Tank too busy? [Archive]

traco

10-21-2006, 06:14 PM

I've dismantled another tank and have 2 pieces of driftwood that could go into my 90 gallon.

I'm looking at the tank as is and it seems too "busy"? If the 2 new pieces go in, way too much? I got some wisteria yesterday that I will plant. Oh and the heaters are crooked as I've been playing with getting the right temp.

My 3 swords on the right side front are growing. I add fertilizer tablets under the roots for them. The "tall" grass on the right side of the pre-filter is not doing great, slowly dying back. The lower grass on the left side of the pre-filter is doing fine. I also have some crypts that are doing well on both sides of the tank. Anubias and java fern are attached to the piece of wood currently in there. There is a piece of driftwood with java fern attached in the center of the tank.

No Co2 or plans to have that. Dosing by root tabs is easy to do. Would liquid fertilizers do anything? Lighting works out to around 2 watts, low I know but that is all I have for lighting.

Any ideas for placement of the pieces of wood and moving plants around would be appreciated. The swords I'd like to keep where they are as I don't want to tempt fate, move them and then they die

Tank as is.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b127/traco1/IMG_3427.jpg

driftwood
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b127/traco1/IMG_3431.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b127/traco1/IMG_3430.jpg

pcsb23

10-21-2006, 06:28 PM

Tina, the tank looks scattered rather than busy, no cohesion. I would be tempted to pull the "grass" thats dieing. Also if you put the driftwood in, you could do it in such a way as to tie in the various parts of the tank.

BTW with heaters I find em easier to sync upright, and I'd fill the tank to the underside of the trim too!

I would half bury the plant pot to give a cave efect at an oblique anle to the front, then the smaller peice of driftwood friont right of it, the larger pice then could either run rear left towards the centre of front left backwards.

By looking at the tank in triangles you can quickly get to a balanced view. Then you can tune it to suit your personal preference. Hope that makes at least some sense :)

Oh and stick the thermometer in a corner ;)

traco

10-21-2006, 06:39 PM

It really does look tacky, doesn't it?:p In my defence, the water level is where it's at right now as I was filling a bucket with tank water to scrub the new pieces of wood. The heaters I'll position better now that I've got the temp where I want it.

pcsb23

10-21-2006, 06:42 PM

Tacky is a bit harsh :D it needs some structure is all, either through the planting or the wood (or both).

For inspiration have a look at this
http://www.aquarium-gardening.com/collections.php

marilyn1998

10-21-2006, 08:18 PM

Barb,

Like Paul siad, just need to tie it together. I used the triangle method for my tank. Now I am tying it together. Easier siad than done and takes time.

Use the extra driftwood. Use the plants to make it seem like two or more pieces are really one larger one.

In the link Paul gave, there is a tank about 1/3 of the way down that is the first with a bunch of angels. You can do something like that. Seems that it has all the plants you do!!!

No need for CO2 with your plants. You just need more. And your equipment is what is making it look confused. I know you are gonna change that as soon as the tank settles in. I like it!!

lhforbes12

10-21-2006, 08:49 PM

Barb,
I mainly agree with Paul, (actually the only thing I disagree with is your name) <grin> especially about getting the water level beyond the plastic trim (better light for the plants believe it or not) and also that you need to group a little better. DEFINATELY add the driftwood!

The two pieces you have appear fairly small, I think maybe conbining them just a bit off-center would look good. You could also try an "Amano U", but you would need a bit more driftwood (for an idea of what I'm talking about think of my 125, it's a modified Amano U).

Other than that I agree with everything Paul said (and I also think his aquascaping ideas are excellent, I was just trying to expand your horizons as it were).

lhforbes12

10-21-2006, 09:07 PM

I almost forgot. Here is another very good link for viewing what others have done http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2006.cgi

AmberC

10-21-2006, 09:46 PM

I agree too Barb! Stick those in there! You remember my tank right? ;) Just play with it and rearrange until you look at it and OMG.. its right! :p

traco

10-21-2006, 11:30 PM

Okay, hours and hours later, I've moved things around and figured I'd better give the fish a break. And of course, my batteries are dead so I'll have to take some pics tomorrow. But thank you for all your replies. Let's see how I did with your instructions. :sun:

lhforbes12

10-22-2006, 12:58 AM

<Gasp> No PICTURES????!!! :angry:

Timbo

10-22-2006, 10:07 AM

I almost forgot. Here is another very good link for viewing what others have done http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2006.cgiwhoa! some nice tanks there man. some of these are gorgeous! http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2003.cgi?&op=showcase&category=0&vol=3&id=73

traco

10-22-2006, 04:13 PM

lhforbes12

10-22-2006, 04:16 PM

MUCH better. Move the driftwood in the center towards the front slightly, just enough to be able to put a plant behind it.

traco

10-22-2006, 04:27 PM

Larry, a tall sword for there? I could stick the bolbitis back in there behind the piece of driftwood.

Sure wish the weather was warmer (you know, for shipping special plants up into the North cold country?):D

traco

10-22-2006, 04:34 PM

http://www.aquariumplants.com/

Ooo, ooo, this place has a site here in Canada, back east. Wonder if it would be worth it shipping plants to here. Lots to choose from.

