Nigel's Mountain Scape 36l

New nano scape for a live contest (Vivarium) in November.

Specs planted tank aquarium
Tank
40x30x30 cm
36 litre / 9.5 gal

Lighting
Aqualighter 1 30cm

Hardscape
Dragon stone

Substrate
Ada la plata
Lava split

Plants
Fissidens mini
Riccardia chamedryfolia
Flame moss
Eleocharis acicularis mini
Buce minI coin


Co2
Pressurized CO2 with a diffusor

Filter
Eheim classic 150


hardscape progress mountain 40cm by

Hardscape

Yoghurt method moss dsm

 

This. Looks. FANTASTIC!

 

I like it so far, my only crit is the front rock 3 in on the left... I don't know what it is - might just be the colouration (bright) compared to everything around it (dark) - but is throwing me off, and sticking out like a sore thumb. In saying that, can't wait to see where it goes.

 

Absolutely beautiful! (As of now I’m subscribed)

 

Jealousy/envy dialed to 11... following!

 

I love this! Aquascaping is so amazing to me. I could look at pictures all day long

 

Love this!

 

Thanks all

Some clips of the hardscape. Enjoy

 

Top view of the mountain hardscape. Almost everywhere in the crevices I put some cig filters to make the hardscape strong as possible so I can transport it to the live contest.

mountain hardscape top view

Decided to try some fine leaved stems in the back. If it doesn't work out I can always go back to flame moss.

 

Top view of the mountain hardscape. Almost everywhere in the crevices I put some cig filters to make the hardscape strong as possible so I can transport it to the live contest.
View attachment 456026mountain hardscape top view

Decided to try some fine leaved stems in the back. If it doesn't work out I can always go back to flame moss.

My girlfriend says you need some little creepy crawly thing in there, and name it Gollum. Lol.

 

My girlfriend says you need some little creepy crawly thing in there, and name it Gollum. Lol.

First thought I had when I saw it was Lord of The Rings. "So I'm packing my bags for the Misty Mountains, where the spirits go now. Over the hills where the spirits fly".

 

First thought I had when I saw it was Lord of The Rings. "So I'm packing my bags for the Misty Mountains, where the spirits go now. Over the hills where the spirits fly".

Thanks Misty Mountains could be a cool name for the layout!

 

Thanks Misty Mountains could be a cool name for the layout!

I accept PayPal.
Put some Zep on and let your creative juices flow.

 

Sounds like an actresses name.

Nice scape!

 

Sounds like an actresses name.

Nice scape!

Come on now, this isn't that sort of a website here!

 

14 days in dry start now. One week before flooding! I will add dhg mini, rotala wallichi, hemianthus micranthemoides to the scape right before flooding. When tank is stable/cycled I will add some HC and buce minI coin.


riccardia fiss macro day 14 dsm detail

fissidens riccardia day 14 detail shot

day 14 dsm top view

Strange thing is for my eye it looks more rocks are covered in moss since 14 days of dry start! But when comparing photos it even looks like some moss has fallen off due spraying the tank daily. Weird haha!


day 1 vs day 14 dsm

 

It does look as though moss has fallen off. It's still looking awesome.

 

Beautiful Nigel! Very interesting pictures. Appreciate that you are sharing, will keep watching to see your progress.

 

Room shot of the 40cm mountain scape (dry start) for Aquaflora Vivarium contest. Added a desk lamp to make sure everywhere will reach light. Also with more light I hope mosses will attach faster. Spraying twice a day with RO water to prevent buildup of lime on the glass. Two small openings for ventilation to prevent mold.




40 cm mountain dry start setup

 

Tank is flooded! Let's go.

 

I love it! I can't wait to see how it turns out

 

Fresh green plants from Aquaflora!

aquaflora plants

mountain before flooding

 

Beautiful scape!

 

Day 11

mountain nigel vivarium fts day 11

mountain nigel vivarium room shot

mountain vivarium detail

 

I love the way you've put the taller 'mountains' in the foreground to create the illusion of a deeper canyon or valley leading away to the rear. It goes against everything I've seen/read about higher/taller elements in the background, but it's so effective!! Brilliant use of perspective: all lines converging.
If you're open to a suggestion, most mountain ranges have very distinct vegetation zones by elevation (eg treelines). Or snowcaps. Do you think you could incorporate that? I know you have a plan for this scape, and success comes from sticking to plans, so maybe for next time.

