Any Recommendations For Background?

[KittyKat]

The tank:




The challenge:

The Crypts on the left? I want them out!


The details:

The tank is low maintenance: I only occasionally add some root tabs. Lights are 2× 30W on for 10 hours. W/C 10-20% once per week. No CO[sub]2[/sub], and basically no ferts. Tank is viewed from front and right.

So far I have come up with two options:
1. Rip the Crypts out and put something new in (here is where I want some suggestions).
2. There is a sword behind the wood which I will be spiting (it has started to propagate by root) and then re-plant only one of the two into the corner. In that case, I would still want something to fill the place behind the wood where it currently is (about 1/4 of the way from the left side of the tank.

For obvious reasons, stem plants don't like this tank.

I do not mind fast-growing plants, but I would like something with will not require attention from me to *make it grow*. I can get almost all plants available to the trade quite easily.

 

[jpeterson]

You could use Echinodorus uruguayensis as a back ground. Keep the crypts but put them over to the right of the tank.

 

[Carlovel1]

What about some Hemianthus micranthemoides?
And nice tank

 

[Jamepsss]

The tank:




The challenge:

The Crypts on the left? I want them out!


The details:

The tank is low maintenance: I only occasionally add some root tabs. Lights are 2× 30W on for 10 hours. W/C 10-20% once per week. No CO[sub]2[/sub], and basically no ferts. Tank is viewed from front and right.

So far I have come up with two options:
1. Rip the Crypts out and put something new in (here is where I want some suggestions).
2. There is a sword behind the wood which I will be spiting (it has started to propagate by root) and then re-plant only one of the two into the corner. In that case, I would still want something to fill the place behind the wood where it currently is (about 1/4 of the way from the left side of the tank.

For obvious reasons, stem plants don't like this tank.

I do not mind fast-growing plants, but I would like something with will not require attention from me to *make it grow*. I can get almost all plants available to the trade quite easily.

Beautiful tank you've got there Kitty Kat, very well done. Are they the Pygmy chain swords you promised me that I can see in the foreground?

I know it's an obvious choice but what about some vallis?

 

[elisew]

The tank:




The challenge:

Your tank looks amazing!!
Normally I`d say I can`t see why you`d want to change it but knowing what I`m like for always changing my tank around I actually can understand.

 

[KittyKat]

You could use Echinodorus uruguayensis as a back ground. Keep the crypts but put them over to the right of the tank.

The Sword which is behind the wood is already trying to take over at every opportunity, I don't think both will have enough space for the roots in that tank! ..especially if they'll be right next to each other

There isn't actually enough space for me to plant the rest of the crypts on the right! Also if I sell them, then they will pay for any new plants

What about some Hemianthus micranthemoides?
And nice tank

Thanks! That was actually my personal choice, I just didn't voice it to see if anyone would suggest it How do you think it will do with the lack of nutrients in the water column? I would hope it could reach the top of the tank quickly as the pots of it which I can get are only 10cm tall..

Beautiful tank you've got there Kitty Kat, very well done. Are they the Pygmy chain swords you promised me that I can see in the foreground?

I know it's an obvious choice but what about some vallis?

You're going to like this: the plant in the left-foreground is twisted vallis so no, it isn't the chain sword for you! That is in another tank

 

[Jamepsss]

You're going to like this: the plant in the left-foreground is twisted vallis so no, it isn't the chain sword for you! That is in another tank

I do like this, I can't believe that's vallis in the foreground. I didn't think you could keep it short like that?

Come on then let's see the other tank

 

[ian]

personally, i would leave it. Ripping one side of crypts out and adding something else won't do the 'look' any favours IMO as you have crypts on the right which compliment the crypts on the left. If you ripped all the crypts out that'd be a different story.

 

[KittyKat]

personally, i would leave it. Ripping one side of crypts out and adding something else won't do the 'look' any favours IMO as you have crypts on the right which compliment the crypts on the left. If you ripped all the crypts out that'd be a different story.

...keep talking...

 

[ian]

the only problem ripping that amount of plants out would be, that you're gonna upset that 'balance' that many struggle to achieve. It looks like you have achieved it and done it well. The only plants i would recommend that would suit this scape would be different species of Crypts, but i would really leave it alone as you have struck the bio 'balance' and the actetic balance IMO. You have also hit the colour balance as well, the nice bright green just off center leading out to the crypts. See what others say, but i wouldn't do anything lightly with this tank.

BTW good photography.

 

[KittyKat]

You're going to like this: the plant in the left-foreground is twisted vallis so no, it isn't the chain sword for you! That is in another tank

I do like this, I can't believe that's vallis in the foreground. I didn't think you could keep it short like that?

Well.. normally it doesn't.. but again, it is one of the plants which has never quite "agreed" with the tank, so I always got very odd behaviour out of the Vallis in there. Some of the plants on the left are now starting to get taller, so I will move them toward the back as some point!

the only problem ripping that amount of plants out would be, that you're gonna upset that 'balance' that many struggle to achieve. It looks like you have achieved it and done it well. The only plants i would recommend that would suit this scape would be different species of Crypts, but i would really leave it alone as you have struck the bio 'balance' and the actetic balance IMO. You have also hit the colour balance as well, the nice bright green just off center leading out to the crypts. See what others say, but i wouldn't do anything lightly with this tank.

Hmm, I probably should have mentioned that I already ripped out 80% of the crypts because they were taking over the tank to the point where I couldn't see anything else because of them.. thanks for the advice though, I am now reconsidering leaving them in

 

[Skittle]

Kat, beautiful tank!!

What type of Crypts are they? Love the crinkly leaves

 

[KittyKat]

They are Crypt. wendtii "brown"

 

[Skittle]

Ah lovely
Crypts are so underated!
How long's the tank been up and running for?

 

[myrtle]

If this was my tank, it would be the right hand ones I'd move! If they went to the left a bit then it would help draw the eye to the focal point just off centre left. However, that is only if you were really definite that you wanted to change it a bit. IMO there's not anything else that could 'improve' a fabulous looking tank like that.