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Hey there
I recently bought a new plant (Rotala Indica) for my 10g, and decided to clean it up a bit. Am looking for some creative criticism/comments on it.
Note the horrible horrible algae infestation, which is now 100% better than it was 3 months ago. This is despite my routine cleaning efforts, the bn pleco, 2 big snails, and a hillstream loach.
Here are some pics:
10g Front Shot
10g Front 2
10g Front 3
10g Side View
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Pete,

You need a focal point for the tank. Choose a spot in the tank 40% from either end of the tank. The focal point would be hardscapr, rock or wood, to draw your eye to that point. Plant height would trend from high in the background to low foreground with a definite downward slope to the background height.

__________
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ditto what bob says. find something you can put in the middle of the tank to draw the eye towards it. whether this is an actual item like driftwood or rocks, etc or just place the plants differently so that it looks more like an aquascape and less like a wild jungle [/font]



Last edited by Babelfish at 24-Nov-2004 15:51

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"That's the trouble with political jokes in this country... they get elected!" -- Dave Lippman

The tank looks unbalanced. The plants on the left side need to be farther back. I agree that it needs a more focal point in the center. I suggest to move the driftwood to the center, and move the tall plants on the left side behind the wood, split them up so they are to the sides of the wood.

Might I also suggest trimming off some of your taller plants as well. Some of them seem to be too tall and look funny at the top of your tank. Then you can trim them to a mid level height and it would look less wild. Honestly, my eyes kinda hurt looking at that plant... so I would definately agree with everyone else that you need a focal point. Keep rearranging it 'til you have it how you like it... we've redone our plant arrangement in the 55gal about 12 times and it's still not perfect... our problem is we have no small plants for the front so it looks kind of weird. Also, we use our trimmings, if they're long enough and still healthy looking and replant them in bunches. We tend to use cable ties to make a bunch of several trimmings and then bury the cable tie under the gravel. Helps to anchor for the plants that need a little weight, although we do have to redo them sometimes if they come loose. Just a tip. Anyhow, good luck and let us know how it turns out.

I also agree with what has been posted already 100%

Also is there any way we could get a pic with the algae cleared up? I tried thinking of ideas to help you out but I couldn't force myself to look past the beard and other algae in there.

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that is a new pic...im still working on the algae...doesnt seem to easy to get rid of...ive been battling the algae for about 4 months now, constant water changes, less light hours in the day, no ferts, just seems to be holding on. I clean the plants of it once a week and it comes back.
Sorry, Thats the best I could do for now.


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look...why don't you get a large bucket, put some water in it, heat it up and transfer all the fish to the bucket
then take all the plants out, keep them wet all the time, and give them a good clean with your hands
then you can replant everything, select a focus point as mentioned above, put in a nice piece of drift wood, and then start planting
plant the back ground first, make sure your backgrounds are tall enough to be seen after other plants
then plant the middle, try to place the middle plants to one side or two opposite sides and leave a open space in the middle
at last plant the foreground, with enough lighting, you can have a nice carpet using for example glosso

have a look at my 15G, see if you like it?
it might give you an idea or inspiration
http://community.webshots.com/album/220195513dqbnZo

my suggestions are:

move the vals to the back, mine shoot out new runners quickly, if they're not growing where you want them you can cut them off when they look big enough, and replant them some where you do.

have a look at some aquascaping websites, i think one called aga!? not sure but if you do a search then you will find some great examples of some outstounding tanks, and helpful hints from the judges (AGA)

"look...why don't you get a large bucket, put some water in it, heat it up and transfer all the fish to the bucket"
I dont think I would be able to find all the Guppy Fry that are in there at the moment. Thats my "nursery" tank, and the female guppys you see are only in there until they give birth. There are by all estimations over 100 of the little funny colored fry growing up.
The best I can do is pull one plant and then clean it, as I have been doing.
Sorry, I didnt want comments on the algae, just on the arrangement of plants, I know the algae is horrid, but EH, what can u do.



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oh

Part of the issue with focal points that people keep mentioning is that in addition to the point itself you need something that will not attract attention right away thereby giving more weight to the point itself.

From what I can tell you've got about 8 or 9 different types of plants in there :%), in addition to a pot and driftwood. My opinion of small tanks (anything under 50 gallons) is that they generally look good if they have 1-2 types of plants per 10 gallons. So with a 10 gallon, pick 2 plants, maybe contrasting plants, one a darker green, one a brighter green....or a green and a red ect, and plant those up. Then using a nice piece of driftwood, or well shaped rock or the plants themselves you'll have a clear focal point.

Good luck with the algae >.<

^_^
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