View Full Version : Help me redecorate...
noodles62
01-03-2009, 1:43 PM
Well, let's try this, since I decided against adding more angels to my tank I perhaps need to do some re-arranging so the tank does not look so empty all the time!
Below is a pic of my planted tank(sorry about the poor pic!); specs = 45 gallon, 64 watts of 65K lighting, no co2; plants consist of willow hygro (on left) 2 anubias (1 on DW - w/ a torn leaf! and 1 on lava rock) 1 large java fern (on DW) some red rotala that I will prob toss as it is full of BBA and some sorry looking water sprite, substrate is PFS. Stock is listed in my tank set up.
Any suggestions on what I can do to make it look better? The angel hangs out behind the hygro and all I ever get to look at is a few black neons.....
:help:
grannylvsfish
01-03-2009, 1:57 PM
Nice tank, do you need more lighting to get the plants to grow more? I say add some smaller plants down front and a few taller ones in back. ( maybe move that tall one from the side. christmas moss on that log would look awesome to!
noodles62
01-03-2009, 2:09 PM
Thanks for the comments granny! there are a couple shoots coming off the tall plant (hygro) that I could snip and replant along the back......
some taller plants would be nice for the back. Vals, stem plants, long crypts.
rich311k
01-03-2009, 4:02 PM
A background on the tank, a bigger piece of hardscape and then some taller plants in the back and some nice smaller plants for depth.
noodles62
01-03-2009, 4:06 PM
A background on the tank, a bigger piece of hardscape and then some taller plants in the back and some nice smaller plants for depth.
There is black background but it a bit reflective.
grannylvsfish
01-03-2009, 4:08 PM
its a pretty tank, you did well. I like it. :) whats the snail on the log?? looks stripped ( Im old and my eyes are bad :lol:
noodles62
01-03-2009, 4:12 PM
its a pretty tank, you did well. I like it. :) whats the snail on the log?? looks stripped ( Im old and my eyes are bad :lol:
The snail is a zebra nerite (from MsJ!) :)
I agree that I need more plants; taller in the back in short in the front. Without co2 and my lighting, I feel pretty limited as to what I can have in there......
noodles62
01-03-2009, 4:13 PM
some taller plants would be nice for the back. Vals, stem plants, long crypts.
Are these ok with my WPg and no co2?
Are these ok with my WPg and no co2?
should be enough, crypts and vals will do fine under the light. The stem plants can do fine but you may get some loss of lower leaves.
noodles62
01-03-2009, 4:27 PM
thanks BK! what would you suggest for the foreground?
What kind of rotala are you tossing? The rotundifolia version has been growing extremely fast in my tank with no CO2 or ferts. Bacopa monnieri might do well for the background as well, I actually saw some in my mom's tank yesterday that has been getting less than 1 wpg for months and still growing. Long crypts would look great too and should grow just fine. Elodia has exploded in less light than you have as well. Your angel should come out once there's more tall plants around for cover.
Nice ram btw!
Turbosaurus
01-03-2009, 4:29 PM
why not get another angel? They're social fish and if you had another to keep this one company you would see more of him/her. This one is probably lonely - that's why he hides. That probably makes me sound like a fruitcake, but seriously, I have 11 planted tanks, 480 gallons and breed angels when the mood strikes me. Get another.
As for plants- the anubias and sprite and hygro all look great, why not give them some time to fill in? Let the hygro grow big before you trim it into multiple stems. The closer it gets to the light at the top the faster it will grow and the more shoots you will have. Try to be patient with them and it will work out great in the end. I know that's not what you want to hear when you are thinking redecorate, but try.
How about some swords? Vals should grow in your tank with your lighting and so would crypts. All three should get root tabs now and again since your substrate in inert. You may so want to try some API leaf zone or Kent freshwater plant liquids to provide some additional potassium and micros for the plants. That will help.
If you want to add more hardscape remember the most natural looking tanks will have matching rocks and matching driftwood. Don't do multiple rock types/colors textures in the same tank no matter how nice each individual rock is, it wont look good meshed together.
noodles62
01-03-2009, 4:31 PM
What kind of rotala are you tossing? The rotundifolia version has been growing extremely fast in my tank with no CO2 or ferts. Bacopa monnieri might do well for the background as well, I actually saw some in my mom's tank yesterday that has been getting less than 1 wpg for months and still growing. Long crypts would look great too and should grow just fine. Elodia has exploded in less light than you have as well. Your angel should come out once there's more tall plants around for cover.
Nice ram btw!
I was told it was red rotala - I got it at my LFS which is BTW also where I got the BBA! :swear: It is growing nicely but so many of the leaves are covered w/ BBA I am tempting to just yank it out!
