My New But Old Tank

[Sweeden]

OK so ive been on here a while with no pictures of my set up tank well after about 4 change around and a nitrate spike few weeks back here it is and for once i am happy very happy, just maybe some moss but undecided yet.

Opinions welcomed.

*Pictures now up after technical difficulties*

 

[zoogy]

I'd love to see it, but I couldn't find the picture.

 

[Sweeden]

Pictures now up sorry

 

[FishAreFriendsNotFood10]

looks nice

 

[waterdrop]

Hi Sweeden, That is a stunning piece of wood, very natural looking with it's bulk but curving sweep to the right. It is set off very beautifully by the nice darker green tall grasses all around in the background. I also really like the natural color of your gravel which seems different from what we often see, very nice.

I will now give what amounts to personal opinion on the aquascape look (which we often do in planted tank type get-togethers and learn not to take personally, so not sure if you've experienced that.) You have a collection of beautiful stones, each of individual interest and I can see why you would want to show them off! In an aquascape however this can have the opposite effect you would want (assuming you are looking for an natural look.) The eye is drawn to the individual stones and distracted from the 'scape. Also, by laying them out in a regularized pattern you further distract and give the appearance of being at a geology demonstration of sorts. I realize that bunching them some and hiding some more in the far sides and background will show them off less but you may that way be able to come up with a more natural appearance and 'scape balance (and you don't want a little pile as that would distract too.) The sword dead center is a nice contrast to the darker green behind it but no plant should ever be dead center as this destoy's what the painters call "perspective" (which is unconciously what the viewer is doing when looking at a rectangular tank, viewing a painting of sorts.) That sword might work if grouped somehow with the swords in the left group but not in a "regularized" (evenly spaced) way. Be concious of the top lines of your plants. The driftwood is weighting things upward and to the right and the plant lines might work well to reinforce that (unfortunatly you will probably have trouble as many of the vals have probably been bruised in transit and will lose those leaves, thinning things out at least for a while.) I could almost see the two big swords on the left being used behind the wood to further weight everything to the right and only the one shortest sword providing light green low and to the back left where all the green would fade to an essentially competely open water area.

I am a member of the aquatic gardeners association and you might get many ideas of the sort of thing I am talking about by looking through the contest participant tanks on our web site (can find by web search.) Overall your tank looks really, really good though for a freshwater beginner!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Joshwainwright]

I also think the tank looks great overall however the stones in the foreground are too organised. I love the wood and where it is positioned and I also love the vallis towards the back.

I'm sure I will have and probably already have more faults criticise in my new 125L tank.

 

[Sweeden]

Hi Sweeden, That is a stunning piece of wood, ........ Overall your tank looks really, really good though for a freshwater beginner!

~~waterdrop~~

Thanks for such an in depth opinions the rocks are as you say there for decoration but will be going shortly. I am replacing them with some york stone and give the fish somewhere else to hide.

Again thanks for the input