[jeffthefish]

I'm really not satisfied with the way my tank looks at all.

Here is a large photo of it.

This was taken right before I trimmed the Hygro on the left side and a few other things. I'd like to get rid of it altogether. The Echinodorus on the right has grown too big, but I'm kind of attached to it. I wonder if I could grow it partially submerged in an open container to get it out of this tank.

I'd like to have a lot better ground cover, part of which you can see on the bottom right. It's a little thicker than it looks in the pic, but not much. It's mostly dwarf hairgrass.

Here are some specs:

100 gallon
2 Rena XP3 canisters
220W light in back
120W +/- light in front, but it only goes halfway across the tank (it was originally purchased for a smaller tank)
Substrate is gravel on one side, sand on the other
I would like to do pressurized CO2

Ask me anything else you need to know. This is the first planted tank I ever set up, and I'm not sure where to go with it. The left side is the most displeasing to me...any suggestions? The only things I'm really attatched to are the driftwood and the bichirs.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Naja002]

The left side is the most displeasing to me...any suggestions?

Personally, I think its the gravel. I noticed that first thing and it just threw everything off--IMO.

Also, spread out the Hair grass. Take each one of those clumps and divide it by 10-15 and plant separately an inch or so apart......:thumbsup:

HTH

 

[ianmoede]

I agree, the gravel is weird visual element. Perhaps if it was more well lit? That area looks awfully dark. But like naja said, get that hairgrass growing and the gravel wont be an issue anymore.

 

[jeffthefish]

Ok, I'll replace the gravel w/ sand and get more hairgrass.

The larger grass-like plant on the right side there is actually a chain sword. It's a lot bigger than the hairgrass, and I'm thinking of getting rid of it.

What about background plants?

 

[Naja002]

Ok, I'll replace the gravel w/ sand and get more hairgrass.

The larger grass-like plant on the right side there is actually a chain sword. It's a lot bigger than the hairgrass, and I'm thinking of getting rid of it.

What about background plants?

Its not about getting more---You just need to spread out what You already have--It will grow much better and faster....:thumbsup:

HTH

 

[frozenbarb]

doesnt look that bad IMO mines is worst

 

[CherylH]

I kinda see a stream bed and the bank, so how about this:

1. trim out the big floating clump of plants on the left and put it in the rear left corner.

2. move the round plant currently in the rear left to the front left.

3. move the sword to the left--about the middle of the gravel area.

4. arrange your "boulders" around the separation of sand and gravel and lose the slate--not all in a row, but like you'd see at a river bend

5. move the short swords to the rear right

6. move as much equipment to the left as you can so it will be hidden by plants.

7. look at it and tweak it a little.

 

[jeffthefish]

I redid it somewhat last night, using a conglomeration of the advice given here, on another board, and my own ideas.

http://www.jeffthefish.com/photos/aquarium/DSCF6904.JPG

 

[epicfish]

Keep spreading the dwarf hairgrass out on the left.

 

[delevan]

ide say move that mass or whats left of it,to the back right,thined out across the back, and yeah spread out youre foreground all over the front,not all that bad for your first(planted) though....gl.

 

[jeffthefish]

Keep spreading the dwarf hairgrass out on the left.

Oh, now I know why I didn't understand what you were saying! There's no hairgrass on the left. That's a chainsword. Now I gotcha!

Ok, I'll think it out even more, but I want the chainsword on the left. I've got some glosso on the right that I want to cover the right corner.

Delevan, which mass do you mean?

 

[narhay]

How about a good scrub on all your hoses, filters, heaters, the glass and putting up a black background? A few dollars and some effort will go a long way.

 

[jeffthefish]

Because obviously I've put no dollars or effort into any of this... :icon_cry:

 

[rodney]

If I were you, I would take the pebbles and rock out.

The plants look great though!

 

[jeffthefish]

Yeah, I really regret that substrate choice, but at the time, with the knowledge I had, and being new to the city, it was the only way to go. So now I have to weigh whether the trouble of pretty much redoing everything is worth it.

And yeah, I hate that rock! Why did I do that??? My tastes have come along way in 9 months.

 

[Naja002]

So now I have to weigh whether the trouble of pretty much redoing everything is worth it.

Trust me: as long as $$ isn't an issue for the new substrate--its much easier just to redo do it than it is to think about it! roud:

 

[jeffthefish]

Trust me: as long as $$ isn't an issue for the new substrate--its much easier just to redo do it than it is to think about it! roud:

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I guess you're right!