Virgin attempt - An eyesore

[FireSpitter]

Here is my first attempt at a planted setup.



Nowhere near even the average standard. Please help with some constructive criticism & suggestions to improve please.

[uklau]

It would be more helpful if you indicate your tank parameters. More forumers will be able to help. IMO, too little plants. Mr. algae may visit you soon, especially if your lighting is too strong. Do not wait for the plants to grow in. Start with a densely planted tank right from the beginning. NA usually stocks lots fast growing plants, available at very affordable price. If you need Amazon frogbit, I still have some extra.

Good luck & keep us updated.

[FireSpitter]

Being a noob, I have no idea what are the names of the plants (Especially those given to me by a very generous member here who gave up his planted setup). Lapis sand has fert (Courtesy of the member) and I also added Wondergro root tabs in as well. The DW on the left has java moss and the DW on the right has US Fissidens. Besides these 2 types, there are 7 different plants (Left foreground, left background, 2nd left background *Behind OHF intake*, direct centre background, right background *red leaves*, mid right *Behind cardinals* and lastly a small fern in between the 2 pieces of DW. I know it might be difficult to ID some of them but what are the easier ones you can help to ID for me?

Secondly any recommendations how I can rearrange these plants and what new ones to add? I will have some spiky moss coming in at the end of the week which I wanna use to make a moss wall.

Water parameter is pH7.0 (No other measurements taken) & maintains constant 26 degrees celcius even throughout the afternoon (Helped by a fan), OHF with CR, bioballs & wool, tank size is 3 X 1.5 X 1.5. Lighting is currently very low at PL 28W X 2 (Even then, 1 light is faulty). WIll upgrade it to 55w X 2 over the weekend (Would this suffice?).

[Salphur]

Hi, FireSpitter.... i do think that your tank will need more plant mass to help mature the tank as well, in addition to make it more 'greener'.

If you are considering of increasing your light wattage in your tank, do keep in mind of keeping nutrients(liquid ferts) and C02 in balance as well, or else it might invite algae attack. In your case, if there is no CO2 input, it may not be advisable to increase the wattage of your lights. And this also limits the type of plants you can keep for now.

I would think it is more important to plant heavily first.

Cheers!

[tropic]

A cannister filter and even spread of light would be better IMO...

[benny]

The setup looks a bit spartan. More plants in the background would immediately improve the visual element. For the foreground, choose some low height plants instead.

Cheers,

[Reginald Ho]

I think if you put a black colour background, the tank will immediately look much better.. also, notice that your tetras are not schooling. Can add in more so that they do. I read in an article that the introduction of a bigger fish will encourage fish to conglomerate and school. (But of course don't but one so big that will just eat them up!) IMO, the overhead filter a bit unsightly ah...
As for the look of the tank... it's entirely up to you.. should view more web sites to get more idea. The beauty of aquascaping is that there's no boundaries!!

[ranmasatome]

What i don't understand is why you call your own tank an eyesore??
Most of us started like this.. just work slowly at it.. and i'm sure this tank would work out..

[PeterGwee]

The plants at the back on the right side doesn't seem aquatic to me. You might want to make sure of that or else it is going to rot away.

Regards,
Peter Gwee

[StanChung]

Yes, 1st order of the day is to take out the non aquatic plants. 2nd is to switch to a canister filter. 3rd is to spread the light a bit, increase it if necessary. Plant will only grow if you provide the right conditions. Do tell us about your fertilizing plans, lighting period etc.

[diki]

If you want to keep it simple, I have some advice for you.

1. You can still keep the overhead filter but kills the beauty of the tank.
I had use a overhead filter before in my first attempt but it would still works. Mine was from high tech (DIY CO2) to low tech (no CO2). Just make sure the splashing of the outlet is kept to the minimum.

2. Try an island aquascape.
Concentrate your aquatic plants in the center. Make up for the lack of plants.

3. Get more plants.
You can get cheap plants from our forumers. But different plants have different requirements, it is better to do some research before deciding what to get. That is after you decide what you want the tank to be in your mind.

4. Get liquid fertilizers.
If you have enough fishes to produce waste (fertilizers), you sure need liquid fert. Even waste does not provide all the stuff that plants needs to grow.

5. Fishes consideration
Do not have too many types of fishes in a same tank if you can. Looks nicer ultimately.

My take is even if the aquascape is that bad, healthy looking plants makes up for it. Trust me.

[FireSpitter]

Thanks for all the comments. Unfortunately I didn't have the time to even fix the faulty light last week. Hopefully this week I'll have more time to develop this tank further.

Any recommendations for foreground plants?

[Shadow]

I would say, fixe you light ASAP and add more plants.

What substrate are you using? looklike lapis sand mixed with something.

[koolman]

Hi bro

Dont get dishearted so easily. As a beginner, its already good enough. Just be humble, learnt from the experts here. FYI, I am not an expert here. I am also a newbie and I am willing to learnt..

Cheers

Koolman

[Justikanz]

You meant to name your tank 'An Eyesore'?

It looks pretty nice for a start...

Try to build some height though with the wood... Some biggish rocks with the wood should also make the centerpiece more outstanding... Maybe you can move the whole centerpiece slightly more towards either end of the tank... like occupying the 1/3-th of the tank...

And move the Echinodorus sp. more towards the back of the wood... But not dead center...

Have fun and be proud of your own creation.

[Thirteen]

try moss, should be pretty easy and you'll find it interesting and entertaining. =) otherwise go for APP.

[FireSpitter]

Wah few days never check got so many replies.... Ok let me tackle one by one...

Lights - Yes. Need to fix, busy work schedule does not help. Only got to NA last night at 830pm - Closed!! ARRRRrrrrrgggghhhh!

Substrate - Yes. Fert is added but I dunno with what (Donated by a fellow member here). Dosed with Wondergro root tabs as well.

Rocks - Yes there are plans for that but my biggest aim now is to find a mini tree like structured bogwood where I can tie and grow some small leaves to look like a real tree.

Foreground plants - Any suggestions?

[BuTLeR]

work harder lah... put more plant can anot bro....

[Clementi]

I hv an extra pot of cabomba look alike. (Sorry dont know the name) Got it last week frm 328 and growing well in my newly setup tank but in the pot. If you dont mind, you can have it as background plants. I live in Clementi.

[|squee|]

Everything must be in scale.

If you have a big tank, you need big quantities of plants and a big piece of driftwood. The driftwood you have in there might be seen now, but if and when you plant in more plants and things start to grow, it will just be engulfed in plant matter.

Get a heck load of green stemmed plants (MM, Rotala, go to a plant farm or a knowledgeable LFS to find out more) and a bunch of red plants.

Plant the different plants in groups at both sides of the tank till you have filled up the background. Then get the red bunch and plant it slightly off-centre in an eye pleasing way. If you want to use driftwood, make sure it complements the red bunch so there is unity in the scape