How To Aquascape

[arif_93]

I SET UP MY AQUA QUBE BUTIM NOT HAPPY WITH THE DESIGN FOR STARTERS I PICKED THE WRONG GRAVEL AND THEN I PICKED THE WRONG GROOUP OF PLANTS
CURRENTLY THERE IS 3 AMAZON SWORD IN THERE 2 LOOK NICE BUT 1 OF THEM IS MASSIVE TAKE UP THE WHOLE TANK 13 INCHES LONG. IM GONNA REMOVE THAT SECONDLY I HAVE VAL AT THE BACK LIKE A WALL THAT IS OK.
BUT MY BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THE FRONT OF MY TANK IT LOOKS BARE ALONG THE FLOOR BCUZ OF THE AMAZON SWORDS BEING SO HIGH UP AND I WANT TO CREATE A CARPET ALONG THE FLOOR
I HAVE SOME RICCIA THAT IM GONNA COVER TWO PEICES OF SLATE WITH AND I HAVE ORDERED 5 WISTERIA PLANTS 4 MICRO HAIRGRASS AND 4 SAGGITARIA NATANS
ANY IDEAS OF HOW I SHOULD AQUASCAPE THE TANK ONCE THE NEW PLANTS HAVE ARRIVED

HERE IS A PIC OF WHAT I WANT MY TANK TO LOOK LIKE


any advice needed and also advice on what other plants to purchase plx help me out

 

[nry]

I set my 54litre tank up 11 months ago. I am still swapping plants around to get the look I want

My thoughts are that there are two ways you can scape a tank:

1) Copy someone elses identically: it will never be identical because that is the nature of plants, but it can be a good start
2) Learn as you go

Initially decide on the hardscape, rocks, wood etc. Most people suggest to stick to one type of rock or one type of wood. Mixing them can work OK but it is not as easy I reckon. Positioning of these is also a key part of getting the design to look and feel right, there is something called the 'golden rule' which in simple terms makes suggestions on how to place objects to help create the right focus/balance etc in the tank.

Once you are happy with the hardscape you are left to sort out planting. This is probably the hardest part, though some people just seem to get it right straight away which is annoying Have a look on the Internet for the plantts you already have. Decide which are too big for your tank (possibly the amazon swords long term) and then work out which are smaller and suitable for the front and which are bigger and suitable for the back. There are so many ways to lay plants out, you could have high ones to the left tapering to small at the right, a big group in the middle, or anything you want really Generally carpeting plants need lots and lots of light and decent CO2 to prevent them growing upwards too much, alongside a decent fertilising scheme, though you will still likely need to prune them. I have yet to find a carpeting plant that works in my tank though I have got horrid pea-gravel which I will ditch one of these days!

I am kind of moving towards the 'less is more' concept, i.e. stick to a few plant types. In smaller tanks (at least in my opinion!) it is really hard to use lots of plants effectively, it can look a bit busy. But some like that, so it really is personal choice!

In the beginning of a new tank it is usually a good idea to stick in loads of fast growers and ignore the long term design plans. The fast growers should reduce algae build up and I would think a new tank will need these fast growers in for at least 4-6 weeks? Gradually replace them with the plants you want to have long term: I'm replacing my masses of cabomba slowly.

As with anything, you'll probably go through the learning process making mistakes, wishing you did things differently, but that is what makes it fun