Need Aquascaping Advice on 55 Gal

[DoctorP]

I have a 55 gallon planted tank that was setup 6 months ago... when i initially set it up I didn't really think much about how it looked overall and just got everything planted. Now that I look at it and other people's tanks on the web I'd like to make some changes to it but I don't know what to do. Let me know what your thoughts/ideas are on changes to make. Thanks! Sorry for the crappy pictures...my camera doesn't focus well on the aquarium..

[daayda3]

I like it... maybe a little pearl grass?

[fishorama]

I like the jungle look but maybe it's a bit too thick on the right, seems too dark. Some thinning out would be good. Thats the thing with a heavily planted tank you start with small plants & it looks kind of bare, then at least some grow like crazy, some don't. It's both the fun & the headache.
Both your tank & your pics are much prettier than any I've done. Keep up the good work & give us an update when it changes. We also like details like lighting & fish.

[bbiesenkamp]

I agree with thinning out the right side. I can't quite tell what the plant is in fron of your driftwood- the large one with the red in the leaves, but it could go mid way back on the left side with your tall sword (I think long thin narrow leaves 1/3 of the way from the right side) behind it. The red ones on the left side could go around your driftwood to highlight it. Then some of the other crypts can go around them.There seems to be some nice rocks on your tank, too. Large plants behind with smaller ones in front will really highlight them. You could use the long thinner leaf plants in the back right around some of your swords or along the back to give some height acroos the tank or just as a background.

[tinkerman]

Looks good. The left side needs more stem plants in the back. I just think it seems alittle heavy on the right. I just place plants where they seem to do the bestand add or remove stuff that doesn't look right or does poorly after a few mo. I'm no expert though. keep up the good work.

[DoctorP]

Yeah the stuff on the right is Bacopa and it grows mega-fast. I'm constantly taking out 8 inch pieces of it. I've put it over there to hide a in-tank canister filter (used for water movement).



Tank Stats:
55 Gallon Community
Eheim Pro 2028 Filter
96W CF Lighting
Flora:
Bacopa, Crypts, Melon Swords, Uruguay Swords, Egeria Najas, Dwarf Lily, other unknown plants
Fauna:
3 Bosemani Rainbows, 2 Goyder River Rainbows, 1 Yellow Rainbow, 4 Kribensis (3 female, 1 male), 4 Siamese Algae Eaters, 2 Florida Flagfish, 1 Apisto Cacatuoides, 1 Bronze Cory,1 Orange Striped Cory, 1 Tiger Pleco, 1 Bristlenose Pleco

[Quartermain]

Nice looking tank! Honestly it looks a lot better than any of my tanks. :)

But if you're looking for a critique then I'd say from an artistic point of view the main problem I see is you're contending with two focal points; the tall drift wood on the left and the tall sword and tiger lotus (or lilly?) on the right.

I think the driftwood has a nice placement. Perhaps you could group the taller plants next to the tall driftwood and taper off with the mid and foreground plants to the right. Then you might plant something tall, like the Bacopa and more vals, on the far right that will bend back over the top to create a path for the eyes to follow.

It's an :idea: anyway.