Re-Scaping Tank

[dalethewhale]

Here's a picture of my tank currently

I go to uni this september so i was thinking of doing a minor rescaping of my tank this summer before i go.
SO
I'm going to change to sand as it should stay cleaner so if my mum forgets a water change its not as big of a deal and also for my blue rams
I'm trying to find some long thin branches of bogwood to use to add some height to the tank

I want suggestions on removing/adding/moving plants, the addition of a coconut cave maybe? a different placement of the centre bit of wood?

Also you can see my internal filter in the top right and the input of my external is in the top left, no spray bar, just a pipe directing the flow towards and across the front of the tank. Would i be able to put my internal lower down, on it's side to increase the flow across the sand to stop detritus settling?

And any advice on doing the actual rescaping would be helpful, where to put the fish while im doing it etc.

Thanks for any advice

 

[SchottayB]

With the filter you might be able to place it low, not too low though or it will kick the sand up. Poo will just rest on the sand being easy for your mum to see for when she does a water change.

More easy plants would be good for helping the water I belive.

Redmoor wood is where it's at for the "branch look".

Where to put the fish while your doing it, did you mean? If so just get a large plastic container. You can get them from ASDA etc, chuck your filter and heater in while your doing the change they will be fine

 

[james_fish]

Nice little setup Dale. Got a clean, fresh look.

One thing, sand will show up fishes waste much more than gravel. I changed from pea gravel to light coloured sand and i'm forever cleaning all the crap off the bottom. Other than that sand in my opinion looks miles better than gravel.

I'd try some foreground plants if you change to sand e.g. Dwarf Hair Grass.

As for scaping, nothing springs to mind as to what you could do just now, but have a play around and see what takes your fancy

James.

 

[ellena]

Nice tank! I'd try to add some height-everything seems to finish at the same point. You might get that eventually with the swords, but maybe you could buy in some more mature specimens to kick start? Or add height with some wood-play around with what you have at different angles etc.
Also, just personal preference and it might be the camera, but I think bluer light looks better than yellowy/pink. Seems to make green leaves really pop

 

[minnnt]

Add some Vallis towards the back which will add height to the tank, and your tetras will thank you for it. I would go with a darker coloured sand substrate. Plants like java fern and moss will be good along with anubias and some crypts as these don't require much care. Add a timer to your tank lights plug so your mum doesn't have to worry about the lights also. Set it to about 8 hours a day and things should be fine. Decide on a feeding schedule whether it be once a day, every other day, 3 times a day... what ever you choose. The scapegoat looks good mate tbh!

As mentioned, a plastic tub ( try and get a black one ) will serve well as a holding tank whilst you do what you have to. They will be fine in thud for 4 or 5 hours with no filter and heater, bit add them of you want.

 

[dalethewhale]

Thanks for the advice everyone!
i agree vallis would be good, there's java ferns all over my wood, they're only small as they're from my large one that propogated then died, and some anubias nana on there too

Where can you get cheap dark coloured sand? (one of the reasons i wanted to swap was how cheap plain playsand is, but i think dark would be nice too)

And I have one daylight bulb and one normal, it looks very yellowy because of the tannins in the water

way ahead of you minnnt, got my lights on a timer for 8 hours, they come on an hour after and go off an hour before the lights i have for my geckos just next to the fish tank so it makes a sort of dawn and dusk, clever eh?

 

[dalethewhale]

Could anyone using sand post a picture up, or link me to one? I'm trying to convince my mum that changing to sand is a good idea and i think showing her a good-looking tank with sand will help

Also i was thinking of leaving some gravel at the back of the tank for the plants, would it be worth it?

 

[minnnt]

Are you wanting to go with play sand or proper aquarium sand? I have a tank that has Argos play sand and a tank using Unipac aquarium sand. I used Argos play sand due to the cost, but i don't think i would use it again. The aquarium sand from Unipac is very clean, a quick rinse and let the filter take care of the rest.

Argos play sand:

Unipac aquarium sand: