Please judge my new aquascape

3078 Views 20 Replies 12 Participants Last post by binbin9, May 5, 2017

lahornby

Discussion Starter · Apr 23, 2017

3

I just set this tank up about a week ago. And then, today, I tore out everything from my tank even my substrate to try to be creative. This is my tank before:

Water Natural environment Pet supply Fish supply Lighting

I redid it and this is what I ended up with: (The water is still cloudy)

Water Plant Pet supply Organism Fish supply

Corner view:

Water Plant Vertebrate Pet supply Fish supply

This is a 5 gal Fluval Spec tank. I plan on this being a shrimp only tank. Some neo's.

I also plan on adding a carpet to most of the substrate except the white path.

Is it to much? To busy? I'm not sure I like it. I'm thinking I should have stuck with just the mountains on the left or just the floating rocks on the right. (With more floating rocks). I really like those iwagumi aquariums. I was shooting for something like that but this is as close as I got.

I think my floating rocks look to small compared to the mountain side. And I don't like that the color of the floaters doesn't match the mountains. I'm thinking about taking them out, but dang it! I worked hard on those!

What do you think? What should I change? Take away? Add?

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MtAnimals

· #2 · Apr 23, 2017

I think those floaters are cool! very original and not something you see.the color difference is pretty minor,I really didn't notice it until you mentioned it.Also,I like the arrangement of the bigger rocks better now as well.

the sand path looks awesome too,an improvement over being on the end.

I think that will really look great once the plants grow in.

what's important though,is whether you like it,but I think you did a great job!

Reactions: 1

lahornby

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 23, 2017

MtAnimals said:
I think those floaters are cool! very original and not something you see.the color difference is pretty minor,I really didn't notice it until you mentioned it.Also,I like the arrangement of the bigger rocks better now as well.

the sand path looks awesome too,an improvement over being on the end.

I think that will really look great once the plants grow in.

what's important though,is whether you like it,but I think you did a great job!

Thank you for the encouraging words.

awesometim1

· #4 · Apr 23, 2017

Your new aquascape looks 100x better. Good job. The "valley" in the middle is real ADA(?) style

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black4tears

· #5 · Apr 23, 2017

I love the new aquascape if i may suggest some things
1- change the blue background to white or black or mirror look
2- can u move the flying rocks in to the rocks side and bonsai tree shape in the empty side.
It will be mix of tradition look and imagination view

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Reactions: 1

lahornby

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 23, 2017

3

black4tears said:
I love the new aquascape if i may suggest some things
1- change the blue background to white or black or mirror look
2- can u move the flying rocks in to the rocks side and bonsai tree shape in the empty side.
It will be mix of tradition look and imagination view

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Funny that you would say to add the mini tree... I wanted one of those too, but I really thought I was going to make the tank look like an overcrowded thrift store with so many different things in there. I was reading about the rule of thirds, which I did not accomplish, but what stuck in my head was only 1 focal point for a tank this size.

But I'm really liking your idea about moving the floaters and adding the tree. I like my rocks and I like my path, but the floaters? Ehhh. I love them in other tanks, lol... Maybe it IS the placement that I dont like.

Moving them would be no easy task. I made them myself (with much trial and error) from styrofoam and they are SO buoyant. They took a pretty decent size rock to hold each of them down which takes away from the illusion. So I sewed them to a piece of plastic mesh that I placed under the substrate.

Computer Netbook Personal computer Output device Rectangle

I also sewed 2 walls to the plastic mesh to get my path right and I don't want to mess with that.

Mesh Wood Fixture Composite material Tints and shades

Road surface Leaf Rectangle Wood Sunlight

But thinking about it now that I have my rockwork in... I could just cut the line holding each floater, tie each to a weight rock and have a better chance of hiding the weight rock in the brickwork.

This would also solve the problem (that I see anyway) of the floaters not all looking straight up and down. Some look kind of turned sideways, which I'm also obsessing about. I had little control over this while sewing all 5 to the same piece of mesh. It was just to hard to adjust them because the whole sheet of them floated everytime I tried to check my placement. I could manipulate them better if they were individually secured.

And then I would have room for a mini tree... oh my, why did I even ask for suggestions!!! :surprise:

Beautiful tank or overcrowded thrift store... HERE I COME!

Bump: I have no idea why my pictures turn upside down when I post them here. This is not the first time.

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Dman911

· #7 · Apr 23, 2017

Love the idea of the floating islands, I actually contemplated doing this a few months ago but decided against it because with my tree added they wouldn't fit my into my vison. If you want to get the islands straight I would suggest using 2 or even 3 lines per island this will allow you to eliminate the tilting effect. Keeping them on the intake side of the tank (depending on filter type) will keep them in a lower flow area so they won't be pushed around as much. I can't wait to see how this turns out and I'm already anticipating how awesome this will look.