I'm curious, is this a hobby or a career for you? If hobby, how many hours per day or week to you spend working on a single scape like this? I'm sure it varies, but I'm just curious.

 

OMG mate, you're doing such a great job !

 

I love the way you've put the taller 'mountains' in the foreground to create the illusion of a deeper canyon or valley leading away to the rear. It goes against everything I've seen/read about higher/taller elements in the background, but it's so effective!! Brilliant use of perspective: all lines converging.
If you're open to a suggestion, most mountain ranges have very distinct vegetation zones by elevation (eg treelines). Or snowcaps. Do you think you could incorporate that? I know you have a plan for this scape, and success comes from sticking to plans, so maybe for next time.

I'm curious, is this a hobby or a career for you? If hobby, how many hours per day or week to you spend working on a single scape like this? I'm sure it varies, but I'm just curious.

Thanks. I painted moss everywhere, I can remove it where I like. But I just think I will go moss everywhere bottom to top with a few spots open. Something like the hallelujah mountains in China. Currently a student and this is a hobby for me but it takes a lot of time with 3 tanks currently. Also all the photos and video work takes lots of time. But I like it! Preparing a scape is lots of work that's why I like to spread it. Spreading work and having patience is key. Most people want to hardscape and plant in one day. I take the process very slowly. First I work a basic idea out in my scape box once I like it, I will build it in the real tank and do lots of finetuning. Even if I think now its good I wait a few days and watch again if I want to change something. This scape was pretty quick to build because I had an idea from the scape box a while back. But I did some changes further in real tank. Here you can see the idea but it was to lineair to the vanishing point.

mountain hardscape 1 ada 45p by nigel aquascaping

Currently I am working on a new mountain brazilian tank for my ADA 45p rescape. I will start a journal later on this one. And will post pics of the process how the hardscape evolves. Taking this really slow so far. Sometimes I go day without making tweaks on the hardscape. Just w/e I like to do it I start tweaking. Multiple tanks makes this easier as you always have other tanks to look at. As I am getting longer in the hobby now and multiple tanks it is easier to have some patience. And this really helps for the result. It's hard to tell how much hours/days/weeks a scape takes... But to give an idea. I talked with a Brazilian guy who ranks every year in the top 100 IAPLC. Not sure about how many hours a day he was working on it but he said the hardscape only took 4 months. Ranking high in contests requires very much planning (hardscape & planting) and also a big tank 120cm + really helps to get a more "wow" factor. Once tanks are running its just a few hour/hours maintenance one day on the weekends and daily ferts. But setting up a scape takes lots of energy. But if you spread it you can make nice results over a longer time. Just need to have some dedication to keep tweaking.

OMG mate, you're doing such a great job !

Thanks bro

 

Looks awesome!

 

That's sick

 

Day 27

Some GDA on the rocks using quite some light in this scape. But I like it, gives a natural feeling. Still a way to go to get the moss in shape and stems above the rocks in the back.

 

Day 51

shrimp nigel aquascaping


day 1 vs day 51 dsm


vivarium mountain aquascape nigel hoevenaar

 

The first time I stood on the rI'm above the Grand Canyon all I could say is "Awesome" !!!!!! this tank is becoming a miniature "Awesome" !!!!!!

 

Maintenance day

maintenance aquaflora vivarium betta tank 2

 

This looks amazing I really need your info because I need your help

 

Wow, I am intrigued. So glad I found this thread and can't wait to see where you take it

 

Nigellllll awesome

 

Riccardia chamedryfolia, fissidens minI and some flame moss

riccardia chamedryfolia fissidens minI moss aquascape - kopie

Very tiny baby shrimp. Only a few mm. Hard to photograph! On some micranthemum micranthemoides and on the right some monte carlo leaves.


mm and yellow shrimp nigel aquascaping

 

Riccardia chamedryfolia, fissidens minI and some flame moss

riccardia chamedryfolia fissidens minI moss aquascape - kopie

Very tiny baby shrimp. Only a few mm. Hard to photograph! On some micranthemum micranthemoides and on the right some monte carlo leaves.


mm and yellow shrimp nigel aquascaping