Reply With QuoteIs your tank visible from all 4 sides? If so, you should consider moving the big plants together towards the centre. Also, you should move the DW together, I notice they are of different heights, you can make a steppe of sort with them.
Hey pple in AQ!
This is my second attempt on planted tank. Yes it looks amatuer so here I'm trying to seek some advice from the Old birds here.... Pls do give me some constructive critics...
Pls do pardon the photos. I promise to take a better one later when it's nicer. After your comments.
I really want to make it look better as I know it really look like it's done by a newbie. Pls also do give advice on placement as well as choice of plants. Thanks!
5X2X2ft
4X54W T5
Sump filtration(Yes I know planted don't go with sump but originally wanted a aro tank but planted simply too amazing)
hardness I think between 3 to 6
PH 7.4 (Don't know why it doesn't come down dispite the CO2 indicator already showing light yellow and the presence of drift wood)
Lapis Sand
Mix of Diponit and jbl soil
Algae: Some green spots on the wall and a little hair algae here and there
Approx 2mths old
Fish
11 Congo
160++ Cardinal
whiptail cat 3 + 1 with long nose
7 Leopard Cory
5 SAE
1 Borneo Sucker
3 oto
Is your tank visible from all 4 sides? If so, you should consider moving the big plants together towards the centre. Also, you should move the DW together, I notice they are of different heights, you can make a steppe of sort with them.
Yippie!! Reptiles and Fishies!
One of the problem with big tanks is SPACE..
Theres always a ratio of empty space to used space in a tank and that has to be right for it to be well scaped. In a small tank.. its easy to get that ratio up to scale with just a handful of plants and hardscape... whereas in large tanks like these.. a lot more planning and ideas has to be set in stone first in order to get the desired effect. It actually is much harder scaping-wise.
The tendency is for owners, that since they have such large tanks and want to maximise their use of the space, to..
a) keep to many kinds of fish (which is distracting)
b) Keep to many kinds of plants (which is okay when well placed, but a bit weird when not)
You can definitely do with more plants and hardscape... i know the tank is still young so give it a bit of time.. plant more plants (of varying heights/colour) to peak interest in areas you want attention and take more photos..
Its a good start..
Artificial Intelligence
Hi Tanc39,
Do you wish to have the tank viewed from 4 sides or only from the front? I think generally it's on the right track but the drift wood with moss is too 'structured' or 'safe', there is no character. The tall plants placement are in a mess. When the foreground fills up, it will look better.( The valley look )You might want to fill the gaps from the drift wood with nanas or some crypt. Placement wise maybe form a smoother transition from tall to mid to low. I would shift the wallichi to the Enchinodorus and fill up the back space with crypt balansae or vallis, between the enchinodorus and the moss I would plant alot of crypt wendtii brown My 2 cents, have fun
PS: Maybe you have coral chip in your sum inregards to the PH.
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
Thanks all for the quick reply! Firstly Yes, I would like to have the tank only view from one side. Secondly. Hmmm I really thought I have too many types of plants already. But maybe with the right placement it shouldn't look too weird.
I really appreciate alll your comments even with instructions included
Oh ya... there's no coral chip inside my tank. Only ceramic rings and jap mat and wool.
Hardscape? Would you like to recommend what type and where should i place it? I'm rather worried about wood and stone. Not sure if they can blend together nicely.Originally Posted by ranmasatome
You can definitely do with more plants and hardscape... i know the tank is still young so give it a bit of time.. plant more plants (of varying heights/colour) to peak interest in areas you want attention and take more photos..
Its a good start..
Artificial Intelligence
Hi Tanc39,
Yup, that's what I meant regarding the nanas and crypts. If you use japanese hairgrass, it'll still be too short to reach the drift wood so having nanas or crypt will fill in nicely.( japanese hairgrass lawn) For the wallachi, I meant shifting the entire bunch over to the enchin side. And don't call yourself an idiot if so I'm the bigger one because I also shift my plants around alot.
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
Yippie!! Reptiles and Fishies!
It would be hard for me to recommend because our taste may differ..
Unltimately, its your tank and you should decide what kind of wood or stone makes it into that tank. The general rule is to use one type of anything you choose.. if you choose malaysian driftwood then use all of that.. dont switch to a bit of bogwood, a bit of drift wood, a bit of manzita wood.. all kinds will make the scape look weird and distract which isn't good. The same goes for rock.. use one kind only. You can also mix rock and wood but one kind of each... but thats a little harder to explain on text.
You can always test your scapes out on the floor of the LFS before buying.. i do that all the time with pieces of wood i choose..
BTW how old is the tank??? cycled already?? i dont think you need so many fishes
The tank is slightly more than two months old.... Pls pardon me for being blunt. You read the part with all the fish listing but you missed the part where I said 2 months old.BTW how old is the tank??? cycled already?? i dont think you need so many fishes
Hmmm think I'm a little weak here with my plants ID. I have this plant right at the center of my tank between the two drift wood. I thought those were japanese grass... or Blyxa something right. I was thinking of using those and not the japanese hairgrass.... As for the empty space I actually planted E. tennullus and glosso... just a few downnoi to see how it will go in my tank.Hi Tanc39,
Yup, that's what I meant regarding the nanas and crypts. If you use japanese hairgrass, it'll still be too short to reach the drift wood so having nanas or crypt will fill in nicely.( japanese hairgrass lawn
Artificial Intelligence
Ok, you meant Blyxa japonica. E. tenellus and glosso is not a bad choice either. Once they fill out, it will be much better.
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
1st thing came to mind is: those wood with moss are most un-natural and looks weird ... try to get more natural looking wood and re-tie the moss on them
... always look at the bright side of life
sorry..... miss the very last part.The tank is slightly more than two months old.... Pls pardon me for being blunt. You read the part with all the fish listing but you missed the part where I said 2 months old.
Can't help it but agree with you too... But always see tanks that have overgrown moss that look really nice. I though mine is just like two months old so hoping to give it sometime to be more overgrown to the point that you can hardly make out the shape of the wood. But will seriously consider what you said.1st thing came to mind is: those wood with moss are most un-natural and looks weird ... try to get more natural looking wood and re-tie the moss on them
nice attempt try to take a shot from all angles and view it. then can work on improving to make it viewable froom all side. jmho
Thanks for the encouragement! Will find sometime to work on it....
Finally took the time yesterday and rescape my tank a little. Hmmm did a little triming as well. Hope that at least now it's not as bad as my first attempt. More then happy to take more constructive critics.
Dear pple.... I was told that this tank has no focal points.... was wondering how I can make it better or how I can create a focal point?
wow .. you cardinal look like a snake fish with the longer exporture time on your camera setting...
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