Jim

OK guys, I have to admit, I didn't realize just how dramatic the difference a month (or more like 3 weeks) has made. There's been a couple small changes I made, most notably the Riccia rocks across the front weren't doing well and are now gone, which the Java moss quickly took over. But most the tank has done on it's own.
The Banana plants bounced around a bit before settling down and rooting. 4 days later 2 of them had shot a leaf to the surface. The sword plant in the middle, which I'm now pretty sure is a ruffled sword (Echinodorus martii) has doubled in size and shot 2 beautiful runners to the surface. Also across the surface the Val's have about doubled in length. The Brazillian pennywart has more than doubled in size, and I'm getting ready to prune it back. And I've already had to prune the Hygrophiles back.
And then last, and definitly what I'm most proud of, is that monster twisted beauty on the left. That is a Crinum calamistratum, and I moved it forward and out of the driftwood shadow (about 2 inches) maybe 2 weeks ago. You can see the difference yourselves. It's just a HAPPY plant! hehehe
So anyway, like the saying goes: a picture is worth a thousand words, so I'll let these 2 pictures do all the talking.

This was taken February 7th 2008.



This was taken today, March 3rd 2008.

lisamorie

that is so amazing!!

Mike

Awesome pics Jim. You gotta be proud of that tank.

Butterfly

That is just gorgeous!
Carol

King_Snuggles

Very nice but how are you going to trim them all?

rileyrk190

wow!! thats really nice!

King_Snuggles

p.s. that Crinum calamistratum is really cool

miker

Looking good!!

Jim

It's hard to tell from the front, but there's about 2 inches of space between the hygrophile stalks and the back glass. There's also room behind the driftwood to get at everything. Surprising as it might sound, there's not that many plants in this tank. The hygrophile all across the back, for example, is only 9 individual plants; one clump from the pet store spread out with about 4 inches between each. This was a HUGE mistake I made on the Angelfish Garden; I planted stuff too close and didn't plan ahead for growth, and plants in the back were becoming choked and started to rot. Truth is, I've been very careful to use as FEW plants as possible while maintaining the illusion of it being a crowded tank. I think this is possibly the most important thing I've learned doing these tanks.

MissMTS

Your tank looks great. I just ordered a bunch of plants for my tank and your pics really inspired me

COBettaCouple

The tank looks incredible Jim!

corylover

wow thats so great. I hope to have a tank that looks that good one day.

pinky93

Awesome!nice tank

Coryd55

Jim that is beautiful. I wish I had the funds to setup up nice lighting and co2 and try to make something look that good.

The months time has really enhanced the look. Its amazing what time can do to a planted tank. What is the stringy plant on the left?

Cory

LF FTail Guppies

Neat Tank Jim. Awesome job

hop2jr

Great job looks fantastic!

Tom

WOW that is a beautiful tank.
Tom

Jim

Honestly, it took a while to build up all the lights and the CO2. I kept experimenting with different light arrangements, trying to stack as much light as I could over this tank, which is a bowfront and a little weird shaped. I finally think I've hit the right wattage. The CO2 regulator wasn't so much the $$$, as just finding one around here.
The stringy plant on the left is a Crinum calamistratun. It's sort of the spotlight specimen plant of the tank, and the one I love most. I absolutly love the look of it, it adds a real weirdness to the tank. It cost almost $30.00, but I didn't care, when I saw it I knew I had to have it. And I bought it at Fish-World in Tampa, who actually CARE for their plants and tanks (also the place I've found the best, weirdest driftwood pieces). The owner told me it had been in the tank it was in for almost 9 months already. And luckily I had no transplant issues.