55 gallon rescape and recovery

[carriej]

Hi Folks,

Unfortunately, my poor 55 gallon was neglected for almost 2 months. I was in the hospital for a few weeks (diagnosed with wegener's disease) and then when I did get home I had no energy to do anything other than make sure the fish didn't die. Can't say so much for the plants.

Since I've been feeling better I decided to do a big plant order - and most cooked in the mail .... But, I do have a few new ones.

So here is my tank BEFORE sickness.. Looking nice and lush and full.




Then I had to cut it all back to basically clippings... It was nasty nasty. I weighed it. 13lbs of plants went into the garbage that day. I wanted to barf.

And here is as of yesterday.. Starting to fill in a little. However I am conflicted.. I need some advice. I want to get rid of the wood, 55s are so narrow and I find it a BBA magnet. Right now it's infested with BBA and it's just annoying me, but I don't know what to do. I actually clipped/reorganized again last night and cut my stargrass all back because it was dark in the middle and I hate that...



Not real sure where it's going to go from here... I am having such a hard time getting cool plants! I was thinking about putting some rocks in but I can't find any I like and again with 55's being so narrow front to back... Bleh!

[psalm18.2]

I know what you mean. I now have a 40gb and it's so much wider.

Your tank still looks great BTW.

[accordztech]

Originally Posted by carriej

Hi Folks,

Unfortunately, my poor 55 gallon was neglected for almost 2 months. I was in the hospital for a few weeks (diagnosed with wegener's disease) and then when I did get home I had no energy to do anything other than make sure the fish didn't die. Can't say so much for the plants.

Since I've been feeling better I decided to do a big plant order - and most cooked in the mail .... But, I do have a few new ones.

So here is my tank BEFORE sickness.. Looking nice and lush and full.




Then I had to cut it all back to basically clippings... It was nasty nasty. I weighed it. 13lbs of plants went into the garbage that day. I wanted to barf.

And here is as of yesterday.. Starting to fill in a little. However I am conflicted.. I need some advice. I want to get rid of the wood, 55s are so narrow and I find it a BBA magnet. Right now it's infested with BBA and it's just annoying me, but I don't know what to do. I actually clipped/reorganized again last night and cut my stargrass all back because it was dark in the middle and I hate that...



Not real sure where it's going to go from here... I am having such a hard time getting cool plants! I was thinking about putting some rocks in but I can't find any I like and again with 55's being so narrow front to back... Bleh!

Even though you have a narrow 55g, there is still things you can do to make it look good. Wood helps alot to create a depth. Check out my 55g tank build. Its not the greatest, but I was able to accomplish a look to make the 55g look very usable to the eye.

[carriej]

I guess it's finding the right pieces of wood that is difficult. I always like it in other tanks.. Just can't seem to find a piece I like. The wood in your tank is quite nice, nice and spindley (is that a word?) but they have nothing like that around here, and I am not sure I am brave enough to order mystery pieces online.. lol

[accordztech]

Your going to have to look online, plantbrain was the one I got the wood from. The prices are up there, but if you think about it....LFS has them for 3x as much and no where near as nice.

LFS has ugly ass ones, plantbrains has LOTS of character which is something I was looking for.

[TheNamelessPoet]

I jsut google searched driftwood ald looked under shop for driftwood. Granted it took literalty over 700 pieces to find the one I wanted but man I am so excited to use it for my tank it was worth the search :-P

and I agree I really like your tank as it lol but it doesnt matter what everyone else thinks, it matters whay YOU want it to look like.

[carriej]

Still toying with this tank.. Removed ALL wood. I kept getting so frustrated, 55 gals are so stinkin narrow.. Wood was crampin my style! LOL..

[carriej]

One week update from redo.. Stuff has just rooted and is starting to take off. Hopefully will fill out in the weeks to come.

[Curt_914]

Looks good and I agree that 55 are to bloody narrow!! I hate mine but do with what I have. am also in the process of redoing my 55 will have pics up in a couple weeks.

Curt

[carriej]

Yeah - I have eliminated all wood and all rocks in hope to gain more "depth" but 12 inches really isn't enough... I'd almost rather lose a foot and have an 18" tank,

[xxUnRaTeDxxRkOxx]

I love your tank, and because of it I plan to go with a black substrate for my new JBJ 12 gal. nano-cube!!!!

Thanks for the insperation......

[GMYukonon24s]

Great looking tank.

[carriej]

Thanks.. Looking for suggestions to some carpeting plants.. I've got some dwarf hairgrass covering about 1/3 now; but I don't think I like it.. it's a bit tall