How do I rescape this tank?

[Red15]

Hi guys! So I'm thinking about rescaping this 42 gallon tank of mine that as you can see has turned into a mess in the 6 months I've owned it. And I have zero idea what I should do!
It's 2.5 feet in length, 1.5 feet in both height and depth and a low tech tank.
What I have in mind right now is to cover the white sand with aqua soil and make a carpet. Also, I would add some co2 tablets in regular basis.
In there, I have densa, coin plant, Amazon sword, hornwort and corymbosa compact. I also have 4 dragon rocks that are not right in size (sounds weird but it is my first tank and I wasn't really sure what I was buying when I visited the store for the first time) I'm thinking of getting some new plants too.
Please suggest me what I should do with it.

 

[Rocky998]

View attachment 153046

Hi guys! So I'm thinking about rescaping this 42 gallon tank of mine that as you can see has turned into a mess in the 6 months I've owned it. And I have zero idea what I should do!
It's 2.5 feet in length, 1.5 feet in both height and depth and a low tech tank.
What I have in mind right now is to cover the white sand with aqua soil and make a carpet. Also, I would add some co2 tablets in regular basis.
In there, I have densa, coin plant, Amazon sword, hornwort and corymbosa compact. I also have 4 dragon rocks that are not right in size (sounds weird but it is my first tank and I wasn't really sure what I was buying when I visited the store for the first time) I'm thinking of getting some new plants too.
Please suggest me what I should do with it.

Dont get new plants, just add on to them! I used some dragon rock and black substrate in my tank... Its even the same size as yours! I will try to find a picture that I posted

 

[Rocky998]

This is kinda an older picture... but it hasn't changed too much... The water is clearer than it is in this pic but you can still mostly see the design

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

If you are in the UK, you might want to get plants and hardscape from here:

Aquarium Gardens

Aquarium Plants and Planted Aquarium Supplies UK. Buy live aquatic plants online, algae free & shrimp safe guaranteed, high European quality, suitable for tropical and cold-water fish tanks.

www.aquariumgardens.co.uk

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

It would probably look nice if you encircle the dragon stone with plants. Maybe get some tall, carpet or floating to create a lush look for all levels of the tank. I would add some wood too. And, wait, don't forget to add SNAILS!

 

[Rocky998]

It would probably look nice if you encircle the dragon stone with plants. Maybe get some tall, carpet or floating to create a lush look for all levels of the tank. I would add some wood too. And, wait, don't forget to add SNAILS!

Not the pest snails though

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

But most importantly, use what you have! And the snails...

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Not the pest snails though

Totally true! @Red15 not the pest snails, never the pest snails!

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

What are you eventually going to stock it with? Which fish? Shrimp? Snails?

 

[Red15]

What are you eventually going to stock it with? Which fish? Shrimp? Snails?

First, thank you guys for replying!
Well, right now I have molly, swordtail, guppy, neon tetra and a pair of SAE in there. I think I would get a pair of micky mouse candy platy and a pair of koi swordtail but that's all for now.

 

[Red15]

Oh, another question. If I want to cover the ground, what carpeting plant should I use? Monte Carlo? Hair grass? Maybe java moss?
I don't have CO2, but if I use the tablets, what plant do you think would be the best?

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

First, thank you guys for replying!
Well, right now I have molly, swordtail, guppy, neon tetra and a pair of SAE in there. I think I would get a pair of micky mouse candy platy and a pair of koi swordtail but that's all for now.

First of all, guppies freak the life out of me. Read my introduction post as to why.
Neons would like a densely grown tank so you could have half filled with plants of different sizes.
I hope to see a few snails come soon but if you already have SAE, might not be necessary.

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Oh, another question. If I want to cover the ground, what carpeting plant should I use? Monte Carlo? Hair grass? Maybe java moss?
I don't have CO2, but if I use the tablets, what plant do you think would be the best?

Even if you are not in the UK, some here might give you inspiration :

Aquarium Carpet Plants - Aquarium Gardens

Aquarium Carpet Plants from Aqaurium Gardens. Multi buy discounts apply across the entire range of carpet plants, Hemianthus Callitrichoides, Glossostigma, Dwarf Hairgrass and more.

www.aquariumgardens.co.uk

I have no idea how CO2 works on plants;I have never used it.

 

[Red15]

Have you ever kept red plants? I was thinking of getting some rotala rotundifolia pink but I'm not so sure if that would color at least somewhere close to pink in a low tech.

 

[StripySnailGirl04]

Have you ever kept red plants? I was thinking of getting some rotala rotundifolia pink but I'm not so sure if that would color at least somewhere close to pink in a low tech.

No I haven't with the exception of one I don't remember that turned purple and died. Maybe it wasn't even red to begin with. I think it was called purple stricta.
Useful links:

Red Plants

ekm location ekm

www.aquariumgardens.co.uk

4 Tips for Achieving Red Aquarium Plants

4 Tips for Achieving Red Aquarium Plants

www.google.com

It seems like you will need some CO2 for red plants. I wouldn't bother. For me, nana plants work best in my tank.