40 Gallon Community Journal

[Newman]

Hello,

I have this 40 gallon community tank right now, and I need some help making it look more interesting. I started working on it recently.
Current FTS:



The tank used to be planted a year ago or more. It had several planted phases. Here is a look into the past:


And then:



Then:



And now it looks like garbage.

I tried going full out planted; after a year or two of high maintenance, I tried simplifying it with just a hardscape, and then i wound up simplifying it even more into the form you see today. The problem now is that i think it looks downright bad lol.
I am hoping someone has advice and suggestions on how to make my tank look better!
Maybe a large amazon sword in the middle instead of the lily?
The tank is a weird shape - its a flat-back hex, so its very hard to scape well. very narrow Hard to create depth...
Also the lighting changed to a simple 18W T8. Used to be 79W T5s in its planted days.
Ignore the breeder net. raising some pleco fry in there temporarily. This tank does have a breeding pair of BNs.

Thanks for any advice and suggestions guys!

[Newman]

...
anyone have any ideas?

[EnigmaticGuppy92]

id go for a driftwood hardscape with attatched moss and a vallisneria background for half of the tank then have the other half or quarter carpeted in dhg with open water above

[Newman]

can you do a sketch in Microsoft paint for me? it would help visualize the scape you mean

[EnigmaticGuppy92]

yup will do

[leblue]

I'd go a mangrove-esq hardscape with a few plants that flower above the water. Add some Indian almond leaves and go for a tea colored look and then many many dwarf puffers (i have a puffer problem...)

[Newman]

Thank so much!

@leblue: that sounds great, but wouldnt i have to lower my water level in order for that to look its best; to see the flowers?
Also i can't really put anymore fish in here haha, or swap fish out. puffers wouldnt work because i like my sulawesi snails in here Too many pest snails, yes, but the puffers would go after my prized snails too

[leblue]

Originally Posted by Newman

Thank so much!

@leblue: that sounds great, but wouldnt i have to lower my water level in order for that to look its best; to see the flowers?
Also i can't really put anymore fish in here haha, or swap fish out. puffers wouldnt work because i like my sulawesi snails in here Too many pest snails, yes, but the puffers would go after my prized snails too

You might be able to get away with not lowering the water if you made some sort of faux background to mount the plants to instead of putting them on the bottom. Also finding a way to make a lattice as if you were growing pothos ivy out of a hob filter.
not my photo btw

[EnigmaticGuppy92]

excuse my un artisticness everyone lol



i would have vals at the rear right expanding over half the tank with a striking piece of dw with a dhg carpet to keep it all simple

[tharsis]

I would definitely try to use more of the vertical space since it is so narrow.

You can either use bigger rocks or make a pile of rocks to increase the vertical range of the hardscape. The rockscape you have now is a little bland and lacks drama. If you had more of them you could make some caves etc...also getting similar rocks will make it less distracting.

Driftwood could also be great for using the entire height of the tank. You could have big sticks descending down to look like submerged roots, or you could do a tree stump scape.

[Newman]

all sweet suggestions guys, thank you!
I tried to do the pothos in HOB setup once, but the plant didnt grow too well which was odd...

I really like that scape, EnigmaticGuppy92, I might try something like that.
Would I have to improve my lighting, or will my current 18W work?

I am going to have to locate a source for a good piece of DW like that, some vals and DHG.
Also what kind of moss should i use?
thanks again!

[Newman]

What is a good place to get manzanita wood like that? a website, or thread on here?

[EnigmaticGuppy92]

thanks newman
nt to sure of a good place in the us you could always go foraging and disinfect the wood and clean it yourself iv had alot of success doing this
if you want the tank anything other than low light i would go for upgraded lighting
id go for xmas moss

[Drift Monkey]

It'd look great with a nice piece of manzanita in there! Ifound mine at a LFS, but there should be some vendors that would be able to hook you up!

I had a hard time vertical space as well...but as you can see in my Ebi...a nice piece of manzanita with moss works well. Anubias petite at the base along with java fern growing out behind it would be cool.

[Newman]

Yes, I think i will put manzanita in here. I ordered a nice big piece on [Ebay Link Removed] wasn't too expensive. It will arrive some time next week. In the meantime i will be gathering my vals, hairgrass and choosing what moss to put on the DW.
My LFS will get some vals in on thursday this week, so I'll pick some up soon =)

Unfortunately anubias does not do well in my water for some reason...it hates my tap and melts after a week in my tank. i have tried multiple times and failed. java fern is in here now. not sure if i will use it for the scape though...

Planned plants are Vals, Moss, and Dwarf Hairgrass. keeping it to 3 plants is a good idea and should look nice.