Decorating Advice

[FanOFish]

Every day I see so many great looking aquariums in everyone's posted pictures that I think I need help.

My biggest issue is that my tank is a hex shape with very little bottom surface. I have attached the best picture I have and would welcome any suggestions other than buy a new tank .

Any suggestions to colors, background, gravel, plants, etc.
Thanks

 

[Exiled]

Hi FanOFish..... That's a very nice looking tank already!
I'm not sure if it's just an effect of the camera or whatever, but it looks to me like you could use some contrast between your rocks and substrate.
The rocks appear very red.... so I would go with a black substrate, if you plan on keeping the rocks and stuff in the tank. Hexes appear difficult to work with because of their height, but perhaps some very tall ribbon-like plants will looks nice in there as well.

 

[FanOFish]

Thanks Exiled, you're correct there is very little contrast. The rocks, driftwood, substrate and the large rock decoration in the back are all brown/orange.

The backing I have is black but is blue on the back, I was thinking about a change there for a bit more color.

I was looking at some tall plants online (silk) live plants don't do to well in the deep tank....

Any other suggestions?

 

[petitericeball]

i think either you need more of those big rocks on the bottom or get like sand or like java moss or something lie that

 

[Sasha]

Add a few more plants. The gravel blends in with everything in the tank and it needs a little more contrast. To provide a little contrast, I would add a little bag of white gravel to sofen the color up. My tank has brown gravel mixed with white gravel and it looks great!

 

[FanOFish]

Great ideas.....so far I think more plants and some new gravel. I don't know about pure white but maybe the natural with the cream colored stones.

Thanks again

 

[LoveMyOscar]

...

 

[Adrinal]

Good to see Exiled hasn't compleatly ditched us.


I love the layout of it already.

K this is what I would do... Tall spiral of rocks in the center - black slate, in relatively even squares, might be nice... All the way to the top!

I agree that the color needs a little love. I would actually get some red/green plants to blend the plant part in, instead of going red strait to green. If that rock in the back can be bleached white (it was origionally white right). That would do wonders in its self.

GL
Have fun.

 

[Exiled]

Good to see Exiled hasn't compleatly ditched us.

Perish the thought!!! It's just that my new job has me going a little nuts.... I haven't had two seconds to myself to relax.... But it's gettting better. I'm actually supposed to be working right now.

FanOFish: I'd love to see pics as you make changes
Have you thought about using Vallisneria (spelling?) I think it will look great in that tank!

 

[Gill]

love the look already.

what about using moondust color gravel's or as suggested black gravel.

I wonder if you can put those glow in the dark stars in a tank as they would provide a very strange effect.

anyone else tried them.

Also Craft stores are great for plants.
Will have to go and check out the Hobbycraft superstore.

 

[FanOFish]

Thanks for all the suggestions....I think I will add some substrate like that in the picture LoveMyOscar sent. I will probably just add some on top of what's there so as not to lose any good bacteria. Of course I will probably take this opportunity for a good vaccuming.

Adrinal, I don't think I can do the rocks because there's really no room because I want to keep the existing driftwood and background rock. However, I have some of the red/green plants I could put in and will look for more ideas for more plants.

Exiled - I assume Vallisneria is a plant? I will see if I can find a silk variety as real plants don't seem to do well in such a tall tank.

psgill00 - i've never seen the glo-n-dark stars in a tank although my daugher has them on her ceiling fan. Looking to keep it more natural looking....thanks

 

[wuvmybetta]

hmmmm
I like your rockwork and your driftwood, definately leave that!

Live plants are hard to keep in hexes, been there,done that. The only live plant I had luck with in my hex was Thai onion, it was gorgeous and very tall, actually laid across the surface, then I chopped the bulbs with a gravel vac . I bought it from a lady on eBay and since it's tall, it's easy to grow

Everybodies had fantastic ideas! Unfortunately...I'm not good at decorating advice

Only thing I could recommend is bubble walls on the back three walls, I did my very back wall and I want to add two more on the sides, I think it will look neat and I'd rather have that than a background