, lol!

It's just practice. Good luck with your submission. I won't be entering this year.

 

[Kwyet 452]

It's just practice. Good luck with your submission. I won't be entering this year.

Oh man, I’m sorry! I thought you were well on track to enter.

 

[Unexpected]

Oh man, I’m sorry! I thought you were well on track to enter.

A few unexpected "events" happened.

 

[Kwyet 452]

Well, I’ve submitted my pictures. I couldn’t get it to accept more than one additional picture, so I just added the numbered plants photo, no angled shot this year. It cut off the sides of that. The sand also looked very pink on the web page, so I adjusted the brightness on the original picture, but it still looks a bit pink. It seems to be a choice between washed out plants or pink sand, so I took the pink sand.
I really like my tank, but I know I’m going to get dinged for that and for some other things.
I tried very hard, and even finished up in spite of a sling on my right arm, so it is what it is I guess!

Tomorrow I will replace all of the Mojave sand with Bora sand, which is supposed to be completely inert. I’m looking forward to not dealing with large gH/kH swings. At least, that’s the plan. I may not get it all done in one day.

 

[Gwad 12]

Well, I’ve submitted my pictures. I couldn’t get it to accept more than one additional picture, so I just added the numbered plants photo, no angled shot this year. It cut off the sides of that. The sand also looked very pink on the web page, so I adjusted the brightness on the original picture, but it still looks a bit pink. It seems to be a choice between washed out plants or pink sand, so I took the pink sand.
I really like my tank, but I know I’m going to get dinged for that and for some other things.
I tried very hard, and even finished up in spite of a sling on my right arm, so it is what it is I guess!

Tomorrow I will replace all of the Mojave sand with Bora sand, which is supposed to be completely inert. I’m looking forward to not dealing with large gH/kH swings. At least, that’s the plan. I may not get it all done in one day.

Sorry to hear you had troubles with the photos. Mine allowed me to upload 3 additional photos, although now that you mention it, my numbered label photo also looks like it had its side edges cut off. I wonder if the image preview just doesn't show the whole thing.

Maybe you can reach out to the AGA folks and get some help with adding more?

 

[Kwyet 452]

Sorry to hear you had troubles with the photos. Mine allowed me to upload 3 additional photos, although now that you mention it, my numbered label photo also looks like it had its side edges cut off. I wonder if the image preview just doesn't show the whole thing.

Maybe you can reach out to the AGA folks and get some help with adding more?

I emailed their support about whether it could be updated. I don’t know if I’ll hear back from them. Last year I emailed about a different issue and never had a reply. I’m not that worried about it though. Apparently the judges only see the main photo anyway.

 

[Kwyet 452]

Instead of taking down the tank and swapping substrates today, I tried a sprinkling of every variety of gravel that I have and took a picture. Then I pushed all of the overly reddish/pinkish ones to the back and sprinkled the best one over all. Tomorrow I’ll take picture, just in case they get back to me and let me update my entry. I’ll have to remember next year that that isn’t an easy thing to do. And if not, I can post the choices and what it would have looked like on here, and I’ll know the right thing to do for next year. Btw, all of the turkey fish that wouldn’t come out and school yesterday were in a perfect school in front of the largest focus plant this morning. LOL!