Scaping Properly For The First Time

[blinky000]

So, now I've finally come into some money, I can scape like I've never scaped before The only problem is, I don't know where to start. I have a bunch of plants and I don't think that any of them really go together. It's quite a tall tank too, so I don't know where the focal point should be. The pictures speak louder than words, so here we go. This is the tank (I will be parting company with the sand, obviously):

This is the cacophony of plants in the tank:

Amazon sword

About a dozen sword babies (I'd like to get rid of them in all honesty)

Some scraggly looking elodea

Xmas moss

And some Brazilian pennywort

The major problems with my scapes thus far have been: 1) I couldn't keep the plants alive, 2) I didn't have the money for a proper scape, and 3) I didn't have any patience to let the plants grow in. Thankfully, the first two have since been resolved
Since I'm a little more liquid right now, the idea is to get some redmoor and some kind of rock as the hardscape. The only idea I have for the rest is xmas moss on some of the branches and HC carpet... I need bombarding with ideas and information. This is going to be my first real scape that isn't on a budget and since I've never been in this position before, I'm in all honesty pretty clueless, so give me everything you've got!
I do have one specific question, though. I have a lot of pink ramshorns at the moment but they make a horrible mess with their poop and old egg capsules. Despite the sterling job they do on the algae, I'm wondering if maybe shrimp might be the better option?
Thanks everyone

 

[ian]

One of the best places to start on the Internet is with this thread

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/328059-basics-in-aquascaping/

you then need to decide which materials you want to work with, wood, rock or wood and rock. Have a look through the journal section on here as theres some nice planted tanks at the moment.

Have a search around for Takashi Amano stuff as well, heres a basics on his website

http/www.aquajournal.net/na/basics/basics_01.html

^^this is a little more in depth.

Remember, it's very difficult to get it right the first time round, so have a play and do some sketch's of what you want.

 

[catfishblues]

One thing that I do is keep all of the plants of one species in tight groups so it looks like one insanely healthy plant. Also tall plants in the back and towards the sides. But when it all comes together there is no right or wrong, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And I agree that ramshorns are great cleaners, but in smaller tanks they seem to make as much of a mess as they clean up! Hope I've helped!

 

[blinky000]

Ah, awesome. Thank you! Who knew there was a ratio for things like focal points some familiar names in that first topic, too. I actually met George Farmer at FoF one year. Me and my friend must have watched for about an hour as he put this tank together, barely even thinking about it. He makes it look so easy!

I bunched some of the elodea together this evening and it looks a little better I also trimmed my moss to make it grow in a bit fluffier. It actually didn't make much of a difference to its appearance chopping half it it off. It just looks neater, which is a nice surprise!

 

[waggy1]

will live plants grow in gravel or is it just sand

 

[catfishblues]

will live plants grow in gravel or is it just sand

Gravel is fine. some people prefer it because all of the fish waste goes down into it and provides the plant with nutrients

 

[blinky000]

Sand looks better imo... that is, until the fish start pooping. Then you start to miss gravel again lol. I only bought it for the sake of my corys but if there's an HC carpet, their barbels should be ok.