my tank redesigned...coments? (pics)

[tbone]

I redid my tank i got bored of my setup. Plus one of my fish I wanted to transfer would simply not come out of the cave. So here it is, I'm not finished fully yet but untill i get some ideas I'll leave it for the moment. I was actually thinking of getting some cork bark or some slate tiles for a new background. I would adhere the tiles or bark together with some non toxic waterproof adhesive.(It's an idea not ready to go through with it yet. I still need to iron out some problems)I need to trim some plants back a bit.

the cave was really cool but posed some problems

Ps. the camera i used before is way better then the camera I used this time (wasnt my camera before.) The camera I have is crappy.

heres the old

heres the new

 

[tbone]

Oh and just to get slightly off topic I also built a planter box that is almost in veiw on the previous pic. here it is

 

[happychem]

I like the design of both, and I can totally understand getting bored with the layout! I just overhauled my tanks, right now the 33g is looking pretty scruffy.

My comments on the new design are to open up the middle a little more, it looks really crowded. Maybe push the background plants back and to the side in a bit of a U-shape and fill in the front with shorter plants. This might just be a camera issue too. I think that I perceive crowdedness because it's pretty dark...

Also, the wood looks like it's too close to the front, although each time I look at it it looks better and more in place...

In any case, I like the look and I have little talent for the scaping part of aquacaping, so don't take my comments too seriously

 

[windeindoiel]

I think both layouts look great. I guess looked in the case of the first one. You seem to have talent for this aquascaping thing.

 

[Raskolnikov]

While the original is not to my tastes, the new setup is quite handsome. Very nice :thm:

 

[tricksterpup]

heres the new

I really like this setup, I wouldn't open it up in the middle. I love the real natural look. Heavy planted tanks is where it is at. And the fish will love it as well. Plenty of spaces for them to hide in.
Also wait till your onion plant (i believe its an onion) starts to grow larger and spreads out over the top. I personally love seeing grass plants in a tank.

 

[Holly9937]

tbone, what is the set up on the right of the original tank pic? Is that the cave you were talking about?

 

[Bobafish]

Nice set up, i have no talent for this sort of thing. I need to get my plants to actually grow first!

 

[tbone]

tbone, what is the set up on the right of the original tank pic? Is that the cave you were talking about?

Yes the hill on the right where the castle was is also a cave. I did like it and it was kinda cool, even with the fake decorations. But yah it posed some unforseen problems.

I really like this setup, I wouldn't open it up in the middle. I love the real natural look. Heavy planted tanks is where it is at. And the fish will love it as well. Plenty of spaces for them to hide in.
Also wait till your onion plant (i believe its an onion) starts to grow larger and spreads out over the top. I personally love seeing grass plants in a tank.

Yes I'm trying to go for a natural look this time around. Thats why i put the branches in .....I wanted them to be nicer but thats all i could find for branches at the lfs. As for the Crinum thalinum (yes onion plant) the camera is deceptive, it is actually encircling the tank. The tank is 48 inches long and it goes to the other end and comes back a bit. those are just some new shoots that you can see. Pretty nice growth from the origional pic in the middle there although im kind of disapointed it lost its curls.
Also there is a big rubin in the middle and a smaller rubin in front of it(I kind of ran out of ideas to place them) They are very broad leafed and am not sure where else to put them. The camera also makes it look like there is no depth (my camera sucks) the old picture is so much clearer {but I borrowed my friends for that one}
I was thinking of putting a rock pile where the rubin is to raise it up a bit.


But it does look a little crowded, although I'll leave that for now just because it looks "natural". But later I might clean it up Lol. I am always tweaking it.


Thanks for your comments, they are appreciated, positive or negative.

 

[Holly9937]

I really like the cave, how did you do it? What was it made of? Were there any problems with it besides getting the fish to come out? And I guess vacuuming under it could be a problem?