Why Is My Tank Crap?

[bennett]

ok so i've decided there are numerous things i don't like about my 24g (bought as complete set up just after xmas)

i love the stocking of the tank, and i'm willing to accept that the plants will grow out...

BUT what can i do to make the tank look better?

-the lighting is going to change and i'm looking into getting the plants better

-grass like plant perhaps?

-the anubias should grow outwards and the densa should take alot more into the corner and thicken out

-i hate the gravel. it's horrible, suggestions?

-bogwood? hmmm, not sure it "works"

-background looks good i think

-the heater looks MASSIVE! is it possible to get smaller scale heaters that are still as good quality?

anything else you can think of? any constructive criticism will be taken well! i'm spending most evenings on this tank and i've bitten the bullet and opened it up to you good folk!

cheers
andy
B)

 

[paulioo]

Some changes that i'd do would be to replace the gravel with sand, or as your growing plants i'd go for eco-complete. I think you'd be amazed at the changes that would make to the overall look to the tank.

The heater can be easily hidden by planting some valls along the back of the tank, or you could buy a more compact heater.

The main thing i'd change would be the gravel though.

Paul

 

[dthoffsett]

I agree with changing the gravel, if you like the look of sand you could try a layer of plant substrate under a thin layer of sand. With sand you want to keep it as thin as possible otherwise it can build up pockets of carbon dioxide. Also you might try a larger grain of sand so you kind of get a more gravel look with sand.

IMO a carpeting kind of plant would look nice. Sorry I can't suggest plant names as I haven't tried a planted tank yet.

 

[bennett]

who needs photoshop?

that would give me a step from the back left to front left, then to the back right and the open space front right (does that make sense?)

heater on the side of the tank wouldn't give me as much circulation of warmer water...would i be ok with that sacrafice, in the name of "art"?

thoughts on my wonderful (tiny) diagram?

 

[bennett]

no one?!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

how about getting a better picture? i would change that gravel to sand

 

[PlecMama]

Look at Paul's picture, it looks like a beautiful meadow!

My big tank is also crapish, I just have to many bottom dwellers to clutter it up with pretty stuff, I don't really know what more I could do with mine either but I did get a little net of pebbles (like the nets you get satsumas in) the other day, I got one of black pebbles and one of mixed neutral colours and they give it a real nice "river bottom" effect, the plecs/cats love sorting through it for food. Maybe get some pebbles? and definately wood....I have lots of big wood - I have lots of big plecs too they make it look pretty.

 

[Bloo]

If you really want to go the planted route, I suggest you start off by taking a good few hours to read through the pinned topics. Be aware that you will have to invest a significant amount of time as well as probably more money. I certainly don't want to put you off, but lush planted tanks do take a lot of time and effort to set up and running. Well worth it though !

Start off with :

A basic guide to lighting

A basic guide to Carbon Dioxide

Algae in the Planted Aquarium

and for some ideas and inspiration Member's tank profiles.

Those should give you a good grounding on where to start

If you want a smaller heater, you can get a Hydor Theo Shatterproof Aquarium Heater - a 100W should suffice for your tank.

The 50W and 100W models are the smallest available on the market, they measure only 17.8 cm & 22.6 cm (7 in & 8.9 in )

Alternatively you can also eventually hide your current heater behind some tall plants in time.

I would also suggest changing your substrate. Get a layer of API first layer Laterite - nutrient rich clay-type granules placed underneath a fine gravel.
This would be ideal for plants.

There are also other "all in one" products on the market too such as -Ecco Complete or Flourite - but as you can see quite a bit more expensive.

Get yourself familiarised with the plant needs and fertilizers. Ultimately also try to read through the Estimative Index - this took me forever to get my head round but actually very important.

Your proposed layout looks good too. Though you might want to move your heater across to the filter intake (on the back panel). This distributes the heat a lot more efficiently. And will look better too if you try and disguise the "gear" at the back.

Apart from that, just ask questions over in the planted tank section where the plant boffs (not me! I'm still a planted tank newbie) hang out.

Hope that helps a bit for now

 

[Dubby]

Wow, Bloozoo2. Thats the most comprehensive and very concise guide to Planting that I have come across. Worth pinning !!!

 

[Bloo]

Ah thanks Dubby but most of those articles are pinned in the planted section already. I just broke it down into some form of reading order in this case - as there are various other pinned topics and it can get very overwhelming.

Btw. I don't usually give such in-depth replies, but bennett asked me for some input

 

[NoRp]

how does paulioo get the carpet effect on the buttom of his tank? id love something like that in mine

 

[Bloo]

Read more about paulioo's tank from start to end, in this thread

 

[karlp]

If you want to go for a more planted tank with carpet plants, you're going to need a lot more light and might consider CO2 (you can use DIY - home brew)

I have a short grassy carpet in the tank (E Tenellus) and it's grown thick and I really like it (kind of gone for the wild look), but does tend to attract debris and algae and takes a fair bit of maintenance. Vallis at the back grows really well too, but also needs regular cutting back. Planting the grassy plant was a PITA. They come as big bunches and I had to break them up into individual plantletts and then plant each one individually with tweezers 2cm apart. Once planted though, they grow fast given the right conditions and spread fast too!.

hopefully gives you some idea.

 

[bennett]

If you really want to go the planted route, I suggest you start off by taking a good few hours to read through the pinned topics. Be aware that you will have to invest a significant amount of time as well as probably more money. I certainly don't want to put you off, but lush planted tanks do take a lot of time and effort to set up and running. Well worth it though !

Start off with :

A basic guide to lighting

A basic guide to Carbon Dioxide

Algae in the Planted Aquarium

and for some ideas and inspiration Member's tank profiles.

Those should give you a good grounding on where to start

If you want a smaller heater, you can get a Hydor Theo Shatterproof Aquarium Heater - a 100W should suffice for your tank.

The 50W and 100W models are the smallest available on the market, they measure only 17.8 cm & 22.6 cm (7 in & 8.9 in )

Alternatively you can also eventually hide your current heater behind some tall plants in time.

I would also suggest changing your substrate. Get a layer of API first layer Laterite - nutrient rich clay-type granules placed underneath a fine gravel.
This would be ideal for plants.

There are also other "all in one" products on the market too such as -Ecco Complete or Flourite - but as you can see quite a bit more expensive.

Get yourself familiarised with the plant needs and fertilizers. Ultimately also try to read through the Estimative Index - this took me forever to get my head round but actually very important.

Your proposed layout looks good too. Though you might want to move your heater across to the filter intake (on the back panel). This distributes the heat a lot more efficiently. And will look better too if you try and disguise the "gear" at the back.

Apart from that, just ask questions over in the planted tank section where the plant boffs (not me! I'm still a planted tank newbie) hang out.

Hope that helps a bit for now

i've read all the links(i figured densa was a quick grower, doh!), i have co2 and laterite. lighting is changing thursday morning. will order new heater asap and i've been stalking the planted section for ages aswell.

current gravel is definitely going asap aswell.

i will invest in fast growing plants thursday morning as well.

will have a look through the estimative index in a bit and from there a plan will form.

cheers bz2!

 

[black molly3]

first of all i would bring that big plant to the front.
try to cram all your plants together to set a look of its all the same plant.
buy tall plants instead of small plants.
buy some drift wood with shelter for your fish.
good look


black molly3