new scape

[eleNt]

I'm trying to plan an Orinoco single-species biotope aquascape using Scape It for my 92cm x 36cm x 42cm tank. I've been experimenting with the digital layout, dragging and dropping hardscape and plants, and adjusting the substrate depth. Since Scape It doesn't have coontail or Sagittaria subulata, I've used Pogostemon erectus as a substitute for coontail, Lilaeopsis brasiliensis for Helanthium tenellum 'micro', and Helanthium tenellum 'green' for Sagittaria subulata.

The plant selection on Scape It is limited, but there are plenty of hardscape options. Fortunately, they do have Helanthium tellenum, which is a good starting point. Given that Helanthium, coontail, and Sagittaria can be found in the Orinoco, I've included them in the tank design. A Co2 system and fertilisation might be necessary to support plant growth.

I've researched the Orinoco River and its fish inhabitants, and I'm looking into moderately planted tanks. I plan to stock the tank with a school of cardinal tetras – a mix of existing and new ones. I'd appreciate any feedback on the aquascape design. Should I make any changes to improve its accuracy? Also, I'm concerned about gravel-vaccing the sand substrate without damaging the plants.

[matti]

I've also used Scape It before for planning my aquascapes. It's really helpful for visualizing the layout and getting a general idea of what you want to achieve. Since the plant selection is limited, I usually just pick similar-looking plants and then make a note of the actual plants I plan to use. For example, I might use a different type of stem plant to represent the Pogostemon erectus or Lilaeopsis brasiliensis.

[eleNt]

I've also used Scape It before for planning my aquascapes. It's really helpful for visualizing the layout and getting a general idea of what you want to achieve. Since the plant selection is limited, I usually just pick similar-looking plants and then make a note of the actual plants I plan to use. For example, I might use a different type of stem plant to represent the Pogostemon erectus or Lilaeopsis brasiliensis.

I'm not sure what the final result will look like. I've used Scape It to get an idea of the layout, but I'm still experimenting with different arrangements. The website has a limited selection of plants, so I've had to get creative with my choices. I've been doing some research on the Orinoco River and the types of plants that are typically found there, which has helped me make some decisions. I'm thinking of adding a CO2 system and fertilization to help the plants thrive. I'm also planning to be careful when gravel-vacuuming the sand substrate to avoid damaging the plants.

[matti]

I'm planning on this being home to my Sawbwa fry, 20+ of them, along with the 3 adults I already have. First inhabitants will be bladder snails, then either cherry shrimp or amanos will join in. My tap water is soft, which Sawbwa resplendens aren't too fond of. However, my current 60L has harder water, likely due to the cobbles and pea-pebbles I used for hardscape - same ones I'll be using in the 90L. The fish seem happy, breeding multiple times and males showing full colours, a good sign for this species. This is a semi-completed picture of my plan, not a biotope like yours, but it'll do.

[eleNt]

I've never built an accurate biotope aquarium before, but I'm excited to see how mine turns out. I've just used Scape It to get a general idea of what I want, and then I'll make adjustments as needed. I think it's great for planning, even if it doesn't have every plant species or hardscape. I'll probably end up using similar-looking plants and labeling them later. As for the tank, I'm planning on housing my current Sawbwa fry, around 20+, with the 3 adults I already have. First inhabitants will be bladder snails, followed by either cherry shrimp or amanos. My tap water is soft, which the Sawbwa resplendens don't prefer, but my current 60L has harder water, likely due to the cobbles and pea-pebbles I've used for hardscape. The fish seem happy, having bred multiple times and showing full colors. I've attached a semi-completed picture of my planned setup.

[matti]

I'm trying to plan an Orinoco single-species biotope aquascape using Scape It for my 92cm x 36cm x 42cm tank. I've been experimenting with the digital layout, dragging and dropping hardscape and plants, and adjusting the substrate depth. Since Scape It doesn't have coontail or Sagittaria subulata, I've used Pogostemon erectus as a substitute for coontail, Lilaeopsis brasiliensis for Helanthium tenellum 'micro', and Helanthium tenellum 'green' for Sagittaria subulata.

The plant selection on Scape It is limited, but there are plenty of hardscape options. Fortunately, they do have Helanthium tellenum, which is a good starting point. Given that Helanthium, coontail, and Sagittaria can be found in the Orinoco, I've included them in the tank design. A Co2 system and fertilisation might be necessary to support plant growth.

I've researched the Orinoco River and its fish inhabitants, and I'm looking into moderately planted tanks. I plan to stock the tank with a school of cardinal tetras – a mix of existing and new ones. I'd appreciate any feedback on the aquascape design. Should I make any changes to improve its accuracy? Also, I'm concerned about gravel-vaccing the sand substrate without damaging the plants.

I've always been drawn to creating a biotope, specifically for green fire tetras from the Paraguay river basin. A shallow aquarium would be ideal. I've been inspired by a large cube tank at my local fish store, which features a stunning shoal of these tetras near the entrance. They've captivated me for a while now, and I think it's time to give biotope-keeping a try.

[eleNt]

Just finalised the Orinoco biotope aquascape. I added a Helanthium tellenum 'green' to represent dwarf sag, which I missed initially. The actual setup might differ slightly due to the driftwood I find at the LFS and the plant sizes. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this.

[sageSe]

I'm trying to plan an Orinoco single-species biotope aquascape using Scape It for my 92cm x 36cm x 42cm tank. I've been experimenting with the digital layout, dragging and dropping hardscape and plants, and adjusting the substrate depth. Since Scape It doesn't have coontail or Sagittaria subulata, I've used Pogostemon erectus as a substitute for coontail, Lilaeopsis brasiliensis for Helanthium tenellum 'micro', and Helanthium tenellum 'green' for Sagittaria subulata.

The plant selection on Scape It is limited, but there are plenty of hardscape options. Fortunately, they do have Helanthium tellenum, which is a good starting point. Given that Helanthium, coontail, and Sagittaria can be found in the Orinoco, I've included them in the tank design. A Co2 system and fertilisation might be necessary to support plant growth.

I've researched the Orinoco River and its fish inhabitants, and I'm looking into moderately planted tanks. I plan to stock the tank with a school of cardinal tetras – a mix of existing and new ones. I'd appreciate any feedback on the aquascape design. Should I make any changes to improve its accuracy? Also, I'm concerned about gravel-vaccing the sand substrate without damaging the plants.

I think your Orinoco biotope aquascape looks great. To enhance the water column, consider adding more branches or driftwood – this will give it a more authentic feel. The Orinoco River is known for having submerged sticks and logs, as well as dead plant matter. Although Scape It has its limitations when it comes to decor options, I've found that it actually has a decent selection of wood.

In terms of the dwarf sag, you might want to scale it back a bit, depending on the specific area of the Orinoco you're trying to recreate. Most regions have sparse patches of grass, with the majority of the bottom covered in dead plant matter. I'm not sure if you're going for a specific look, but it's worth considering.

[eleNt]

I spent some time on Scape It today and created two more aquascapes for Petworx nano tanks. The first one is a smaller 30 x 30 x 45cm tank, and I've gone for a heavily planted look. The other is a 45 x 45 x 45cm tank, with a less densely planted design.