I need help

[Elisabeth83]

It's all in my title. I am never happy with my tanks layouts. I try and try to make the layout of the wood, stones and plants nice and they never look right. I can't do all live plants right now so I am using a mix of live (low light), plastic and silk. I want it so the plants are thick enough that I can't see the back/bottom of the tanks.

Are there any sites that can maybe help me with tank design/layout? Yesterday I was so frusterated after spending 45 mins changing things in my 55 gallon that in the end I just gave up because I wasn't happy with anything

Do any of you know some tips like the best place to put plants, wood etc???

 

[Bloo]

This Aquascaping article might be of help

 

[Dubby]

Here are a few award winning entries to give you some ideas http/showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2005.cgi

 

[Elisabeth83]

Here are a few award winning entries to give you some ideas http/showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2005.cgi

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Seeing those aquariums just make me want to cry But they do give you some inspiration.

I read the article you posted bloozoo2 that helped quite a bit..I just wish I could see more examples.

 

[modernhamlet]

I completely understand your predicament, Elisabeth. I'm considering a new planted tank soon and yes, what you're looking for just doesn't seem to be out there on the web. There are lots of articles about chemistry and CO2 and light, but very little in terms of aquascaping pictures and "how to". You just get the "end results" (which are wonderful to look at, but not terribly helpful...).

Definitely talk to the folks in the Plants and Planted Tanks forum here at TFF. It's a small, but very supportive community and there are some great threads to read.

Good luck!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Hahaha... just been lookin through the small tanks in the 2004 compatition.... Is Takashi Amano ever happy with a tank?

 

[modernhamlet]

Hahaha... just been lookin through the small tanks in the 2004 compatition.... Is Takashi Amano ever happy with a tank?

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No.

As far as I can tell, Amano is a brilliant artist, but a complete jerk.

 

[Elisabeth83]

I completely understand your predicament, Elisabeth. I'm considering a new planted tank soon and yes, what you're looking for just doesn't seem to be out there on the web. There are lots of articles about chemistry and CO2 and light, but very little in terms of aquascaping pictures and "how to". You just get the "end results" (which are wonderful to look at, but not terribly helpful...).

Definitely talk to the folks in the Plants and Planted Tanks forum here at TFF. It's a small, but very supportive community and there are some great threads to read.

Good luck!

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My plan is to do all planted tanks. First just try it on one of my smaller tanks like the lighting and CO2. I probably wont do it all fancy at least not all my tanks or my life would only consist of gardening my tanks I'd like to have 1-2 to really focus on.

I went to that website http/showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2005.cgi and yeah the plants and layouts are awesome but I'd like a kind of step-by-step guide as to how it's all done. It all makes me feel overwhelmed.

I'm not even really talking about live planted tanks either I'm just looking for basic tank design/plant layout using plastic plants. I'd love to find a book or site that uses pictures from begining to end.

I saw some books on amazon.com but I have no idea how good they are I would hate it if I bought them and it's just articles with no pictures

Oh and yeah Takashi Amano he never seems to be happy I wonder if he's even happy with his tanks?

 

[Dubby]

I went to that website http/showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2005.cgi and yeah the plants and layouts are awesome but I'd like a kind of step-by-step guide as to how it's all done. It all makes me feel overwhelmed.

Here are a few sites that have a step by step guide (with pics ) for live plants....

http/aquaticconcepts.thekrib.com/Seminar/Intro.htm

This site has a manual and also lots of info on maintaining plants etc. Here is a link to the manual
http/www.vectrapoint.com/main/manual/manual.html

The rest is upto ones own creativity I suppose. Hope this helps.

 

[OohFeeshy]

If you feel like experimenting and have plenty of light, you could try a ready made plant collection. Its a set 'menu' of plants, its posted to you and you just plant it.

 

[annka5]

On a practical note, it helps me to plan it all out first, otherwise I end up getting stuck and losing sight of what I'm trying to acheive as the tank is in progress.
I think the thing with a lot of the really inspirational tanks are that they are incredibly wide and deep so you get a sense of a long vista.