Tank Pics

[hatton3]

The pictures are not that great - but it will give you an idea of what I have at this point. Thank you to all who have given me advice. Any advice on arrangement will be nice.

[hatton3]

here is another one. These pictures are a little old as these are scanned photos from film that has been in my camera for a couple weeks. The swords are at the top of the tank now. The Red Ludwigia is taller as well.

[Matak]

What is it you would like to achieve?

[hatton3]

Well, I'm going for an Amazon acidic river theme. I really want to darken the water for an authentic look, but I've just switched over to pressurized co2 and my ph is running around 6.8 to 7.0 now, so I can't lower the ph anymore with tanins. So I think that darkening the water is out unless I want to really fool around with my alkalinity and ph and that is out.

I might indeed have plants in there that are not indiginous to the Amazon basin - I bought them anyway because I like the look or color. I don't necessarily like the Cabomba, but I'm keeping it right now as I have spawning activity around it. I dunno, I'm still learning. I need a good thematic plant book.

I like a mix of red and green. The left Amazon sword is a nice bright green, the sword next to it is now become a deep red/maroon as it has grown. The Ludwigia is a pretty red color. My Crypts are pink. Foxtail is red and green. I used Flourite because 1)it's a great plant substrate and 2) it's a nice red color. I just like a contrast rather than all green.

I do (to my credit) only have indiginous species of fish from the Amazon in the tank.

Any suggestions?

[Matak]

I was kind of hoping that some expert would reply after seeing what it is you are striving for. I am not one of those experts, but I will give it my best.

First of all, you will want to group similar plants together, larger ones to the back, smaller to the front. Try not to make the groupings too geometric and vary the areas covered by each species. An interesting layout is to make a rough "U" shape out of one mid sized species of plant, and fill in the back, sides and background with less interesting plants.

There is an area that Takashi Amano calls the "golden section". It is approximately 3/5 across the width of the tank. In this section you will want to put in a centrepiece, be it a nice piece of driftwood, a large stone or perhaps a larger single plant that stands out in colour and shape.

Fill in the foreground with a low height "ground cover" plant and your set.

It might be helpful to draw out on graph paper your imagined layout before you start yanking and replanting.

Like I said, I am no expert, but I hope this helps.
BTW, it might be a good investment to purchase Takashi Amanos' Nature Aquarium World book one. The first 3/4 of the book is pure inspiration, the back section is a good guideline in achieving a more beautiful planted tank.

[hatton3]

Yea, I've heard a lot about that book. I'll have to look into it.

For what it's worth, I've kind of done what you have suggested. That big dark splotch in the middle of the tank in the overall tank view is a big rock. I have java moss growing over it. The Crypts are growing over it as well. In the foreground, I have Baby's Tear and Micro Sword.

The big swords, Java Fern, and Foxtail are in the back. But I don't have them in a U pattern. That's an interesting idea - I like it. Hummm.....

I was thinking about trading in that Cabomba - I think it doesn't go with the rest of the tank. It was the first plant I bought (6 inches tall) when I got into plant aquariums 2 months ago. It is now 24 inches long and out of control.

Thanks Matak!! :D

[Matak]

No Probs. Looks like we both need a good digi-cam so we can show people what we are trying to say :)

[hatton3]

no doubt! Scanning in photos just doesn't do the justice to a tank like a digital camera would. :(

Again, I thank you for the info on the tank and especially the book!:)

[NJ Devils Fan]

cool pics.