Don't like my scape part 2.

[Neatfish]

took out this twig I'm not happy with my scape at all. I don't want to fool with driftwood anymore. What else could I do to make it look better? I'll pull all the plants out and change the whole scape around but I'll probably still won't be happy without a little help. Maybe some rocks?

[kevmo911]

Well, if you don't like dw, yes, rocks are definitely an option. Granite is cheap and readily available. You can check out a landscaping place, but it's also very common in artificial embankments - any railroad tracks near you?

But you're right about the twig. Maybe get one or two larger pieces, maybe oak?

[MABJ]

You don't have much to work with...

Check out my CRS tank in my signature. You'll see I emptied my tank, looked at my materials, filled it with substrate then worked for a few minutes.

When you're working for those short minutes, you don't continue after. You look at what you've done; approach it later if you don't like it, accept if you do.

But first and foremost you need materials in scale of the tank to work with.

[Neatfish]

What am I looking for by some railroad tracks? What materials do I need?

[Neatfish]

Went and did something a little different picked up some terra cotta flower pots for $2 each. What do you think?

[VAtanks]

Potts are kinda cool I would have broken the pots though into half so it was like a cave and covered with moss. Also some sweet stems would look good behind them. I tossed around the idea a while back flipping a clay pot breaking out the front like a door way and stuffing an anubis down through the drain hole so the roots would dangle and you could see them in the mouth of the opening.

[Neatfish]

Maybe I'll do something like that with the pot in the middle.

[I3raven]

Originally Posted by Neatfish

Maybe I'll do something like that with the pot in the middle.

Are you on a tight budget? You could get 7 pounds of Sieryu Stones shipped for $30.

[Neatfish]

Right now I'm on a tight budget but later on maybe I could get some. I been thinking of shutting down my SW picotope to make this tank better.

[MABJ]

SW is a money pit I hear lol.

[Neatfish]

This whole hobby is a money pit I got out of my other hobby to save money it didn't happen.

[Knotyoureality]

Honestly? Skip the hardscape for now and concentrate on increasing your plant mass. Keep an eye on the RAOK posts here and scoop up some trimmings or free plants to round things out. Once you've got a good plant mass going--and know what plants grow well in your set-up--you'll be in a better position to start looking at hardscape options.

You might even find you like the plants well enough that you don't *need* hardscape.

[Neatfish]

I didn't like the look of that pot in the middle so i broke it. I'm going to get more plants too. what you think now?

[tomfromstlouis]

Originally Posted by MABJ

You don't have much to work with...

Check out my CRS tank in my signature. You'll see I emptied my tank, looked at my materials, filled it with substrate then worked for a few minutes.

When you're working for those short minutes, you don't continue after. You look at what you've done; approach it later if you don't like it, accept if you do.

But first and foremost you need materials in scale of the tank to work with.

+1.

Sorry, but you do not have enough plants or hardscape to consider this anything but a completely blank slate. If someone came to me and said "I have black substrate and a school of cardinals, what should I do now?" that would be about where you are now. What kind of a look do you want? Tell us about tanks you like and admire.

FWIW I consider clay pots as functional breeding tank items and not as decor in the sense of the kind of beauty I like. You might be different - you probably are - so tell us what your goals are and give us some guidance. As it is, I'd say some natural hardscape (rocks or wood or both) and lots more plants are starting points. I do like the potential of that substrate with those fish.

[kevmo911]

Originally Posted by Neatfish

What am I looking for by some railroad tracks? What materials do I need?

Sorry, missed this. What I was talking about was artificial embankments, like the kind which line raised railroad tracks. When it's not just dirt, you'll see massive amounts of whatever rock is local and common, and granite is about as common as it gets. Also very common in drainage ditches along roads.

I'm picturing 4-6" blocks from the tracks near my house when I was a kid. Anyway, if budget is at all an issue, don't go buying rocks. That's just silly.