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A month or so ago I did a pretty big overhaul with my tank, replacing most of the plants (ambulia and hygro) with some swords, crypts and anubias. it didnt look that great back then, but after having grown in for a little while it's starting to look better. Still, i think it can use some improvements. I'm open to any and all suggestions, but I would like to note that I'm trying to stay away from stem plants - I can't keep up with the growth, and it's too easy for them to start to look ugly. So give me whatever ideas you have - radical or not!

2.4 WPG, pressurized CO2

Here's a full tank shot:



Left side (yes, that's a little a. nana floating around like a jellyfish...):



and the right side:



Thanks! [/font][/font][/font]

Last edited by NowherMan6 at 29-Jun-2005 12:26

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Back in the saddle!

HI
Personally, I'd wait a few months more. You have slow
growing plants. Let them take hold and start to grow a
while. Each will develop its own characteristics and in
say 4 months you will be better able to relocate the
reactor, or distribute the non plant items.
Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

i think frank is right.

i wouldn't change anything right now, but i have an idea.
i think the tank lacks a focal point.

like in photography, attention should move throughout the tank fluently and from one focal point to the other. t oachive that first you can break height but changing substrate thickness throughout the tank. create blocks of plants with "paths" between them, or ones of different color and shape. change density for different areas.

it's all pretty hard to plan in advance, though.

a small thing that may be changed right away is the use of the bogwood. i think it's covered by the vegetation to be ineffective in the overall. it's very nice in the more local area, but lacks presence in the whole tank shot.

just to make it clear, i think it is beautiful as is. my criticism is sounded only because you asked for it.

NowherMan6
You are lacking hight and a directional flow.

Yes it needs to develop but I would consider using two different species of fine/thin leafed stem plants as a backing and especially at the LH end. The tank does not seem to have a focal point (I certainly do not mean a central point) this is usually 1/3 in from the end preferably the LH end. In you case it could be a plant.

Keith

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Hardscape !

As others have mentioned you have nice plants with still some growing to do but no focal point.

Hardscape. It's very difficult to shape or avoid FTS (Flat Tank Syndrome) without the use of hardscape.

The types of plants you have, swords and crypts, need something to play off otherwise they tend to look isolated.
The drifwood you have is not making any kind of statement. Too low and horizontal. A big branchy piece would work much better. Rocks with crypts in front and taller swords behind will make both the plant and the rock look more "dramatic" at the same time.

You don't really need more plants, just some to highlight them and show them off.

There is one area where I would add plants and that's to cover up the co2 reactor. Something that will get tall and thick quickly and that will fit in with your other plants. Aponogeton Crispus would be ideal. Very easy, fast growing non stem plant. The coloring, texture and leaf shape of this plant would be a fine contrast to the other plants while still fitting in with overall look.

A few patches of something tall and grassy would also work and again highlight the other plants and hardscape. I'm not reaaly a Val fan, but something like tall Sagatarria or ideally Cypererus Helferi, if you can find it would be perfect.

Nice tank but could be improved hugely with very little work, just the addition of wood and rock.

Do a google on Jeff Senske. He's a professional aquascaper that uses primarily the same type of plants you've got, with a lot of rock and wood. You'll see what I mean.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

so what do you all mean exactly by "hardscape"?

is that just doing rockwork and driftwood work?

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Back in the saddle!

Yep. Hardscape is the rocks and wood. Choosing these items and placing them the right way is an artwork in itself !

But it's incredibly important. Even in those great tanks you see on the net, you may not always be able to see the wood and rock , but it's there believe me. If not used as a feature it self it will be used to create shelves and barriers.

The choice and layout of wood and rock can make or break the look of a tank.

Particularly so with the type of plants you are using. Stem plants, while they can be a pain, are real easy to give a tank shape, with the large amount of leaves and relatively small leaf shape.Sword, Crypts etc, because of their shape and size can just look like a bunch of leaves poking out of the gravel if not used properly. They need something to highlight to look their best.

It's easy enough to see. Take a sword where you can see where it's planted in the gravel, now put a rock or something in front of it hiding the buried portion. Which looks better ? A plant emerging from a rock or piece of wood will always look more natural and dramatic.

It doesn't need much, you don't have to turn it into a cichlid tank or anything. Just enough to create a dynamic with the plants. The diftwood can fill the mid section and the rocks to cover those areas where the plant meets the substrate.

Have a look at this pic of Jeff Senskes' work and you can see what can be done with some swords , a few rocks and a piece of wood.
http://www.pbase.com/plantella/image/42510891

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.

Thanks for everything, bensaf... you've given me a new tank project, for which I'm always thankful

Now I need to find the time to do this... I'll post pics as things come along.

One more question, though...How do you deal with filter outflow and water circulation. My dilemma is this, and it's the reason why the left side of my tank is so bare. If I let the filter output run unchecked, the current is too strong on that side of the tnak to keep plants stable... but when i cut it down, water circulation throughout the tank decreases dramatically and I've seen a few stagnant spots develop. How do you get around this?

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Back in the saddle!

In my 55 i deal with the filter flow/ stagnant spots by having 2 filters turned down to where there isnt to much current for the plants- but nothing gets "stagnant" as you said. filters are 1/3 of the way from the lh and rh sides with another 1/3 of the tank between them.

Are you using a spray bar ?

I keep the canister filter spray pointed at the back wall of the tank. The outlet hits the wall which diffuses it somewhat. Spread out the water well with blowing things over.

The Co2 reactor is on the opposite side of the tank and the outlet of that gives some additional circulation.

No problems.

You could try running a small powerhead for some additional circulation, nothing too powerful, enough to make a tall plant sway back and forth gently, it the plant bends over it's too much.

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Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Remember that age and treachery will always triumph over youth and ability.