BTY: Aquascape Final Shoot Preparation

[parthapratim22]

Around 25 days to go for IAPLC, so thinking of sharing what I am doing daily/weekly tank maintenance. The only goal is to take better picture of my tank. Picture will be taken by Aamir only. So no technical discussion on camera settings will be available in this thread from my side.

Some picture will be available to give better idea about whats going on.

Water Change:
1) Siphoning all dirt and plant/moss cuttings.
2) Till couple of days left its 50% weekly WC with bottle drinking water.
3) Couple of days left: of photoshoot starting 75% WC each day.
4) Topping water full everyday to keep water temperature as lowest as possible. As here in India, temperature will be 35-42deg at the time of IAPLC submission. So lowering the temperature is must to get the best show from your plants, hence tank and photographs.

Tank Cleaning:
1) Magnetic Scrubber: Cleaning the glasses is very important part. I have a small magnetic scrubber to clean the glasses. A small note, if the inner side of the scrubber detached and fall on your sand substrate better to ensure no sand particle is attached with it at the time of cleaning, that may make scratches on the glasses.

2) ATM Card: Sometime green spot algae or some brown algae will not be so easy to remove from the glass, in that case better to wet your hand with and ATM card and clean.

3) Sand cleaning: A month before I have started siphoning the dirty sand from the tank and kept clean. Before a week or two will put them as toppings this will make them a bit dirty to bring more natural look. Left side dirty sand, right side new clean sand topping.

Trimming:
1) Its moss only tank so last trimming targeted 30-20days before to make the moss grown perfect on day of photoshoot. Few mosses you may find very easily attached with your hardscape where its not require so to make the hardscape properly exposed, carefully detach those from hardscape with forceps and trim. Xmass moss is one of them easily attach with harscape.

More to come with more PICs

[parthapratim22]

I dont have any system to keep some highlight system(may be MH) in varied level as per photography requirement so last week end made this crude DIY hanging system. Will do small changes soon. Will update more. Hope my only Photoghaphy expert/friend wont have that much problem to give his best shot

So no light should go out, paper curtain






More to come

[parthapratim22]

Its very common problem to have dust on water surface, and at the time of photoshoot it kills all the charm of the photo, was searching for the solution and found it in the Vietnam forum with kind help from the members.
what all you need
a small power head, rubber bands, cotton wool, a scissor and a blade, a softdrink bottle



Cut the bottle half


Make a small hole just to adjust PHead outlet


Put rubber bands and tight it


Cut the edge as shown below


Put the cotton wool inside and its ready to use


Half n hour is enough to clean my 2ftr tank water surface, use it just before photoshoot
A video follows

youtu.be/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yEdH0-SbI

[sam]

Good going

All the best for the shoot

[Abhi]

Best of Luck !

[SCORPIO]

Nice writeup!

[jack]

All tye best looking forward for the final photos

[hamza]

Its already 42 in Delhi...things wont be any worse, hopefully.
Another suggestion, dont switch water as your tank is doing pretty good and is settled on tap water. Using RO with current fertilizer regime with render mosses deficient at the last moment. You have to tailor your fertilization with water and its risky thing.

And frequent massive water changes(like 75%) is not good for the fish either...at most 50% is ok that too on alternate days. If its for picking dirt mostly 10-20% will do...

Rest all sounds nice..Goodluck!

[parthapratim22]

Thanks All

Its already 42 in Delhi...things wont be any worse, hopefully.
Another suggestion, dont switch water as your tank is doing pretty good and is settled on tap water. Using RO with current fertilizer regime with render mosses deficient at the last moment. You have to tailor your fertilization with water and its risky thing.

And frequent massive water changes(like 75%) is not good for the fish either...at most 50% is ok that too on alternate days. If its for picking dirt mostly 10-20% will do...

Rest all sounds nice..Goodluck!

yes thats a point will sure keep that 50% WC till the final shoot, but may be twice a week. I am using RO since the beginning so no issue now. No fertz. Good the tank temperature is 21 today afternoon also.

[devchitra]

nice article.