Need Some Constructive Criticism On My Planted Tank

[geo7x]

ok, first off, here is the tank, it has 1.5wpg, nutrfafin co2 kit with diy mix, and a few root tabs here and there aswell.

I did quite a bit of work on it a few weeks ago, when i added co2 and ive just left it to grow (with weekly pruning of the vallis) and im really likeing the way it looks.
But I'm pretty ambitious lol and im quite keen to enter it into the 17 and under category for the PFK aquascaping competition and was wondering if anyone had any advice for me to improve it.

There is one thing that im a bit unsure about, is that I know that the bogwood spike is probably in a bad position technically because its too centralised, but i cant really picture the tank without it

anyway, tell me what you think and id be really grateful if you could offer me some constructive crtiticism and advice

 

[Miss Wiggle]

overall i think it's lovely.

is that a moss ball infront of the amazon sword? i'd take it out, it blocks off the sword which is a good size and looks impressive.

i'd also move the bogwood across to the right, the put the grassy type plant (sorry can't work out exactly which one it is) on both sides of it and maybe a few little bits of it across the front of the tank.

 

[geo7x]

overall i think it's lovely.

is that a moss ball infront of the amazon sword? i'd take it out, it blocks off the sword which is a good size and looks impressive.

i'd also move the bogwood across to the right, the put the grassy type plant (sorry can't work out exactly which one it is) on both sides of it and maybe a few little bits of it across the front of the tank.

thanks for replying alice

i completely hear you on everything you have said. I think i will take the moss ball out, i think it kind of gives a slightly tacky feel to be honest. By the way those 'amazon swords' are crypts no amazons in this tank.

yeah moving the bogwood to the right was something I condsidered, I wasnt sure whether it would block out the tiger lotus lilys too much though.... I suppose if the lilys were tall enough they should be in view ok.

Yeah the grassy plants (micro siggataria i think) were only bought recently, so im hopeing that they will soon send out some runners and fill out the front a bit more.

Thanks again for your advice, i think im going to go and move things around a bit now and get another pic to see if you think its any better

 

[Miss Wiggle]

what sort of crypts are they? i like them!

 

[geo7x]

what sort of crypts are they? i like them!

they are cryptocoryne wendtii

i took the bogwood out and moved the little plants into the middle away from where i wanted the bogwood to go and i actually decided that it doesnt look bad without the bogwood at all, ive done a bit of rearranging, just waiting for the 'water to settle' and ill get another pic

 

[geo7x]

Ok, excuse the crappy pic, but here it is now, it probably looks worse than before because the plants are looking all scraggy, but i think when its filled out a bit with some runners it should look quite good.

im thinking about getting some kind of mid ground plant for between the little plants at the front and the vallis, as its a bit of a sudden contrast going from little to big straight away. Ive moved the crypts inbetween them to try and help but the crypts are pretty small.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i actually like the little to big contrast. I'm all for minimalism in plant selection, think the less species you have the better it looks. think once the micro siggataria fills out it'll look great.

 

[lljdma06]

Ok, excuse the crappy pic, but here it is now, it probably looks worse than before because the plants are looking all scraggy, but i think when its filled out a bit with some runners it should look quite good.

im thinking about getting some kind of mid ground plant for between the little plants at the front and the vallis, as its a bit of a sudden contrast going from little to big straight away. Ive moved the crypts inbetween them to try and help but the crypts are pretty small.

Did you remove your wood? I actually liked it, but not in a vertical position. I would have flipped it on its side, and placed it infront of the nice-sized java fern, taller end next closer to the fern. Slightly left of center (my left, me looking at your tank), in front of the java fern. Right now, you have two focal points, the java fern and the lotus. I'd move the lotus and possibly closer to the java fern, perhaps even behind it. I'd even add another red lotus if you can get one. The wood, the java and the lotus would then create a triangle focal point left of center. Then plant your saggitaria in an arch along the wood. That would create a nice effect and attract attention to your focal point.

A good mid-ground that would complement the leaf shape of your dominating fern is a larger crypt. Look for a mother plant (big plant, adult sized) in either a red, green, or bronze cryptocoryne wendtii. The bronze variety and the tropica are slighly bigger. Smaller wendtii would look great under neath the java and keep the continuity of leaf shape.

