Good Pictures Of A Hardscape Aquarium?

[kelp]

I was very inspired by the planted tanks I've seen around here, but the cost is just too high for me. Even low-tech tanks deal a blow to your wallet pretty heavily.
1. The new lighting fixtures are going to cost around $100+ just for around 2WPG
2. The substrate will cost around $40+ plus the hassle of removing the old gravel and installing the new gravel.
3. The plants themselves are going to cost around $100 with shipping.
And this is just for a 29 gallon tank. I could upgrade into my larger dream tank of 90 gallons for that price.

Now, a few pieces of rock and some driftwood would cost me $50 tops. But, I'm scared that it won't look as nice as a planted tank. Does anybody have any really nice looking hardscape aquarium pictures for my cheap self?

 

[kelp]

Dang,
I guess there's no such thing as a tank that looks nice without being massively planted.

 

[demonmagus]

not really, they just haven't been discovered

I think you should just go ahead and try it, loads of twiggy kinda branches would look pretty nice IMO

 

[Tessla]

You might want to check out some african hard-water cichlid tanks, those are usually all rockwork. It depends on the fish you want to keep, but an open tank with a few nice river rocks can look wonderful IMO.

My cheap self has always loved the planted tanks and I finally took the plunge... still haven't spent over $100 on it and have managed to plant my 20 and 10 gallons. Could be done cheaper if you bought fewer plants and let them grow into your tank, it would just take longer.
Used a mix of soil, peat and sand as a base layer with a layer of sand on top ~$10 at the hardware store
20 gallon plant pack from Aquarium Garden ~$50 shipped
Various impulse buys at the LFS over several months (because I can overstock fish but not plants!) ~$30

The plants have grown and continue to grow, not as fast as they could with CO2 and higher lighting (two flourescent tubes on the 20 gallon high, two compact flourescent bulbs in the 10 gallon) but well enough that I've had daughter plants from my swords and crypts and cuttings from a few stem plants in a few months. There's no instant pretty tank, it takes time and elbow grease but it can be done on a budget. If you gear your fish stocking around plants and focus on low light plants you'll probably have more success, mine get munched on constantly.