*shipping is $30.00 roughly.... sigh..... way too much ~ it would cost more for the shipping than the actual plants!

lhforbes12

10-22-2006, 04:35 PM

Actually I was thinking something tall but skinny. Like most stem plants or Vals. I always dislike putting swords directly in the center because they are "centerpiece plants" and look too contrived if not off set some. In other words I like the driftwood far back, just not quite that far

jpfelix

10-22-2006, 04:38 PM

yes, much better indeed! i'd let the wist. grow behind the driftwood. at least until you get a different centerpiece back there. it won't take long for the wist. to completely mask your driftwood.

traco

10-22-2006, 04:54 PM

Thanks you guys. I'll have to get some more substrate in there for whatever I plant and will try a few pieces of the wisteria there and hopefully, it will do fine and grow.

marilyn1998

10-22-2006, 04:56 PM

Barb it is looking great!!!! I agree to allow room for that wisteria. As it grows tall it will also grow side to side. What are the plants on the fron right? Crypt wendtii? The only change I would see is to turn your pot so the top is showing in fron not the bottom. it will showcase that plant better.

I love it!!

pcsb23

10-22-2006, 05:21 PM

Okay, here is a shot of the current setup. I didn't want to fiddle anymore in the tank last night; give the fish and myself a break.:) It looks a bit sparse, I took out the scraggly plant in the middle which was tall. I planted the wisteria on both sides back so hopefully they will grow and fill in?

Better, worse, okay, ... ?
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b127/traco1/IMG_3440.jpg

Definitely better. Some placement suggestions. The plant pot turn it through 110 degrees to the right and place itabout 6 to 8" left of where it is, still against the driftwood. Now the driftwood centre back with the fern on it pull it forwards about 10 - 12 " towards the front of the tank, enough to put something behind it, something like E.Osiris or E. Rubin wuld be an excellent feature plant imo there. Now at the front you could have some crypts in there, or try some E. Tennellus (but it will spread!).

You may not like any of my suggestions, as thats all they are, it is very much trial and error. It is fun though :)

lhforbes12

10-22-2006, 06:41 PM

AmberC

10-22-2006, 07:27 PM

Wow Barb that looks really great! Man.. I should have sent you all my plants! I didn't even think about sending the plants to people! :(

traco

10-22-2006, 10:03 PM

Ahem ..... did you notice my thermometer is now placed off side? And my heaters are upright and straight?:D Still some tidying up to do, that pot was just placed there as a last thing before I finished. I'm away from the tank the next couple of days but will tidy up when I get back. But thank you for your input, muchly appreciated.:D

I'm not as far as some of you but at least the plants in there are surviving and growing. I do enjoy what is in there, no leaves dying, falling off and floating around loose. Trial and error, I'm finding out, for what works in my tank.:)

wolfbane

10-22-2006, 10:21 PM

Wow Barb! That is much better, more pleasing to the eye!

traco

10-22-2006, 10:50 PM

Thanks Debbie. It is a big change from before. The fish aren't even freaked out with all the moving around of stuff. Now I just have to wait patiently for the plants to fill out.

LizStreithorst

10-23-2006, 09:03 AM

What a transformation! Isn't it amazing what a bit of expert guidance can accomplish? Now y'all have me lusting to get my 125 planted again. Too many other fish room projects take precedence.

pcsb23

10-23-2006, 12:11 PM

Ahem ..... did you notice my thermometer is now placed off side?

Well I didn't notice it in the middle, is that the same thing? :D

And my heaters are upright and straight?:D Still some tidying up to do, that pot was just placed there as a last thing before I finished. I'm away from the tank the next couple of days but will tidy up when I get back. But thank you for your input, muchly appreciated.:D

Heaters look better that way to me in a planted tank. Which reminds me I must straighten mine up!

I'm not as far as some of you but at least the plants in there are surviving and growing. I do enjoy what is in there, no leaves dying, falling off and floating around loose. Trial and error, I'm finding out, for what works in my tank.:)
Plants surviving and growing is an achievement in itself, anyway planted tanks should eveolve as plants grow etc, thats part of the fun. :)

marilyn1998

10-23-2006, 02:10 PM

You are doing a great job Barb!!! I, too, get a plant, grow it, move it, keep it or lose it based on how it is doing in what position in the tank.

Last night Jim said, "I doubt you will ever be done 'fixing' that tank!"

HE is right! Keep up the good work!

GrillMaster

10-23-2006, 08:27 PM

Hi ya Barb!

The tank is a lil to busy with all the equipment that is showing IMO...

Get yerself a lot of swords with root tabs under them, an try an hide all the equipment. It will make the tank less busy, an the Discus will feel right at home. Swords are really cheap, thrive in low light, take up alot of space an people are always willin to give ya some at shippin cost.

Pull the wood up in the mid ground, right of center, an place the swords in the back ground. Get some crypts, an place them around the wood. They will spread, so you can move them where ya want later on once everything is growin good. Again crypts are always goin for shippin costs if ya look in the right places...:D I would send ya some, but Al(brewmaster15) is goin to take up my supply...

marilyn1998

10-24-2006, 10:29 AM

Al is coming over to the darkside?????????????????????????????????????????? ??

Another one bites the dust!

AmberC

10-24-2006, 10:54 AM

GrillMaster

10-25-2006, 10:04 PM

I like it and once things start really growing you can propogate them and you dont have to buy any more plants! lol Thats how I got all those plants. Just bought a few and let it grow. It went from this:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/CristaMeganMommy/Fish%20stuff/DSC04785.jpg

to this.. in only a few months!:

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/CristaMeganMommy/Fish%20stuff/DSC09551.jpg

Ah wisteria...

Inject C02 an you will get that in a couple weeks!!:D Great starter plant very good nitrate sponge. That with swords an sags in the foreground arranged around the wood. Couple a months you will be pullin the wisteria out, an lettin the swords take over...;)

lhforbes12

10-25-2006, 10:13 PM

Hey! That piece of wood looks oddly familiar! Even the plants on it look familiar...

Timbo

10-26-2006, 09:34 AM

but what happened to the discus? dont see any in the 2nd pic (that tank looks very nice btw Amber, good job!)