Suggestions On Tank Layout

[russellbrooke]

Hi all.

I'd like some suggestions on how to arrange my plants. I've got a jewul 260 with one angel, 2 rosy barbs (getting more soon), several ottos and 2 botias, one albino cory, one Opaline Gourami and one shrimp.

I've recently changed from gravel to sand which i prefer the look of. I also bought a few plant bundles from greenline. All i did was plant similar plants to get them going. As they're starting to take off, i'd like to rearrange them. I use injected c02 and ferts and have around 2.5 wpg.

Any suggestions on using bog woods, or slates, or pebbles would also be appreciated (I've got tons of these after several tank changes over the years).



Russ

 

[Themuleous]

First off I'd remove the background, IMHO opinion when you've got the beauty of live plants who needs pictures?

If you did then you'd have the perfect start of an 'island' scape, with a central mass of plants surrounded by a very low growing 'sea'. Can look most cool.

Do you have an plant substrate in there as well as the sand?

Sam

 

[robjack]

You've got the start of a nice "island" layout there, the main thing I'd do is bunch your crypts closer together. At the moment, with them being seperated each of them seems to demand the eyes attention. Would look lots better imo if you put all the red ones together, say infront of the vallis on the right side of the picture. And, as Sam suggested, I'd ditch the background.

Also, is that the dreaded BGA I can see creeping into your substrate at the front of the tank? If it is, try and take care of it sooner rather than later, whilst it's still manageable.

Hope this helps,

Rob.

 

[Themuleous]

Also, is that the dreaded BGA I can see creeping into your substrate at the front of the tank? If it is, try and take care of it sooner rather than later, whilst it's still manageable.

Thats a keen eye you have there and some good advice too

Sam

 

[russellbrooke]

No plant substrate, just sand. Thanks for the ideas, i'll give some ago and post some more pics later.

And yes, there is a bit of bga, but hopefully (fingers crossed) it's managable.

Russ

 

[anodized]

i like the centrepiece layout you have going on. seems very symmetrical at the moment.

you could build out from the centre in a semi-circle with some bogwood.

then perhaps you could do like robjack suggested and bunch the crypts together .. on one side, do another grouping of similar plants on the other side to fill it in.

you definitely have the right idea going with small plants up front and the taller ones in back.

 

[BBrain]

I totally agree with removing that background, and grouping the Crypts more artistically together. Perhaps leave some bare area of sand, to place some smooth black stones in.

I think you should also remove those huge airstones. From what I've heard, airstones should not be used in a planted tank. Apparently, airstones drive CO2 out of the water, and I believe you are seeing the adverse results of this in your algae problem.

Less CO2 in the water means the plants will not be as strong as they could be, so they won't uptake nutrients so well. Therefore, there will be extra nutrients floating around, available to algae. Also, algae thrive much better than plants in a low-CO2 environment.

At least, that's what I've read, so take my advice for what it's worth. However, if you look at photos of successful planted tanks, you never see any that have airstones in them.

 

[dasmall1]

If the light is low enough, you don't need much co2 in the water. Light means how fast plants will grow. If they are growing fast, you have to make sure they have what they need ( co2, proper nutrients, etc.) <- that's just a rough general idea. Take care of your BGA!!! It's very hard to get rid of it with sand once it's established.