Ideas for scaping a narrow tank

[Coldfire]

Hello,

I am in the midst of setting up a planted tank but the biggest problem I am facing is the tank size that I can accomodate due to space constraint.

In fact my tank size will be 100 cm length 20 cm width and 65 cm in height .......

any suggestions how I can go about doing this?

Appreciate views and pics

[vinz]

What's behind the tank? Wall? Or see through? Mounted in a cabinet or wall (i.e. can we look in from the sides)?

Just to start off, for the tall plants, you should stick to those that require less width, like Cyperus helferi and Vallisneria family. Forget about a tank-length foreground. Your mid-height plants will probably dominate the sides all the way up to the front, with your short foreground plants occupying only a portion of the length of the tank.

Another option is to have the tall plants at the sides only, mid-height plants next towards the middle and the short plants in the middle. U-shape. Sort of a cross-section of a river?

Another one is no tall plants at all. Instead, go for an empty wall, probably black, or a moss wall. Then the mid-ground starts at the back of the tank. For this, you need a striking mid-height (probably 3/4 height) focus like a set of rocks or wood. Branchy wood will give the impression of depth.

[StanChung]

How about a 3" diameter trunk with windelov or some other ferns on it 'suspended' across the tank.
You can plant an E. tennelus lawn if you can squeeze enough light on top. I estimate you can only fit 4X55W PL's max.

[vinz]

Building on Stan's idea...

I think for a tank like this, simple would the way to go, with less variety of plants. Instead use hard scape like rocks and wood to create the impression of depth. Note: less variety of plants, not less plants.

For a tall narrow tank like this, you'll be hard pressed to squeeze enough lights to grow really light demanding short plants.

[Coldfire]

Thank you Stan and Vinz ..... I am really impressed and the ideas already sound like a great scape in the making.

I will fiddle around and hunt for the plants. I will try and post the pic and development of the tank.

Cheers.

[syburn]

do these long size tanks need 2 filters?

[StanChung]

One with a 3-4X flowrate is good enough IMO.

[vinz]

You can follow the rule of thumb for filter capacity/flow rate vs tank volume. But for a long tank, you might want to think about splitting the return hose to two locations. And even the intake hose.

[syburn]

for splitting, do you mean 2 intakes at one end and 2 supply tubes at the opposite?

Actually I was thinking of a 4" long tank which I suppose id not that long more most of you.