I agree about the angel - he comes out when he begs for food but other than that he hangs out in the back left corner behind the hygro.
Mokomon
01-03-2009, 4:34 PM
How about some water lettuce?
I love your tank!
noodles62
01-03-2009, 4:36 PM
why not get another angel? They're social fish and if you had another to keep this one company you would see more of him/her. This one is probably lonely - that's why he hides. That probably makes me sound like a fruitcake, but seriously, I have 11 planted tanks, 480 gallons and breed angels when the mood strikes me. Get another.
As for plants- the anubias and sprite and hygro all look great, hwy not give them some time to fill in? Let the hygro grow big before you trim it into multiple stems. The closer it gets to the light at the top the faster it will grow and the more shoots you will have. Try to be patient with them and it will work out great in the end. I know that's not what you want to hear when you are thinking redecorate, but try.
How about some swords? Vals should grow in your tank with your lighting and so would crypts. All three should get root tabs now and again since your substrate in inert. You may so want to try some API leaf zone or Kent freshwater plant liquids to provide some additional potassium and micros for the plants. That will help.
If you want to add more hardscape remember the most natural looking tanks will have matching rocks and matching driftwood. Don't do multiple rock types/colors textures in the same tank no matter how mice each individual rock is, it wont look good meshed together.
Thanks for the advice! I may just move the hygro more the center/back and wait to trim/divide it and get vals/crypts etc to fill out the back. I would love some taller hardscape but pickins are slim around here.
as far as the angel, I am afraid to just add 1 as it will likely be a juvie and mine is pretty big. he would probably beat/harrass it to death. it was suggested to add a group of juvies and then wait for him to find a mate and move the others....not sure I am up to that. (still a bit of a noob when it comes to cichlid aggression) yea, I guess I am a chicken!LOL
Turbosaurus
01-03-2009, 4:37 PM
I almost forgot, I wanted to commend you, that is one immaculate fish tank.
noodles62
01-03-2009, 4:38 PM
How about some water lettuce?
I love your tank!
Thanks Sharon! Not too sure about water lettuce.....maybe.
I almost forgot, I wanted to commend you, that is one immaculate fish tank.
Thanks! I fought green water for a while and won!! :headbang2:
I have 2 AC70s on it and they keep it crystal clear....
Turbosaurus
01-03-2009, 4:42 PM
Don't do a BUNCH of angels! Then you are asking for trouble Ha ha. Ask your LFS if they get their angels from a local breeder, if they do, that breeder will surely have a spare adult around they want to get rid of....
Turbosaurus
01-03-2009, 4:48 PM
IME I would avoid water lettuce. You don't have a TON of light to start with, I wouldn't add anything that floats- it will shade your other plants
noodles62
01-03-2009, 4:48 PM
Don't do a BUNCH of angels! Then you are asking for trouble Ha ha. Ask your LFS if they get their angels from a local breeder, if they do, that breeder will surely have a spare adult around they want to get rid of....
Problem is mine has always been alone so I do not know what sex it is....
I got it in July when it was approx quarter sized....now it is not quite full grown, but close..
thanks BK! what would you suggest for the foreground?
i would go for dwarf sag, will spread fast and if you get vals for the back it can really blend in with it.
Try thinking of limiting the $ of plant species but increasing the amount of each chosen.
Also get one more bolivian ram (opposite sex). That way you can get to see some of their great personality + the neons.
noodles62
01-03-2009, 5:04 PM
i would go for dwarf sag, will spread fast and if you get vals for the back it can really blend in with it.
Try thinking of limiting the $ of plant species but increasing the amount of each chosen.
Also get one more bolivian ram (opposite sex). That way you can get to see some of their great personality + the neons.
I am picking up a male ram Monday from another member. :)
I had a male previously but he went on a hunger strike and did not make it....
Thanks for the plant advice. This tank is so tall it is hard to make it look like like it is stocked to any degree!
Now, to add $$ to my paypal acct on payday and scour the classifieds! :evil_lol:
edit: I will also be tucking a couple small terra cotta pots in the back for the rams to hide in and hopefully spawn.
I am picking up a male ram Monday from another member. :)
I had a male previously but he went on a hunger strike and did not make it....
Thanks for the plant advice. This tank is so tall it is hard to make it look like like it is stocked to any degree!
Now, to add $$ to my paypal acct on payday and scour the classifieds! :evil_lol:
edit: I will also be tucking a couple small terra cotta pots in the back for the rams to hide in and hopefully spawn.
I think you got enough spaces for them to spawn. The wood and rock on the right should do.
