I normally try to visualise how I want the finished aquarium to look like - I have the picture in my mind and then try to recreate it. When creating a landscape painting I always prepare the canvas, lay all the background colours down, then build up in layers towards the focal point and then add finishing touches. It's similar with scaping an aquarium.
First sort out your background and substrate - put a lot of thought into this and how well the colours/textures will suit each other and the type of decor/plants/fish that you intend adding.
I arranged all my substrate/rocks/pebbles/sand, then my plants (mine are artificial plants now due to having cichlids who destroyed all the live plants I used to keep), I added a little bogwood and mopani on the sand, and a couple coconut shells. I made sure that I created natural territorial divisions in the tank and also hidey caves and areas hidden between plants for other hideouts (only the fish and I know where these are LOL).
Re plants - In my tanks I like the "clusters" look, so I have several of one type together, always taller plants at the back or sides (especially if you are trying to hide certain things like background joins, filters, thermostats etc) then graduate them out, finishing with smallest plants in the foreground. you don't have to fill up the tank with plants either, otherwise it can become just a tank of greenery (but, hey, some do like that).
Just as an idea, you could thin out your plants on the right and move some over to the left and see how that looks.
I also like to wedge plants in-between rocks and pebbles. And I don't like a completely flat substrate with all the plants spaced out uniformly in a row (boring in my mind). I like to see layers, slight levels, hills, bumps, plants at angles, differing heights, natural-looking imperfections etc LOL But that's just me and my preferences!
I spent ages arranging it all, staring at it (LOL), pondering and deliberating over the course of a week before I was happy to do the water fill.
We all like different things and that will be reflected in the type of aquarium we set up, whether that be a Barbie pink substrate with aquarium toys to amuse the fish, or a completely natural looking set up without a decoration in sight!
So long as your aquarium makes you feel happy and content inside when you sit and look at it, then you know you've done a good job, regardless of what anyone else may think of it.
We can all offer suggestions of how we'd scape your tank but it's much better if you can develop the art for yourself. To help, why not have a look on the forums in the members aquarium photos/videos to get an idea of things that really grab your attention and then from that you can come up with your own version of it, tailored to suit your own tank. Then as the months/years go by and you want a change, rearrange bits of it. You might get fed up of the boat at some point, which could be replaced with something else- wood, rocks, tree root...even Spongebob etc
Regards, Athena
First sort out your background and substrate - put a lot of thought into this and how well the colours/textures will suit each other and the type of decor/plants/fish that you intend adding.
I arranged all my substrate/rocks/pebbles/sand, then my plants (mine are artificial plants now due to having cichlids who destroyed all the live plants I used to keep), I added a little bogwood and mopani on the sand, and a couple coconut shells. I made sure that I created natural territorial divisions in the tank and also hidey caves and areas hidden between plants for other hideouts (only the fish and I know where these are LOL).
Re plants - In my tanks I like the "clusters" look, so I have several of one type together, always taller plants at the back or sides (especially if you are trying to hide certain things like background joins, filters, thermostats etc) then graduate them out, finishing with smallest plants in the foreground. you don't have to fill up the tank with plants either, otherwise it can become just a tank of greenery (but, hey, some do like that).
Just as an idea, you could thin out your plants on the right and move some over to the left and see how that looks.
I also like to wedge plants in-between rocks and pebbles. And I don't like a completely flat substrate with all the plants spaced out uniformly in a row (boring in my mind). I like to see layers, slight levels, hills, bumps, plants at angles, differing heights, natural-looking imperfections etc LOL But that's just me and my preferences!
I spent ages arranging it all, staring at it (LOL), pondering and deliberating over the course of a week before I was happy to do the water fill.
We all like different things and that will be reflected in the type of aquarium we set up, whether that be a Barbie pink substrate with aquarium toys to amuse the fish, or a completely natural looking set up without a decoration in sight!
So long as your aquarium makes you feel happy and content inside when you sit and look at it, then you know you've done a good job, regardless of what anyone else may think of it.
We can all offer suggestions of how we'd scape your tank but it's much better if you can develop the art for yourself. To help, why not have a look on the forums in the members aquarium photos/videos to get an idea of things that really grab your attention and then from that you can come up with your own version of it, tailored to suit your own tank. Then as the months/years go by and you want a change, rearrange bits of it. You might get fed up of the boat at some point, which could be replaced with something else- wood, rocks, tree root...even Spongebob etc
Regards, Athena
