newbie needs aquascaping help

[dough041]

I'll try to be short- This is my first attempt at a planted tank. Actually I haven't had any type of tank set up in over 25 years...I set up my tank in early November ( 55 g w/eheim 2026, 2x65 coralife lighting,hydor 300 in line heater. no co2, add excell periodically). I got a 2 dozen plant assortment from aquariumplants.com and placed them in early Nov also. I believed that I should not try to properly rearrange the plants for a while so just placed them to get them going? I tried to get a semi decent photo to give an idea where I stand at this point. After looking at tank photos in this forum, I'm actually embarrassed when I look at mine, but hopefully some suggestions will get me on my way. Oh- I wanted to rescape the tank before adding just community type fish. All help will be truly appreciated! Gotta start somewhere I guess...

[Malefic23]

The plants look pretty darn good to me. I guess it depends on what you like in your tank, and what sort of aquascaping your fish will appreciate. Driftwood or caves, or both would make a nice addition. Move your tall plants to the back, medium to the middle, and short ones up front to create a layered look. Stacked rock caves crawling up the side of your tank is a popular look... I like to tie driftwood to the center brace at the top of the tank so it hangs down into the water...

Just depends on what you like, and what the needs of your fish will be.

[Mgamer20o0]

i would add ferts PNK, Flourish trace and co2 excel to get the growth rate up so they fill in faster. i think once everything grows in more it will look great.

[Tinajo]

I just want to chime in and say that I think it looks really good!
I don't know anything about aquascaping with real plants and my own tank is very simple. Thanks for sharing the pic! I hope you can get some good suggestions.

[dough041]

bump...

[WeeNe858]

all you need to really know is the hight of that plant that it grows to be.. and then you work from there :]

[debaric]

it looks really nice, i dont get why you think it looks bad.

maybe get some flourish root tabs and dose with excel. Your growth will increase if you inject CO2.

i have a 75 gallon and it looks similar to yours. Plants just grow very slow cause I have about 2 wpg and no CO2.

[Squawkbert]

An excellent start. The only suggestion that popped into my mind is that you go out and find a few rocks or bricks or driftwood pieces or anything else that strikes your fancy and add them so it isn't strictly plants. I would also add some fish and/or inverts.

[Star_Rider]

An excellent start. The only suggestion that popped into my mind is that you go out and find a few rocks or bricks or driftwood pieces or anything else that strikes your fancy and add them so it isn't strictly plants. I would also add some fish and/or inverts.

Ditto rocks and driftwood will add more stucture to the tank(IMO)

you're off to a good start. with that much light you should supplement with CO2 and ferts.

[dough041]

bump