Advise On Changing Tank Layout?

[jameshiggins]

hi there here is a pic of my current tank layout

which has been ok for around 6months, but now the fish are growing (1jd,2gt and 2 firemouths) they are starting too destroy the plants as i was told, so i need to change they layout completly, i will be putting new sand in for a start and hopefully putting some rocks in simular to the ones in pic below.

just after some suggestions on wot would be suitable for the fish i thing i will need to change the bogwood in the middle for something taller.

any ideas would be much apprechiated and also wot would you suggest doing with the fish wilse changing over, because i should imagine it will get quite 'messy' changing the sand

james

 

[ox5477]

If your getting tired of them tearing up the real plants, then I recommend using some silk plants mixed in with a few pieces of bogwood to divide up the tank. Is that a 55G tank? I can't tell fromt he pic how deep it is. If it is a 55, you might see some aggression issues if you haven't already. It is usually par to have either one JD or one GT per 45G so it will be a little tight for life. I have seen overstocked tanks work though, and if your not seeing any crazy aggression going on, then why change something that isn't broken.

O, and a favor? Got a pic of the JD up close. i see your avatar is the JD, but I would like to see a bigger pic. I'm a JD lover

 

[jameshiggins]

it is a 45, will be upgrading to at least a 5 foot within 6 months or so, i just realy like the look of them big rocks but wondering if it would look strange as mines only 18" tall. fancy a change, any idea wot to do about fish wen changing sand.

heres my jd

thanks
jame

 

[ox5477]

How big is it, Maybe 3" from comparing it to the plant size? Looks like a male from the lack of color splothes on the jawline and gill plate but the fins look too round to be a male. Interesting, could still be developing from it's juve state. Very beautiful none the less



EDIT: I guess I should add too... glad to hear your upgrading, don't want to see any of these wonderful fish hurt eachother, and when full grown, I'm sure they will appreciate the extra room

slate would make a wonderful addition to any tank. it will not be as huge and ominous as the rocks you have shown, but if stacked corredtly with bogwood and plants, can look great... just takes a little patience and rearranging a couple times until you get it the way you want it

 

[jameshiggins]

probs around 4 inch now quite a old pic, another thought was oceon rock much like the malawis tend to have i thought you shouldnt do this due to calcium, but my lfs said its ok theeres lots in the tap water here anyway. wot do you think of that?