Dan

Reactions: 1

lahornby

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 23, 2017

Dman911 said:
Love the idea of the floating islands, I actually contemplated doing this a few months ago but decided against it because with my tree added they wouldn't fit my into my vison. If you want to get the islands straight I would suggest using 2 or even 3 lines per island this will allow you to eliminate the tilting effect. Keeping them on the intake side of the tank (depending on filter type) will keep them in a lower flow area so they won't be pushed around as much. I can't wait to see how this turns out and I'm already anticipating how awesome this will look.

Dan

Yes... that is ANOTHER problem with the floaters that I failed to mention. They are wiggling in the current.

In my first attempt I had each one tied to a weight rock with with the line coming from the weight rock and going back to the weight rock. These floated exactly as I liked them.

Water Vertebrate Pet supply Organism Fish supply

This pic is a crude test. Line was to thick, but it's what I had. And long pieces floating everywhere. I also had my heater in the tank in front of the pump output, so the flow wasn't wiggling the floaters.

The rocks I tied them to where random ones that I had lying around. I would have bought better ones if I thought it would work, but I still think they would have to be a size that would be hard to hide in the open area. I would love to use plain old lead fishing stinkers, but I assume putting lead in the aquarium is a no no. (I should probably know this already, but I'm a noob, a very green noob at that)

When I tried the plastic mesh I didn't think about the ill effects of using just 1 line until after I saw the results. I also moved the heater to the hidden part of the tank to clean up the look. But having it in tank with the test floaters made me overlook the wiggling part.

I've been reading all morning trying to figure out how to divert the flow, instead of just moving the floaters.

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Dman911

· #9 · Apr 23, 2017

lahornby said:
Yes... that is ANOTHER problem with the floaters that I failed to mention. They are wiggling in the current.

In my first attempt I had each one tied to a weight rock with with the line coming from the weight rock and going back to the weight rock. These floated exactly as I liked them.

View attachment 750001

This pic is a crude test. Line was to thick, but it's what I had. And long pieces floating everywhere. I also had my heater in the tank in front of the pump output, so the flow wasn't wiggling the floaters.

The rocks I tied them to where random ones that I had lying around. I would have bought better ones if I thought it would work, but I still think they would have to be a size that would be hard to hide in the open area. I would love to use plain old lead fishing stinkers, but I assume putting lead in the aquarium is a no no. (I should probably know this already, but I'm a noob, a very green noob at that)

When I tried the plastic mesh I didn't think about the ill effects of using just 1 line until after I saw the results. I also moved the heater to the hidden part of the tank to clean up the look. But having it in tank with the test floaters made me overlook the wiggling part.

I've been reading all morning trying to figure out how to divert the flow, instead of just moving the floaters.

What type of filter are you using?

You could also use lead weights and coat them in aquarium silicone I use GE 1200 for building tanks and tank projects. Then just sink them into the substrate out of sight. This would allow you to easily remove for tank maintenance or adjustment.

Dan

PBiddy412

· #10 · Apr 23, 2017

I like this one the most out of all your pictures. The floating rocks look out of place to me though. This is coming from a newbie's point of view however as I have no experience with aquascaping. Just going by what my eyes and opinion tell me. I love the idea though and its more creativity then I'll ever do at this point.

Just some ideas:

- Floating rocks on both sides of the tank to balance it out?
- Maybe put a rock beneath the floating ones now? Would be a "source" for the floating rock?

Just a couple things. Again take my opinion with a grain of salt. Can't wait to see what you do with it. Keep up the good work. Seems like you are putting a lot of attention to detail in this and hope I can learn something!

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lahornby

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 23, 2017

Dman911 said:
What type of filter are you using?

You could also use lead weights and coat them in aquarium silicone I use GE 1200 for building tanks and tank projects. Then just sink them into the substrate out of sight. This would allow you to easily remove for tank maintenance or ardjustment.

Dan

I was just thinking about sealing the weights as well. That would be a good option if I cut them loose. The plastic mesh was such a pain to work worth because I need to keep placing it in and out of a filled tank. In to look, out to adjust, each time trying to hold the whole thing down at once, over and over.

The pump is the stock pump that tank came with, but it's a strong one, i have a lot of turbulance at the top, probably to strong a pump for the shrimp I want to get eventually. The tank is a fluval spec V.

Dman911

· #12 · Apr 23, 2017

lahornby said:
I was just thinking about sealing the weights as well. That would be a good option if I cut them loose. The plastic mesh was such a pain to work worth because I need to keep placing it in and out of a filled tank. In to look, out to adjust, each time trying to hold the whole thing down at once, over and over.

The pump is the stock pump that tank came with, but it's a strong one, i have a lot of turbulance at the top, probably to strong a pump for the shrimp I want to get eventually. The tank is a fluval spec V.

Could take the coarsest filter sponge you can find and cut a slot in it then slide it over the output and use a black zip tie to hold it on. This would disperse the water over a much greater area rather then a stream. But I'm sure there are better hacks out there for it.

