[goodbytes]

Just started this tank and the scape seems somehow lacking. I wanted to go with something simple and I've always liked the grouping of different stem plants in the background but If I add more driftwood it will take away from the manicured look I'm going for. I have yet to add another plant species on the far left.

What do you think?

 

[mot]

Based on what you are looking for I think you should take the driftwood out and go all plants.

 

[wmnash]

This is just my simple opinion, but have you considered a small patch of vallisneria spiralis or americana in front or or behind the driftwood? Neither grows very tall (about 6 to 9 inches). Once established it's easy to control and maintain and it gives a sense of height. I appreciate your interest in having a manicured look, but nature isn't manicured. Good luck.

 

[LRJ]

I would agree with removing the driftwood or maybe cutting it down to size. What are the dimensions of the tank? Can you post a better photo that gives more of a level view? Can you post a list of your plant species? I can't quite tell from the pic what all of them are.

 

[goodbytes]

This other picture should provide a better perspective.
Tank dimensions are 30" x 18" x 24" High.

I'm putting a pair of Angelfish in here so I believe I'm going to need something like this driftwood in here to break up the sight lines. Maybe a different shape piece though?

I'm dosing Excel in this tank daily and its my understanding that Vals do not abide gluteraldehyde.

Plants are:
Hygro
Rotala Rotundifolia
Pennywort
Anubias
Cardamine
And I have no idea what that is on the far right,
I just kind of pointed and said "oh, and that one too"

 

[LRJ]

If you need to have driftwood, maybe a taller stumpish piece that can stand upright without leaning on the glass. You could place the stump about a third of the way across the tank, creating a strong focal point which the scape currently lacks. I think this might also do a better job of breaking up lines of sight than having the wood all the way to one side.

I agree with the previous post about adding a vallisneria type plant. Something tall and grassy would contrast well with all those stems. If you cant do vals, maybe Eleocharis montevidensis or Crypt balansae would work? Some myriophyllum might also look good.

You didn't mention the crypts you've got in there, looks like wendtii maybe. If so, that may be a bit large for the foreground.

 

[Opare]

Maybe you gotta wait for the grow in? Foreground and midground are quite bare though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[goodbytes]

I do have one other piece of driftwood that I would say is stump-like so I tried four different orientations.

Option A

Option B

Option C

Option D

I personally favor Option C or D but maybe it looks a bit crowded?

I agree with the previous post about adding a vallisneria type plant. Something tall and grassy would contrast well with all those stems.

You didn't mention the crypts you've got in there, .

Those are just Rosette Swords in very bad need of a trim--all the old leaves died when I put them in this tank but they are growing prodigiously.
I'm going with Blyxa Japonica and I"m going to plant about 12 stems of it in the midground.

 

[LRJ]

The pics are not showing up for me.

Those are just Rosette Swords in very bad need of a trim--all the old leaves died when I put them in this tank but they are growing prodigiously.
I'm going with Blyxa Japonica and I"m going to plant about 12 stems of it in the midground.

Gotcha. Interested to see how that looks.

 

[goodbytes]

Is anybody able to see the photos?

 

[Darkblade48]

Is anybody able to see the photos?

Works for me.

 

[LRJ]

Works for me.

Weird. I can see the pic in post #1, but nothing shows up for options A-D in post #8.

 

[goodbytes]

I went with this arrangement.
I think it looks good but aquascaping is definitely not my forte.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I like it...maybe some moss on the wood and a few small stones around the wood. But, it also looks good the way it is. Once grown in, it will look great!