Your water level is super low, causing light to bounce around the aquarium sides rather than penetrate into the water column. With only 1.5WPG, maximum light penetration is best. If you can fill up your aquarium to the rim, that would be ideal. In addition, a filled aquarium looks much better in competition photos than an aquarium that isn't. It implies that your maintenance isn't up to par. Not saying that yours isn't, otherwise you wouldn't have the lovely growth that you have, but what a judge will perceive and what you actually do are two different things. You also won't get that nasty light reflection in your photos that you're getting now, which make your photos look less professional.

Just my two cents worth. Great looking tank geo, good, healthy growth.

llj

 

[geo7x]

Ok, excuse the crappy pic, but here it is now, it probably looks worse than before because the plants are looking all scraggy, but i think when its filled out a bit with some runners it should look quite good.

im thinking about getting some kind of mid ground plant for between the little plants at the front and the vallis, as its a bit of a sudden contrast going from little to big straight away. Ive moved the crypts inbetween them to try and help but the crypts are pretty small.

Did you remove your wood? I actually liked it, but not in a vertical position. I would have flipped it on its side, and placed it infront of the nice-sized java fern, taller end next closer to the fern. Slightly left of center (my left, me looking at your tank), in front of the java fern. Right now, you have two focal points, the java fern and the lotus. I'd move the lotus and possibly closer to the java fern, perhaps even behind it. I'd even add another red lotus if you can get one. The wood, the java and the lotus would then create a triangle focal point left of center. Then plant your saggitaria in an arch along the wood. That would create a nice effect and attract attention to your focal point.

A good mid-ground that would complement the leaf shape of your dominating fern is a larger crypt. Look for a mother plant (big plant, adult sized) in either a red, green, or bronze cryptocoryne wendtii. The bronze variety and the tropica are slighly bigger. Smaller wendtii would look great under neath the java and keep the continuity of leaf shape.

Your water level is super low, causing light to bounce around the aquarium sides rather than penetrate into the water column. With only 1.5WPG, maximum light penetration is best. If you can fill up your aquarium to the rim, that would be ideal. In addition, a filled aquarium looks much better in competition photos than an aquarium that isn't. It implies that your maintenance isn't up to par. Not saying that yours isn't, otherwise you wouldn't have the lovely growth that you have, but what a judge will perceive and what you actually do are two different things. You also won't get that nasty light reflection in your photos that you're getting now, which make your photos look less professional.

Just my two cents worth. Great looking tank geo, good, healthy growth.

llj

thanks llj

ive rearranged the tank some more to do what you have said, and i shall take a new picture soon when its settled. I even moved the big lotus, which i was pretty skeptical about as that is proabably the best plant in the tank and i didnt want to ruin it, a couple of the younger leaves broke off but im not that worried, i know some new ones will come.

I think the tank is looking better now, im trying to look at the potential and see what it could look like with some more growth.

Thanks for the tip regarding the water level i know its low, sometimes when i do a water change i dont fill up the bucket quite enough by accident and but i never really thought any more of it. When i do the water change tomorrow ill makesure i fill it up.

My main concern now is that i hope that the lotus continues its good growth even though ive moved it it should be alright surely?

Anyway im just going to let it all settle then ill get another pic.

 

[geo7x]

ok, new pic

i think im going to leave it like this now, maybe get some bigger crypts, and then just let it grow.

 

[SuperColey1]

I may be wrong but I don't think thats Cryptocoryne Wendtii (unless that is a 5 galloon tank) its much too big. Looks more like echinodrus of some type. The can start to curl like that sometimes.

Looks nice though and I am prepared to be corrected, but just my opinion.

andy

 

[geo7x]

I may be wrong but I don't think thats Cryptocoryne Wendtii (unless that is a 5 galloon tank) its much too big. Looks more like echinodrus of some type. The can start to curl like that sometimes.

Looks nice though and I am prepared to be corrected, but just my opinion.

andy

to be honest im not sure what it is, i bought it off greenline and that is what they listed it as