Matt's 220 Litre Aquaoak

Mine tend to raise their heads at each other, so it looks like they are raising themselves up using their fins, and holding their heads as high as possible. One will then usually swim off, sometimes chased briefly by the other.
I did watch a proper scrap a while back, which I think was between two annieae gobies, I think I may have posted pics. It only lasted a few minutes, and I've not seen anything like that since.

I fitted glass lily pipes this afternoon and rearranged the background plants.

Also made use of aquascaping tweezers which are a revalation to me after I received them as a birthday present earlier this month... I would definately recommend getting a nice long pair so that tank tasks can be completed without getting sleeves etc wet.

I'm happy to finally call this scape complete now    though I'll need to get a proper photo later, when its dark but, I'm excited so... here it is from rubbish angle to get rid of most of the reflections...

I agree - looks great. Well done!

I also concur with how beneficial aquascaping tweezers are... I'm forever tinkering with mine. One piece of advice I'd give re them, though - I've had inquisitive fish attempt to swim through them and almost get squashed when I've been about to tinker with something, so best to lower them in the tank already in the squeezed-together position (as opposed to open, then squeeze once you find what you want to tinker with).

 

My aquascaping tweezers also get used for retrieving small children's toys out of the cracks in our tree stump coffee table!

I use them a lot in partnership with my aquascaping scissors - hold the leaf with the tweezers and obviously snip with the scissors. I don't think I could have done my major substrate refurb without the tweezers. It makes it a lot easier to get plants into the substrate.

Sigh... That's such a beautiful tank.

  why not?

I keep thinking about my tank, and whether I can apply any of the things I'm learning from you. It'd never look anything like that though.

I just added this to my blog and thought it worth sharing here too ...

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Easy aquascapers beware of your nitrate levels!

Having recently increased my fish stocking level a few weeks ago I took a regular nitrate test. It is clear I need to change my complete fertiliser dosing regime to reduce nitrates in my aquascape. I had been seeing more diatoms (brown algae) than normal too which are linked to high nitrates.

More fish equals more nitrates and easy plants generally means slow growing plants so beware of not overdosing your fertiliser...

Fortunately I have some biological liquid carbon which contains potassium as well. This means I should be able to dose this for a week or two whilst I bring my nitrates down (as well as doing some extra water changes). Nitrate and potassium are the two elements plants need the most of to grow healthily.

Fortunately I spotted this early enough to take action slowly so as not to shock the fish, else I would be changing much more water much more quickly.

I will continue to test my nitrates for a good while longer whilst I adjust to a new fertilisation regime which does not lead too unreasonable levels of nitrate before my weekly water change. You ideally want it at less than 25ppm... be warned though you tap water may have a higher nitrate concentration than this so water change day is ALWAYS a day when you skip adding ferts.

I'll be adding this to the website shortly... get testing!

Love those fish 

Lovely looking fish.