Covering the bare spots?

[goalieman59]

What should I put in the tank to cover the bare spots?

[chrisfromnl]

A Background.

[goalieman59]

It has a black background on it, what do you mean by background?

[The Zigman]

Bare spots?
do you want to cover the back, or the floor?

[bkw1982]

Depending on your tank setup i would just fill in with some easy plants.

mid to background
Wisteria
Green Hygro (looking for some myself)
LUDWIGIA repens or narrow leaf
crypts
anachris(spelling?)
spiral vals
watersprite

Foregroud
anubias
dwarf sag
crypts
java fern
java moss on wood or rock
chain sword

Tons more, just some of the staples you'll find around.

[goalieman59]

I want to cover the floor, I am getting ready to co2 the tank and have fun from there.

[StereoKills]

Depending on your lighting, maybe hairgrass, HC, Glosso......They'll do better with med-high lighting and co2 and make a nice carpet.

[fishorama]

I'd like more hardscape, rocks for preference, & a few more stem plants too.

[StereoKills]

:iagree: Aquascaping is about balance between hardscape and different types of plants.

[Chrisinator]

Having a more natural looking substrate would suffice your tank better....

[Jag1980]

Looking at that substrate gave me a headache :eek:

[StereoKills]

What, you guys don't see neon blue when you look at a lake or river bottom? Maybe I need to get my eyes checked :read:

In all honesty, I have to agree. You'll be happier with a natural looking substrate when you're growing plants.

[Commodore 64]

I'd say plant a carpet of something so as little of that substrate shows as possible. :grinyes:

[rainbowcharmer]

:D

My first tank had hot pink gravel as a substrate. I have pictures of it somewhere. It's amazing. LOL

I will admit that after switching to black or white substrate, I like the looks of my tanks a lot better. ;)

Other than that, I'm sort of in the same boat with you - trying to decide what other plants to put in my tanks to fill them in a bit more.

Hey to those suggesting the java moss - will that work on decorations? Like fake rocks or this really fun sunken bridge that I've got in my 40 gallon? Or does it only grow on things like driftwood or real rocks?? I'm really debating java moss in my 40 gallon on that bridge, if it works it will look very cool...

[StereoKills]

It should attach to decorations just as well as drift wood or rocks.

[ciaobella7122]

The java will adhere to anything lol. I agree with others about the substrate, more natural looks so much nicer! Plus, it's not nice to give your fishies migranes lol.

[goalieman59]

Ok, Ok, i get it more natural substrate but that is what the wife wanted so that is what I went with. I just moved the tank two nights ago so I need to give it a few days to let everyone calm down a little, or I could just cover it.

[goalieman59]

do yo think I could mix the substrate with something else to make it look better or should I just completely change the substrate out? What plants would cover the gravel?

[rainbowcharmer]

Mixing it probably isn't going to do a ton of good. It's still going to be really blue. :) But in all honesty, if you guys like it - leave it blue. It's not hurting the fish, and to each his own. I've done the crazy colors, and though I like the more natural colors better, it doesn't make blue a bad color. :)

As for ground cover - it depends on lighting. Personally I love the way Dwarf Hairgrass looks, but I don't have high enough lighting to keep it in my tanks, so I'm using Dwarf Sag - not as "grass-like" as I would like, but it's serving the purpose. The moss would probably cover the ground a bit too if it adheres to anything like mentioned above.

And thanks for that! I am going to get me some java moss ASAP! :) I really think my sunken bridge will look great with it! :D

[goalieman59]

My plants have been growing fine in it, so I am going to leave it blue but I am going to get some ground coverage, and can I attach a java fern to a piece of drift wood?

[ciaobella7122]

yes actually you should as their rhizomes dont like to be buried :)

[goalieman59]

How do I tie them to the drift wood then.

[fishorama]

Tie it with sewing thread or fishing line. Brown or black is almost invisible. I tried rubber band with anubias not java but it was on part of the rhizome too tight, not good.

[ciaobella7122]

yea i had a rhizome completely fall off from that... oops! now i use clear fishing thread, just cause i have it here at home already and its barely visible unless youre really looking for it lol