My Tank Looks Rubbish!

[CheniseMummy]

I really wanted a lovely focal point but it just looks a mess. Ive done some heavy plant cut backs today. The black gravel is i like but gets a mess with the stones from the plant fert layer below.

Any idea on how to move things around? ive amazon swords, red lilly, vallis, java fern and lots of it. 1 large piece bogwood, and 3 small ones.

 

[Ferg1985]

I wish my messy was as nice as your messy, at least the plants are healthy looking and alive - not like half of mine at the minute! Personally I think it looks really nice.

 

[CheniseMummy]

I wish my messy was as nice as your messy, at least the plants are healthy looking and alive - not like half of mine at the minute! Personally I think it looks really nice.

Thankyou its been my first try and id love one of them perfectly aquascaped ones.
Ive been chopping all the dead parts away before i took the pic all the plants had gone a bit crazy lol i lost quite a few at the start to be honest.

Ive been thinking on putting some rock in and taking some bogwood out? and having sand?

 

[Mark Z.]

Everyone's tastes are different, of course, but this is what I would do if it were my tank....

I like the overall look, I just think the plants look too crowded. I would remove many of the plants, especially the big one in the right corner and some behind the wood. I like the three larger plants to the left. I wouldn't worry about having the plants go all the way to the back of the tank. In my tank, I leave the back clear and have plants in the middle and the fish have plenty of room to swim. (I have plastic plants!)

Maybe to "disguise" the fact that the white stones are popping through the black, you could add some larger light stones to them to look like they are all there on purpose.

Also, I don't quite understand why people place heaters in the center of the tank on an angle. To me, it brings too much attention to them. I imagine there is a reason, but I have always had mine over to the right and vertical. Never had any heating issues with it placed that way.

Just a few suggestions! I'm no expert. Good luck!

Mark

 

[markandhisfish]

i like it . much better than any of the planted tanks ive tried .

 

[simonas]

I like it as well and would leave the plants in

wish mine were so healthy!!

 

[ZoddyZod]

think it looks great as it is. Plants look very vibrant and the stones from the bottom layer make the substrate more natural in appearance.

 

[CheniseMummy]

Ok im going to move things around a bit. I would like it very full of plants. Let me know what you think. ill post another pic later.

Thanks for all your reply saying its a nice tank. The plants are doing well ive had few problems in past but getting there. i feel a little bit better about it too.

 

[Skins]

I agree with all the other members comments, , when you have finished moving things around don't forget to show us all.

Keith.

 

[creg]

not rubbish at all, looks very natural to me

 

[CheniseMummy]

I have made a start ive changed th background to black rather than the plant scape. I think it looks better already.

Does any1 have any suggestions for rocks/stones that wouldnt affect my water chemistry too much for my fish.

Also suggestions for grasses or other types to soften the look of the stones that are easy to maintain i didnt do too well with tall hairgrass.

 

[CheniseMummy]

Here it is ive moved the bogwood backand too an angle and replaced the backing sheet. Ive placed some differnet bogwood at the left but im not sure if i prefer the other piece. I need some busy plants as ive too many big leaves want to vary the leaf shape a bit.

What you think? me i like it a bit more than how its shown in the pics a bit blurry from moving things around.



Close up of my firemouths the little one at the back gets bullied by this big one. they are so pretty.

 

[Mark Z.]

I think it looks great!!!

I didn't realize that the "background plants" that I thought needed removing were actually a background!
It looks so much better without the background.

Nice job!

Mark