Aquascaping My 5.5 Gallon Tank

[snuffy]

Hi guys, I'm pretty new to aquascaping fish tanks. Plus I don't think I have an artistic eye... So can I get some suggestions on how to make this tank more appealing to the eye?

Straight up shot:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg317/5nuffy/DSC00196.jpg

Another angle:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg317/5nuffy/DSC00194.jpg

Sorry I don't know how to resize the pics.... It's a 5.5 gallon tank. I want to fill it with only low light plants. The plastic grids on the right foreground will be java moss carpets (taking forever!). And I'll be taking out the betta and filling it with cherry shrimps.

Some questions I have are... Where should I put in the lacey java fern? Any items should be moved around?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!!! THANKS!

[Hooked Newbie]

I think it looks great!

The only suggestion I might make would be to add a tall plant on the back right side (anacharis or the like). Are you going to be planting the java fern?

[xzionx]

yea man i think your tank is already appealing to the eye...

[Plecosterone]

I would leave it as it is and let it grow in.

[snuffy]

Thanks for the comments and compliments so far! As for the lacy fern I was going to attach it to a small piece of driftwood or a small rock and leave it where it is. Also I have some baby java ferns from another tank that I could bring over and attach them where the cabombas are right now.

[irishspy]

I think you're off to a nice start. My only suggestion would be to put some more tall plants along the middle background, maybe one of the shorter species of vallisineria or some crypts. And is that the lacy java fern in the pot at the back left?

BTW, that's a lovely betta. :thm:

[jm1212]

your tank looks great as-is.

once the java moss fills in its going to look great.

have you tried dosing with ferts to give the plants a little more nutrients?

[snuffy]

I'm ferting and using Excel on my tank right now. How much quicker will that make my moss carpet grow?

[FAcT_oR_FiCTiON]

that 5.5 looks huge, and great. i just got a 6.6 and mine is poor in comparison lol.

[cheizy]

The tank looks great as is. Keep the bettaaaaa in there lol

[snuffy]

Yeah my betta is awesome! Great personality! Too bad when I first bought him I didn't kill the current in his tank and he loved swimming through it and ripped up his tail... but I digress...

I read that if I have high light in my tank the moss becomes light green and if I have low light it'll be darker green. I was curious what kind of bulbs I can buy that would give me a good clear low lighted tank. As of right now I have 2 bulbs (10w each) in my bowl that I bought from Walmart. I'm assuming that makes my 5.5 gallon highly lighted tank.

Any brands of bulbs and wattage I should be looking for? Links/pictures would be deeply appreciated!

Thanks once again. Can't wait for my moss to grow in!!!

[snuffy]

Funny story... After looking at some online pictures, I realized that I was growing my carpet of moss all wrong. I was putting my java moss between TWO plastic grids. So I took off the top grid of my moss and it was so happy to see a THICK MAT of MOSS!

Far shot:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg317/5nuffy/JavaMossLawn001.jpg

Close up:
http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg317/5nuffy/JavaMossLawn004.jpg


I was curious though. Is the moss too thick leading to some dead moss? OR will I be ok with what I have right now? THANKS!