Beginner scaping help

[djlombar]

Reversing the wood has made me look at this a bit differently. I will offer my thoughts, they may give you ideas or rethinking, in the end it is your tank. I have a basic desire to always go "nature" with wood, rock, plants in an aquarium.

I think the little piles of rocks/pebbles around the branch ends are really artificial, made moreso by there not being rocks anywhere else.

The shape of the wood now concerns me, and if I had this I would try it in every possible placement. One that might work more naturally is to have the branches sticking out into the water at an angle. The main "stem" might look better if it was sort of "held" by rocks at the back. Hard to put into words. I'll see if I can find some photos from my tanks to illustrate.

I'm not set on anything necessarily. And I know it's my tank but I do want to have a more natural look and I'm an engineer so natural tends not to be my thing

 

[djlombar]

These two photos of my 90g tank have a couple uses for river rock (representing pebbles and boulders).

Beautiful!

 

[Rocky998]

I forgot to add... Sorry.
It's your tank and it's what you will be looking at for the fish's life.
So it has to be something you like as well and can't just be what we tell you, BUT I will say you also have to think about what species of fish will be in the tank.
Research their environments and what they have in the water.
Do the fish you want like caves or do they like plant coverage? Or are they top dwellers that like tall plants giving them a "forest" like area.

 

[KiwiGal77]

I much prefer the wood like this, think it looks great and flows left to right much better.

I agree with not making separate piles of rocks like that, as it looks quite artificial. I would keep some at the base, but then also spread some around the tank to tie everything together - keeping them all angled from that back left to front right to create flow. Keep some together, have the odd one on its own, then place smaller pebbles around them to blend them with the sand.

I would also move the cave wood so that it it isn't joined to the end of the large wooden piece and then angle it to match the angle of the two main branches coming down.

 

[djlombar]

@Beastije @Byron @Rocky998 @KiwiGal77 @Stan510 Messed around a bit more...note I have small pebbles I'll fill in to soften still, just don't want to have to keep moving them (also put the light on to reduce glare)

 

[Rocky998]

Messed around a bit more...note I have small pebbles I'll fill in to soften still, just don't want to have to keep moving them (also put the light on to reduce glare)

The last picture looks really nice! I would just say to take some of the rocks out because it seems too aligned to be natural when it's spread out like that.
So I would take some out and then also remember to push some down into the sand! Cause that makes it look like it's part way buried. Not all rocks will be fully out in nature.
Just an idea. Remember, if you really like the way it is now, then leave it!

 

[djlombar]

And one more in a completely different direction... obviously plant-heavy on the right

 

[Rocky998]

And one more in a completely different direction... obviously plant-heavy on the right

I mean if you like that I think it's alright but definitely not something I would do...

 

[djlombar]

I mean if you like that I think it's alright but definitely not something I would do...

Just trying something different

 

[Rocky998]

Just trying something different

Yah yah! I totally get it! My tank was a complete mess and I still feel like it is... I wanted to become hulk and throw the dang tank out the window
I understand the pain of getting thr setup "just right"

 

[Byron]

What does it look like when you turn the wood on its side? Have the thickest "stem" part at the back on its side, with the thinner branches poking out and up into the water. This is an odd piece of wood, but I still think something can be made of it that is natural and unique.

 

[Lynnzer]

I've been down to my LFS today.
They've just had a delivery and I JUST LOVE THE CONGO TETRAS.
they have the most gorgeous sheen in multiple colours. They also have a different shape.
Personally I think would be changing from Neon/Cardinal Tetras to the Congos. It's a large tank and would give it a lot of colour and movement.

 

[djlombar]

What does it look like when you turn the wood on its side? Have the thickest "stem" part at the back on its side, with the thinner branches poking out and up into the water. This is an odd piece of wood, but I still think something can be made of it that is natural and unique.

Like this? Between the width and height of the tank it can't really be moved any differently.

 

[djlombar]

I've been down to my LFS today.
They've just had a delivery and I JUST LOVE THE CONGO TETRAS.
they have the most gorgeous sheen in multiple colours. They also have a different shape.
Personally I think would be changing from Neon/Cardinal Tetras to the Congos. It's a large tank and would give it a lot of colour and movement.

I'll take a look!

 

[Lynnzer]

The Congo tetra Phenacogrammus interruptus is the African characin most widely traded. It is of medium size and exhibits strong sexual dimorphism. Males are up to 8 cm in length and have very long, flamboyant fins; females are a bit smaller and their fins aren’t nearly so well developed. Both sexes are covered with large, iridescent scales that shimmer violet, blue or yellow depending on the light.