Redone My Tank!

[Jonty]

Ok, I'd had my tank for about 3 months and wanted a change. Before it had lots of silk plants but wasn't very interesting, plus the fish were always out of sight. Here is it before:

And here it is after, with live plants!

Best thing is it only cost £17.55!

What do you think - I don't mind criticism

Cheers, Jonty

 

[stonedcamel]

i prefer it before

 

[Jonty]

I thought people might say that. TBH the silk looks worse close up, the bases were dissolving (that's ebay for you) and the fish were always behind the plants.

However constructive criticism is fine.

 

[Buddyboy67]

Definately more open..try arranging your plants in a more natural open clump rather than a straight line however...will be more eye catching. Would also consider adding a few more plants over time to help the fish feel more settled, but live plants above artificials for me every time..good move in the right direction i say!!

 

[Jonty]

Yay! Thanks for the advice as well - hoping the plants will fill out, then I'll get some more to fill it out. They were 5 for £7 at my lfs, which seemed like quite a good price.

 

[youngfisher]

That sand is one of the most natural looking sand beds I have seen.
I like it.

YF

 

[Jonty]

That sand is one of the most natural looking sand beds I have seen.
I like it.

YF

So most riverbeds are covered in fish ####e? I'll keep that in mind... lol

Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated

 

[Buddyboy67]

Try adding 2 or 3 small corydoras, these will love the sand bottom and will actually eat over the detritus, nicer way of saying s***e,lol....
They will keep the sand turned over and stop it collecting all over the bottom.

 

[Jonty]

Try adding 2 or 3 small corydoras, these will love the sand bottom and will actually eat over the detritus, nicer way of saying s***e,lol....
They will keep the sand turned over and stop it collecting all over the bottom.

Might add 4-5 Bronze cory's, would have got Sterbai but are £9.95 each at my lfs! Is this a normal price? The bronze are 2 for £5. However my brother really wants a Bristlenose, however that would worsen the 'detritus' problem...

 

[Buddyboy67]

Try adding 2 or 3 small corydoras, these will love the sand bottom and will actually eat over the detritus, nicer way of saying s***e,lol....
They will keep the sand turned over and stop it collecting all over the bottom.

Might add 4-5 Bronze cory's, would have got Sterbai but are £9.95 each at my lfs! Is this a normal price? The bronze are 2 for £5. However my brother really wants a Bristlenose, however that would worsen the 'detritus' problem...

Yep,lol...bristle nose will leave long strings behind it all over the place!! Sterbaii are expensive, but worth it..luckily here we get local breds for £4 each...

 

[Jonty]

Yep,lol...bristle nose will leave long strings behind it all over the place!! Sterbaii are expensive, but worth it..luckily here we get local breds for £4 each...

I was looking at chain loaches, similar size and price to Sterbai...

Since I'm pretty skint I'll probably go with 5 bronze....

 

[Pearsondesign]

nice tank

to make it look less sparse, you should try clumping rocks, plants and moss balls together, you can even tear the moss balls open and lay them over the rocks.

if you were to have a built up plant "corner" then the fish would love it, and they would also have a lot more free swmming space.
buy some bushy plants and clump them together, when they grow it will look fantastic

 

[saz326]

Nice start there, I'd try to cover over the view of teh filter though. Take a couple of the plants and put them in a line infront of the filter (well, far enough away from the filter so that fish can swim between which will prevent the filter being clogged) and then the other plants infront of those so they break up the line.... if you have any idea what I'm trying to describe...

That way the plants will give teh fish something to hide in/behind and teh filter will be covered up.

Just have to plant the rest of teh tank out now. (its neverending!)

 

[dave_oddballs]

the only thing with bushy plants, without all the special lighting and ferts is they will break up and just contaminate the water. and plants dont tend to do so well, long term, in sand as nothing makes it through the sand in the way of nutrients for the plants roots to absorb, i like the look of the sand a lot and if it wasn't for the problems with it id have it! when syphoning the dirt off sand you emd up sucking half the sand to!
i get plants at my lfs for 5 for £7 too, good deal!
i think bronze cory's are nice fish, not everyone wants or can spend loads on fish! some of the cheaper corys are equally as attractive as the more expensive ones!
good luck
David

 

[Bigpig]

I liked it before also but that only because it looks a bit bear now.

Few more foreground and mid grounds plants and it look better

Anubias barteri var. nana would look sweet in that tank on a bit of wood or between those stones. Also clump the villas a bit closer would make it look more natural