At What Point Do You Rip It Apart?

[craynerd]

Guys,

I`ve had my tank about 3 months now and i`m very happy with everything that i have learnt, ALL of which credit goes to you guys and ladies!

BUT i know know i can do so much better!!! SO so so much better!

Plant choice, hardware choice and aquascaping! I could make it looks so much more natural and elegant. I feel the current layout has little hope of ever getting to this stage since too much needs to be done! For starters i wouldnt use a sand substrate, i`d be more careful over my plant choice and i`d have a more solid design/hardscape before i started!

I can already see it now!!!

But i`ve come so far already, maybe i would just be jumping the gun again, only to realise that there is far more to learn with this tank and soon want to start again!

I seriously cant have another tank, the Mrs has put her foot down so thats out of the question!

My question is, to all those with quality tanks or been in the same situation as me now, when did you decide, ok lets start again from scratch or what would you advise me to do?
Looking back now at true quality planted tanks (and everyone knows exactly what i mean by that) it just makes me depressed, cuz i know my current hardscape can never get to a stage near that no matter how hard i try, its either leave it or completely start over!

Regards
Chris

 

[AndyTaylor]

Chris,

We all feel like this about our tanks.....RELAX! enjoy the tank, it looks beautiful and there's loads more to learn from it, you're right on that point.
Change little things around before you start worrying about tearing it up and starting again.
One thing i've learned lately is that it's not so difficult to redo a tank, even if it is up and running with fish in.....

I so agree with you about the sand.....no tank of mine will ever have play sand in it again!!

Andy

 

[Qays]

why not? Is sand hard too care for?

 

[riverman444]

Sand sucks!!!

I feel the same way. There are days I want to rip my tank apart, but then there are days I love it.

Love Hate

 

[craynerd]

Riverman...i love my tank all the time! I think its great and am 100% impressed with the way it looks! BUT i know i can do better and got better designs and understanding in my head!!

If it was crap, no question i`d rip it apart tomorrow. Its not, i really like it! Its just the fact that i COULD do MUCH better!

With regards to sand, i actually like the looks ect and growth is ok. I just feel from what people have said that my plants would do better in something less compact (eg 3mm gravel)

 

[riverman444]

I've had far better luck with fine gravel versus sand.

I love my tank too, but always want to change stuff. The only thing keeping me from having tanks like jim and the others is time. I work WAYYYY too much to devote enough time for a set-up like that. I have to keep it maganeable withing the few hours I get at night. I work from 8 in the morning until 9, sometimes 10 at night.

My 30 gallon pic is up there today.

 

[RYO]

I know where your coming from here Chris. I bit the bullet with my 60L (120 next ) It wasn't that i didn't like it, it was a case of " I can do better than that " and the more i looked at my tank (and looked at stunning tanks on here) the more it peed me off . I had a few days off so i said sod it and went for it.
Sand has its place and can look stunning on some setups, but for the planties we are a tad limited in its use.
I look at the growth between my two tanks and the sand doesn't compete. Eco complete for me next.

 

[simonbrown403]

bare with it mate i felt like that when i first started, it dose get better, as you learn how plants grow.
Try to let things grow before you start to demolish things, or else you will not get an idea of whats going on and how individual plants grow.

But then again saying that, you will never be happy if your anything like us, i know it doesnt help .

 

[lljdma06]

I wouldn't get too frustrated Craynerd. Sometimes all you need is BAM! One plant and everything falls into place. If you're happy with the tank, then let it settle a bit and change a few things here and there. I constantly tweak, for me it's part of the fun of going planted. Even better when I'll have 5 tanks to toy with when I move back to Miami. Sorry for the extra gloat FKNM. I know you don't have an extra tank, Craynerd, but just enjoy what you have and take pride in the fact that you are growing some pretty healthy plants.

llj

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Happy with our tanks NEVER!!!!.

Mine is realy realy realy bad, i like you craynard feel exactly the same, I though have a Mrs that doesnt mind me having as many tanks as I want but my bank manager proberbly does.

With me its not a case of should I ? Its can i afford it? and at the moment its SOOOOOOOO flippin anoying that i cant. And like you i know what i want but the biggest outlay is in the hard wear ( ADA as you know is very ££££££), so im constantly thinking about when and how im going to do a better setup and im always peeved.

One thing i will say is the grass is always greener on the other side.

Dont let ya self get under the thumbe matey.