My new, low tech, aquascaped planted 310L discus tank

Ah, no, that's a terrible story.... but thanks for the update pics, and glad to hear you haven't let that experience get you down too badly. Sorry about your doggy too... I shall look forward to seeing the new fishies!

 

Hello @Barry.M
This is the first time I have seen your project. I think it is fantastic. I particularly really enjoy the way you have done the rockwork and the adaption of the fruit tree root in the tank. The whole composition looks really good. It is unfortunte about the setback but something a little beyond your control. I am looking forward to looking at updates on your project.
Thanks

 

Fetched my Otocinclus affinis catfish this afternoon, here they are being acclimatised before introducing them into the tank:

and settling in...

Here's the main problem area. The rock sits directly under the lights and although the algae doesn't bother me, I thought I'd see how the Otto's deal with it. I'm going to take a photo of the same area over a period of one week to see the progress. This is just before introducing them to the tank:

 

Thanks guys, although it was a devastating setback to have to deal with, I'm not going to give-up at all. My mom used to say that if you feel like you're going through hell, for heavens sake, never sit down, just hold on and keep pushing through and you will succeed...
Busy doing my water changes to all the tanks this morning and then will be off to Moolis at Pet Stop to have my new 300 litre tank modified. This will be my first paludarium and will replace my outdoor tropical tank. I've also finished building my first attempt at a "sort-of-Wabi-Suka," styled tank, but will post a build thread later.
Funny thing while doing the water change on the Discus tank... The apisto's don't like it when I come to close to their coconut caves and try to chase my hand away. They actually dart out and bite my hand, then stand back almost as if saying, "There, take that. you sucker!" The otto's seem to have settled in although they discovered the baby marrow that I put in for the Farlowella, so will only be putting this in every second day, to see if they start eating the algae.

Ok, Just to still the curiosity, here's a sneak preview of the Wabi-Suka inspired tank:

 

the long awaited Wabi!!! Nice dude! Going to look awesome once the Anubias starts going emersed.... Standing on your stoep right? That some of the Hygrophila I still brought you? Mine growing very nicely with emersed tops in my stoep pond - love the way the growth form changes then...

Fish in there? Anything? and also seem to remeber you have 2 tanks for Wabi Kusa style tanks.... hmmmnnnn

 

sorry about the loss, but i must say your aquascaping is verry,very nice

 

Thank you Takumi
This is my third attempt at aquascaping, I've never been able to just have plain tanks. (Even my first guppy tank when I was 12, had "The Jungle Book" as it's theme, complete with all the plastic characters standing in the gravel.)

Yep azurekoi, the Wabi is on the stoep and the Hygrophila you gave me is a very rewarding plant, have to prune the Discus tank weekly, so have enough for all the tanks. I've even given some to Didi. (He gave me a few cuttings of other plants which I will post in the plant ID section as I have no idea what they are...) The Wabi has 6 Galaxy Rasbora and two Endlers that came from Didi. I will be posting the build thread soon, just have to sort the photo's out. Must say that I can't wait to see the anubia and Hygrophila emersed! I had two Wabi tanks made and will do the other one after the Paludarium and the Fluval Edge and the, and the...

 

Right, Here's a quick, small update.
The Otto's, really are beautiful but have so far TOTALLY ignored the algae!
So off I went to Moolis at Pet Stop and fetched a few Siamese algae eaters, Well the difference is amazing!
These fish really do munch the stuff. (When I say, "really," I mean it.)
They are worth way more than their price and Fully worth keeping!
The morning after their arrival:

And a week later:




I can't quite believe how they munch their way through the algae,
Really amazing. The other plus is that they have also cleaned the algae off most of the plants as well!