First go at an Aquascape 75G - Advice *Update Feb5*

[Wolf19]

This is my first go at an aquascape. I'm happy with the left side of the tank, but the right side I'm not sure it fits, or is lacking something. Any thoughts /suggestions/opinions are appreciated.

Cheers - and Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Added most recent FTS

[Farmer]

Hi,

I'd suggest making the substrate at the back higher. You will get some more depth in your tank.

As for the right side. If you rearrange the front rock that it is on its side with the pointy end (the one that is facing the back now) pointing toward the same place at the top of the tank the wood points to (somewhere to the right of the light reflection in your picture). I don't know if that will work, but it is better in my head.

Linds

[Wolf19]

The substrate is fairly high on the left hand side of the tank? Are you suggesting to slope it more?

[Farmer]

Not so much on the left side. I more mean that the substrate seems to slope down at the back if anything at the moment. Especially in the area you have the 'gap'. If you raised the level at the back so it slopes up instead of down I think it would look bigger.

Maybe (if you don't want to add more substrate) you could fill the deep back section with normal gravel in a nylon stocking to save your substrate.

The LHS at the moment plateaus where your top driftwood and rocks are. Maybe it needs to be more of a slope front to back.

I like the way it is high on the left and dips then goes back up on the right. So you would have to raise the level at the back all the way along.

Hope this makes sense.

[Wolf19]

Yes, thank you for the advice. I'm likely going to pick up an additional piece of drift wood and see if placing it on the left provides a feel that I'm looking for. All these beautiful aquascapes become much more appreciated after trying to create one myself.

[Farmer]

Originally Posted by Wolf19

Yes, thank you for the advice. I'm likely going to pick up an additional piece of drift wood and see if placing it on the left provides a feel that I'm looking for. All these beautiful aquascapes become much more appreciated after trying to create one myself.

I'd be careful doing that. I'm by no means an expert. I'm only beginning like you. But I have a tank that I am scaping at the moment, I had a similar arrangement, driftwood on both sides with a gap like you have off center. I was told that It doesn't flow properly. The line of flow from left to right was interrupted. However I have seen beautiful scapes like this. Pity you didn't live near me. I picked up some wood hat would look great in your tank I reckon.

I suggest you perhaps also post this on aquascapingworld forum too. there are some brilliant aquascapers there I am learning so much from. I'm sure there are here too, but this forum isn't dedicated to aquascaping as much as the other one is. Well...that's my take on it.

Linds

[Wolf19]

Thanks! I will give that forum a go too. As for the extra driftwood, if it doesn't work or provide flow then it'll just be a lost casualty until I do another tank.

I'll post some pictures today of a rescape.

[ggsteve]

I think you're doing fine. If you overthink it, you will end up making the design look less natural.

[Farmer]

Originally Posted by ggsteve

I think you're doing fine. If you overthink it, you will end up making the design look less natural.

I also think he's doing fine, but under thinking can lead to under achieving. Or a tank that is half as good as it could be with more thought at this stage of the process.

Depends on the goal of the tank. Natural and pleasant are not always the same thing. There are plenty of natural looking scapes that I would prefer never to have in my home, because they're ugly.

IMO the goal is so it looks like no one has thought about it when in fact they thought of everything and placed it very deliberately.


Linds

[Wolf19]

Ok, here is the update. I did end up getting a piece of drift wood and some of the plants for the dry start method came in. I do like this set up a bit more. The only frustrating bit was when redoing the slope I managed to bring up some power sand....it takes away from that even look I had when it was just aquasoil at the top. Oh well - it'll be grown over in time.

Here is an updated pic of the scape with some plants. Tomorrow I'll wipe the water off the front before picture. Too tired now. I'll be starting a journal soon.

[pirayaman]

looks good

[Wolf19]

Originally Posted by pirayaman

looks good

Thanks. I ended up going back down and cleaning the front to take a clearer picture. The wood on the left wasn't given justice under the mist.

[marcnc]

I think it looks nice. What type of rocks are in the tank.

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[Wolf19]

So this is still in the DSM state. I'm starting to not like the driftwood on the left side..., past few days I've started to think it has little to no flow?