Dare I Try Planted....

[Rorie]

So, i just bought a second hand aquarium which is around 340L ish. Currently i have a 90L which is going well, but no plants. When i got the aquarium, i was informed that it was actually full of ADA gravel, and i was given all the bottles of plant juice too So, i am now going to start planning a planted aquarium to get the best out of it all.

I have some huge bits of granite - vertical pillar like things which look amazing. I have been lookng through a Takashi Amano book and getting ideas. I LOVE the wood with grass like plants growing on it, however, looking at Amano designs, he uses EITHER rocks, OR wood.

What i think would be great is to have one side high with plants in the back corner, with a large bit of wood that the fish can swim through. I want there to be grass like plants leading from that into the middle of the tank where it will stop. I then think having nothing, until the opposite side of the tank where i will have the big rock sticking up - so effectively a planted section with wood, getting gradually less, eventually turning to nothing, then a big open space, and a single tall rock sticking out.

So,

1. What do you all think of my idea - not the norm (having wood and rock)?
2. Does anybody have good examples of aquariums with wood and rock?
3. What plants would you suggest to create what i have in mind?
4. Where on earth do i buy wood from?!

Thanks

 

[kelvinrankin767]

Ebay is great for plants and boogwood but postage on bogwood can be expensive try your lfs for bogwood, i have bought all my plants on ebay and are doing great.

 

[myrtle]

There is no "norm" with planted tanks! Simply do what you think will look good to you, after all, you're the one who has to look at it day after day! I have 2 planted tanks, one with just stone and one with both stone and wood. If you think of your average river bed/lake there is both wood and stone. As I said, just do what you think will look good and if you like, try googling planted tanks or aquascaping and you'll see that there are many more styles than Amano's iwagumi!
Alot of scapes will have both rock and wood, although uite often they are hidden by the plants.