Dan

black4tears

· #13 · Apr 23, 2017

lahornby said:
Funny that you would say to add the mini tree... I wanted one of those too, but I really thought I was going to make the tank look like an overcrowded thrift store with so many different things in there. I was reading about the rule of thirds, which I did not accomplish, but what stuck in my head was only 1 focal point for a tank this size.

But I'm really liking your idea about moving the floaters and adding the tree. I like my rocks and I like my path, but the floaters? Ehhh. I love them in other tanks, lol... Maybe it IS the placement that I dont like.

Moving them would be no easy task. I made them myself (with much trial and error) from styrofoam and they are SO buoyant. They took a pretty decent size rock to hold each of them down which takes away from the illusion. So I sewed them to a piece of plastic mesh that I placed under the substrate.

View attachment 749953

I also sewed 2 walls to the plastic mesh to get my path right and I don't want to mess with that.

View attachment 749961

View attachment 749969

But thinking about it now that I have my rockwork in... I could just cut the line holding each floater, tie each to a weight rock and have a better chance of hiding the weight rock in the brickwork.

This would also solve the problem (that I see anyway) of the floaters not all looking straight up and down. Some look kind of turned sideways, which I'm also obsessing about. I had little control over this while sewing all 5 to the same piece of mesh. It was just to hard to adjust them because the whole sheet of them floated everytime I tried to check my placement. I could manipulate them better if they were individually secured.

And then I would have room for a mini tree... oh my, why did I even ask for suggestions!!! :surprise:

Beautiful tank or overcrowded thrift store... HERE I COME!

Sorry its my bad becoz I thought u hang the rock from up . I didnt know it's attached down under the substrate.
Ok do ur best im waiting to see ur vision and im positive about it keep rocking that tank LOL

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lahornby

Discussion Starter · #14 · Apr 23, 2017

PBiddy412 said:
I like this one the most out of all your pictures. The floating rocks look out of place to me though. This is coming from a newbie's point of view however as I have no experience with aquascaping. Just going by what my eyes and opinion tell me. I love the idea though and its more creativity then I'll ever do at this point.

Just some ideas:

- Floating rocks on both sides of the tank to balance it out?
- Maybe put a rock beneath the floating ones now? Would be a "source" for the floating rock?

Just a couple things. Again take my opinion with a grain of salt. Can't wait to see what you do with it. Keep up the good work. Seems like you are putting a lot of attention to detail in this and hope I can learn something!

I completely agree. The floaters do look out of place or just to barren over there. Among other things. It looked better in my mind.

Reactions: 1

lahornby

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 23, 2017

black4tears said:
Sorry its my bad becoz I thought u hang the rock from up . I didnt know it's attached down under the substrate.
Ok do ur best im waiting to see ur vision and im positive about it keep rocking that tank LOL

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In the fancy/pretty set ups they are hanging from the top. I am not that good of a diy pro... Rock drilling, platform making, etc.

I am only crafty, hence all the sewing, painting and what not things that I try to do.

You should see the waterfall tank Dman has got going on, know that's some real diy...

http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/20-diy/1113690-underwater-waterfall-build-test.html

This is my second planted tank attempt with my first attempt failing terribly and tore the tank down about 2 months in around 2 years ago. Just a few rocks and plants from a dozen different strangers. Snails. Algae. Overfeeding, the works.

All the pics and reading here in the last few weeks is what got me interested in actually trying a little harder this time.

Bump:

Dman911 said:
Could take the coarsest filter sponge you can find and cut a slot in it then slide it over the output and use a black zip tie to hold it on. This would disperse the water over a much greater area rather then a stream. But I'm sure there are better hacks out there for it.

Dan

I ordered some of those round intake sponges this morning when I was reading about trying to slow the flow down, planning on zip tie to hold it onto the output. XD

The pump came with the tank and fits in a very tight space. I would hate to try to find another that would actually fit in the tiny built in compartment that the current pump is in. So I'm hoping the sponges work.

Bump:

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Trnt

· #16 · Apr 25, 2017

I like it a lot, my critiques would be that it feels too divided right now, and being able to see where the path ends wrecks the illusion that you're looking at something larger than it is.

Might I suggest adding another terrestrial rock on the right side of the path and have the path sort of wrap in front of it? That way it will tie in the floating section more, and you wont see the path end abruptly.

Sort of like this. Please no laughing at my editing ability, critiques welcome though- I have just got this program this weekend xD.

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fish jihad

· #17 · Apr 25, 2017

Your second effort is definitely better and wouldnt change anything. The Avatar rocks are very creatively done

Alf2Frankie

· #18 · Apr 25, 2017

Love everything about this. Only 2 things I would change - black or white background and a "source" beneath the floaters to combat the empty space

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Fishbeard

· #19 · Apr 27, 2017

I agree with some others, adding some small rocks and some plants underneath the floating rocks would make them seem a little more natural. Just one man's opinion though, very nice work.

puopg

· #20 · May 1, 2017

Just need stuff to grow in now. Looks nice!

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