My 2 and a hlf mth old 2 feet...pls comment...

[ranmasatome]

Hi guys...
after 3 months finally got the first tank up and going...its only a 2 feet and i still feel like there is something missing....like a drift wood or a rocks or something....any suggestions on placement of these or shapes or plant removal/addition...any comment would be good...thanks!!

here it is...i hope this works...

left side


right side


Entire thing


yes...there are a few bald spots...the HC is growing reeeeeeeal slow and the gu jing is also slow..lol..

comments?? Thanks!

[aqua]

nice setup. i like it

imo ur tank maybe too small for wood deco??

cheers

[ranmasatome]

then how? put rocks ah? i was thinking about that as well...

Any more comments guys?

looking to improve...thanks.

[Fei Miao]

[quote:ca7aa86131="aqua"]nice setup. i like it

imo ur tank maybe too small for wood deco??

cheers[/quote:ca7aa86131]

A lot depends on the selection of the wood.

[ranmasatome]

What would you reccomend fei miao?? i want to hear your thoughts so i can improve...thanks..

[|squee|]

Personally I don't think you need a DW

It's a nice tank! Perhaps you need to trim your stemmed plants more to make them thicker... the visible empty space at the bottom showing all their hairy legs ( I mean stems ) must be covered up.

[fissssshy]

think you may consider just 1 kind of fish, IMHO it will look nicer, more peaceful

[ranmasatome]

Thanks Guys...i am trimming right now...and already offered a friend to take all my gigantic cardinals..lol... thanks for the advise...Any more comments? really don't need drift wood ah? :P

[elmike]

There’s simply too much of a colour contrast between the 2 species of fishes in there.

Your backdrop, the size of the texture is disproportionate to the size of your tank. A finer texture would blend better with the aquascape, but that’s a bit too late to rectify now. The glossy appearance that’s apparent right now - as captured - is also an eyesore (excuse my forthrightness), but I expect this will be taken care of by algae growth, given a little more time.

Both these attributes added up to making the tank look somewhat contrived. Just my views. :P

[ranmasatome]

Hey!! Mike!! Thanks for the comments...no worries about forthrightness..that was what i really wanted...and that is what criticism is..i see it as all good and in fact am really happy you spoke your mind...THANKS ALOT!! i just got rid of the cardinal tetras...they are ready to be given away..and will shift some of the other fishes to another tank later.. (3 ft coming soon)
As for glossy appearence....what do you mean?? the plants too glossy?? or lack of algae?? i thought that was a good thing...:P

[Fei Miao]

[quote:0053b60e79="ranmasatome"]What would you reccomend fei miao?? i want to hear your thoughts so i can improve...thanks..[/quote:0053b60e79]

A triangular layout with driftwood(probably narrow with few nice twisted branches) or rocks near left side might work , you will have visualise what you want in the end results and works towards it, normally when I hunt for a particular wood or rock I sort of have an idea what I have in mind and when I see the right one, I"ll know it...

[juggler]

Can staple the backdrop with Xmas Moss or Java Moss if the temperature if low enough for their growth.

Plant some Blyxa japonica to cover the lower stems of the Ludwigia sp.

Overall, I think there is a lack of grouping together of same plants. Eg. the right side has several types of plants in one small corner.

[elmike]

[quote:2ab23a5c4a="ranmasatome"]As for glossy appearence....what do you mean?? the plants too glossy?? or lack of algae?? i thought that was a good thing...:P[/quote:2ab23a5c4a]

Your backdrop does look to me as if it’s giving off light. :P

[ranmasatome]

Wow!! Thanks Guys!! i will work on it now!!

Juggler : no xmas or java to spare...will stapling taiwan moss work just as well?? This should also cover up the glossy appearence Mike mentioned.

will also move or get some kind of plant to cover up the bottom of the ludwiga sp. and E. stellata "leg hairs".

as for wood...thanks Fei miao....i'm keeping my eyes open for a good one...i roughly get the idea...

Thanks everyone...this is great!