Driftwood Hardscape Critique

[ShawnS]

After some toying around with placement i've managed to narrow my most favored set-ups down to 3:

Set Up 1


I was trying to create something similar to CL's aquascape from this: http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/sh...imless+Iwagumi. Although, I kinda feel like its too Christmas tree-y, like it branches out too much.

Set up 2

With this hardscape i'd do something like this: http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/1245/dsc6820o.jpg. Where there would be a distinct path between the two opposing pieces of driftwood and be very very densely planted around each. Along with rocks around each piece creating their own varying levels of substrate.

Set up 3

With this set up, i'd have more a flowing motion from the right corner to the left. With this set up i would arrange the plants in the mid and background according to color intensity, creating some kinda of sun or explosion pattern. (Greatest at the right end and slowly lessening in intensity as it gets farther away.) I like this one personally the best because I feel it would follow the guidelines of how to aquascape better, its more artistic, and its actually my own idea; rather than just a recreation of someone else's.

So what are your thoughts? I'd love to hear your feedback.

[CatB]

i like the first and third a lot, only problem with the first is that sometimes a piece in the dead center like that turns out pretty weird looking...

[Sara3502]

I like the third the most.

[Complexity]

I like all three, depending on how you do the plants around it. If you use low light, mostly green plants, I like #2 where the driftwood take center stage among a lot of green. If you use a variety of plants, especially stems, then I lean more towards #1 and #3. The taller the plants, the more I go to #1 because tall plants would hide the lower parts of #3.

However you do it, you have some nice pieces of wood. It should look good in your tank no matter which way you decide. I just hope you don't cover it up too much with the plants.

[librarygirl]

I like the third the best also.

[DishyFishy]

I'm with 3!

[ShawnS]

Yeah I don't know if you could tell by the enormous amount of bias from my description but I was already leaning largely towards #3 :3. Any suggestions on colorful plants? Also, I was thinking of Dwarf Hair Grass as the carpeting foreground. I hear its a lot easier to grow as a carpet than dwarf HC. As always feedback is appreciated, negative or positive.

[librarygirl]

What lights are going to be on the tank? Are you planning Co2 and/or ferts of some kind? All of these factors would play into what types of plants you could get.

[ShawnS]

Lighting: I have a 24-inch Dual T5NO Fixture. According to the lighting chart with the two T5NO bulbs and my 16inch tall aquarium its giving me medium light while on the top.

Co2: Diy, so far i've tried my hand at Anubis and some other weird looking stem plant from my LFS, and they're both growing just fine so it seems to be working alright.

Ferts: I have a whole bottle of Flourish Excel that i've yet to use.

Not to sound rude, but what does my specs have to do with your opinion on Dwarf Hair grass vs. Dwarf HC as a carpet? And why would my specs somehow prevent anyone from suggesting colorful plants? I can Google the plant's requirements, and if they have requirements I don't have, and i want the plant badly enough, I'll change my specs accordingly. I don't want you limiting your plant suggestions based on my current specs...

[Complexity]

Originally Posted by ShawnS

Ferts: I have a whole bottle of Flourish Excel that i've yet to use.

Excel isn't a fertilizer. It is a carbon source. It is a substitute for CO2.

Flourish Nitrogen, Flourish Potassium, and Flourish Phosphorus are the macro ferts (all three combined).

Flourish Comprehensive is the micro fert (without iron). To include iron, you can get Flourish Iron.

[ShawnS]

Originally Posted by Complexity

Excel isn't a fertilizer. It is a carbon source. It is a substitute for CO2.

Flourish Nitrogen, Flourish Potassium, and Flourish Phosphorus are the macro ferts (all three combined).

Flourish Comprehensive is the micro fert (without iron). To include iron, you can get Flourish Iron.

So just to confirm you're saying either I could get Flourish Nitrogen, Flourish Potassium, and Flourish Phosphorus. Or I could get Flourish Comprehensive and Flourish Iron? Both groups accomplishing the same thing and covering all the bases? Or should I have and use all 5 for fertilizers?

[Complexity]

To do complete fert dosing, you'd get all 4 (5 if you get iron) ferts.

It's the same as dry ferts, only they've added the water. So you pay extra to have the water already mixed in. The thing is you don't even have to premix ferts with water. You can dump dry ferts directly into a tank.

Here's the same 5 ferts (iron is included) in dry fert method. This would last a person with a 55g tank 1 year or more: http://greenleafaquariums.com/aquari...rtilizers.html

Notice the P (phosphorus) K (potassium) N (nitrogen) are the macros. And CSM+B are the micros with iron (comprehensive + iron).

Same thing, different form. One you squirt. The other you dump in dry. One you pay extra for water. The other you skip buying the water since aquariums already have water.

[ShawnS]

Ah, well thanks for the money saver. Greatly appreciated. Btw, would you suggest investing in aquasoil or will Eco Conplete be just as effective?

[Complexity]

As effective? There are pros and cons to either substrate. I think the main thing is that people have been able to sustain excellent planted tanks with either substrate.

The thing to do is to make a list of the various pros and cons of both substrates, and then look to see if any of those attributes determines the decision for you.

Personally, I prefer Eco Complete. It grows my plants very well, doesn't screw with my pH, doesn't give off ammonia, doesn't break down into mud, holds nutrients for plants, isn't too badly priced, and is black in color (the color matters to me). However, there are others who swear by AS. It's really a personal choice.

[ShawnS]

Alright cool. I'll probably go with Eco complete then simply because it doesn't turn into mud overtime like Aquasoil does. Also, to me, aquasoil is absurdly overpriced.