I would remove the sprite, fern and trim off the willow hygro. Add some larger sword to the left back, vals along the entire back, dwarf sags in the front left and right with just an empty space by the wood for the rams to come out. Could make it a nice jungle.
Mokomon
01-03-2009, 5:33 PM
IME I would avoid water lettuce. You don't have a TON of light to start with, I wouldn't add anything that floats- it will shade your other plants
I only have 96 watts over 55 gal & have NO problem with planted plants growing.
noodles62
01-03-2009, 5:37 PM
I think you got enough spaces for them to spawn. The wood and rock on the right should do.
I would remove the sprite, fern and trim off the willow hygro. Add some larger sword to the left back, vals along the entire back, dwarf sags in the front left and right with just an empty space by the wood for the rams to come out. Could make it a nice jungle.
Cool! thanks so much for the advice! :worthy:
When you say trim off the willow hygro - what do you mean? and remove the java fern?
noodles62
01-03-2009, 5:39 PM
I only have 96 watts over 55 gal & have NO problem with planted plants growing.
LOL your tank looks great Sharon! I am sceptical of floaters in this tank as I had some in there before and it really spooked the angel at feeding time. I would prefer to avoid them if I can get away with it- altho BK's frogbit is extremely tempting! LOL
Mokomon
01-03-2009, 5:40 PM
I understand Noodles!!
Cool! thanks so much for the advice! :worthy:
When you say trim off the willow hygro - what do you mean? and remove the java fern?
with the hygro, make it more workable, trim the stems to the size that will fit with the future scape. For me it was somewhat of a slow grower, if you get a sword for the back, you can trim the hygro down so its more of a midground plant.
Ignore the fern removal lol... looked again and it looks fine.
I would prefer to avoid them if I can get away with it- altho BK's frogbit is extremely tempting! LOL
floaters arnt necessary but some fish seem to be more comfortable with floaters.
Im actually finally almost out of frogbit. Now ill be moving my sales to red root floater :) much much prettier
http://i43.tinypic.com/2817ejp.jpg
the good thing about floaters is that they are nutrient hogs and can balance out the water parameters.
Your big job now is to find the right val species. (i would go with val nana :) )
Mokomon
01-03-2009, 5:59 PM
That Red root is GORGEOUS!!!
noodles62
01-03-2009, 6:05 PM
Thank you all so much! Let's hope I can pull it off. I was just looking at the tank again and I am almost compelled to yank the red lava rock on the right. It is a poop magnet and always looks gross! LOL
thanks moko, your tank looks very nice. I wonder how often you throw out the lettuce
Thank you all so much! Let's hope I can pull it off. I was just looking at the tank again and I am almost compelled to yank the red lava rock on the right. It is a poop magnet and always looks gross! LOL do it.. can go to a landscape yard and get a stone thats smoother (less porous)
noodles62
01-03-2009, 6:09 PM
:grinyes:
Mokomon
01-03-2009, 6:11 PM
thanks moko, your tank looks very nice. I wonder how often you throw out the lettuce
Thank you!
Actually, I cannot bear to throw out any of it, so I've been bringing it to my LFS, approx 100 plants every 2-3 weeks
:lipssealedsmilie:
Will you be selling any of your reds?
noodles62
01-03-2009, 6:15 PM
Thank you!
Actually, I cannot bear to throw out any of it, so I've been bringing it to my LFS, approx 100 plants every 2-3 weeks
:lipssealedsmilie:
Will you be selling any of your reds?
Check his sig ;)
noodles62
01-03-2009, 6:17 PM
Also, I will prob up the neons to 15 and add 2 SAEs as soon as I can find them....
Mokomon
01-03-2009, 6:18 PM
<------1/2 asleep
Thanks Noodles, I just saw it :)
Kashta
01-03-2009, 8:30 PM
Oh no.. I just got a good look at BK's red root floaters. Didn't have a chance to cover my eyes in time.
Those do look good. <darn!>
noodles62
01-03-2009, 8:37 PM
Oh no.. I just got a good look at BK's red root floaters. Didn't have a chance to cover my eyes in time.
Those do look good. <darn!>
Kashta - I just now put your sig together with the quote under your avatar! Floyd is great!!! :headbang2:
Kashta
01-03-2009, 9:07 PM
Kashta - I just now put your sig together with the quote under your avatar! Floyd is great!!! :headbang2:
Thanks, Noods. I picked the image because it looks nice.. it's fishy.. and I have goldfish. Then every time I saw it, it made me think of that song.
You know how hard that one is to get out of your head.. it really sticks. :headshake2: I finally had to add the quote to go with it. It's a great song and it means a lot to me.