redstrat

I'm currently in the planning stages of a major re-scape of my 75gallon aquarium. I know I haven't posted any pics of the current scape but I haven't really been happy with the scape as it is plus I've been busy and battling aglae so I just haven't thought of it as ready for show yet. Anyway, I've had the algae under control for a couple months but I'm waiting to get a little more money for a pressurized CO2 system to replace my current DIY setup and to order some new plants. So for now this whole thing is just on paper and I'm using the current scape as a learning scape to prepare for the re-scape. I'm planning on using all of the same equipment except the CO2 changes I mentioned before so it will still be High Light with a Filstar filter and EI fert dosing.

Click Here to see a rough pic of my future layout/planting plan. I'm open to any suggestions comments on plant choices layout ect... I do want to lay out some things that are important to me though. This aquarium can be viewed from the front and left side very easily so I'm trying to make it work both ways. I'm trying to encorporate a path that passes through to the back of the aquarium and comes out on the left side basically creating a planted island or mound when viewed from the left.

Substrate:
I will be using flourite where the plants are and probably white 3m colorquartz or silica sand in the exposed forground areas. any pros or cons to doing this other than the obvious mixing that can occur?

Driftwood:
I'm planning to add driftwood this time from manzanita.com (should I get the sandblasted or red variety? which size package should I buy, small or large?). I'm not sure if I want some of the wood to stick out of the top but it is an option as my tank is open top. Are there any pros or cons to doing this?

the background will be solid black.

Anyway I realize this is probably way more detail than anyone would like to know at this point but thats to bad. Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

redstrat

not to be annoying or anything but nearly 1 day with over 60views and no comments/suggestions/thoughts/criticisms/critiques???

sonaps

What I see from the front and top are two turtle like mounds. They are very separate and cut off from one another. Have you considered a background plant to tie them together? I think this layout will probably look better from the left as it will create a feeling of hills. Putting one more smaller mound in the front middle might create a better view from the front. These are just my suggestions, you have obviously put more thought into it then I have. Much of a scape comes down to personal preference. Some may like the driftwood to come out of the top and others may think that looks weird. I would say try it in a dry run and see what you think. If you like it that is what really matters.

The problem I see with using white substrate is that any algae growing on it will be very visible. I don't know about everyone else, but I have seen this when setting up a new tank. It seems like you would get other junk building up on it too.

Good luck, I look forward to seeing the final product.

redstrat

Thanks for the feedback i really appreciate it!! I haven't purchased the wood yet so I'm not really sure what I'm going to have to work with at this point but I'm going for a general idea I guess...

to answer your suggestion about bringing in something more for the background I'm assuming your talking about the left side as the right will have the P. Stellatus and Crypt Spiralis... I was hopping some of the driftwood would be long enough for me to extend over that area in the rear and plant moss, anubias nana, or javaferns on it. I would either extend it from the left mound or the right rear portion or both so hopefully there wouldn't be a Ton of black background visible.

Regardless I want to maintain this path idea that flows through to the left side I think it coudl be a cool effect when viewed from either side. to top it all off the room this tank is in is situated such that when the tank is viewed from the couch you could nearly look straight down the path, in my mind adding tons of dept from that perspective. The drift wood I was hopping would tie the two mounds by reaching out into the path from both mounds.

another idea I'm trying to encorporate is keeping larger leaved plants in the front and smaller leaved similar shapes in the rear(excluding the p. stellatus for emphasis). I'm hoping this will also add to the depth of the layout. Large leaved anubias in the front with smaller leaved plants in the rear. This would also be accomplished with the Stargrass and Rotala Green. any thoughts?

redstrat

By the way I plan to start a journal for this re-scape with tons of pics once I really get it started.

stepheus

Really nice planning. I can see that you have given a lot of thought and time looking at some of the aquascapes we have around. Keep posting.

redstrat

well this re-scape has been a long time in the makeing, mainly being delayed because budget and lack of freetime in the last couple months. Anyway I've finally collected everything I need, driftwood, white sand, the plants I was missing. Now I just need to get a good day or so to tear down the old and start the new layout. its worked out pretty well though because in the months I've been collecting plants, they've been growing out and I've been able getting good practice with all the new species.

I figrued I'd say something to bump this thread back to life and see what everyone has to say about the plans now since its been a while and there are some new faces on APC. It would be nice to get some constructive comments about this before I actually do it.

houseofcards

Davis,

That looks like a nice setup. I think you could do alot with that and the trimming of the plants would allow you alot of flexibility in how it would look whether you want to connect the two islands or show more hardscape etc.

If the setup will be long-term and not just setup for a few months for a photo op you might want to make sure you could clean the hardscape without having alot of headaches mixing the two substrates. If you go through any periods of BBA or other algae and you have to remove rock or wood you don't want the island to collapse. Definitely no bottom dwellers especially loaches, shrimp are O.K. Look forward to the first pics.

redstrat

House, I hope I can keep the two substrates where they belong, I'm hoping the plants will help cover most of the line between the two allowing for a little mixing to go unnoticed... unfortunately I'll probably be moving this october so it will have to come down then, I may be able to salvage most of it but I'm probably going to take it as an oportuntity to make changes if I want. I'll probably stick with the same fish I have now, mostly neons and tigerbarbs with some rainbows SAEs and Ottos, mainly because my fiance is really set on the fish choice and wont let me give any back to the LFS. I'm really looking forward to the change, and even the process of making the change even though its probably going to take a full day of my time, hopefully it will be worth it.


One of my biggest concerns with this scape is the C. Helferi, I'm not really sure how its going to turn out when it fills in. I love the plant but it may just not fit in the scape like I originally thought, I might be able to get the island looking even better without it. Guess I'll cross that bridge when it comes but its my biggest concern right now.

Intros

Only one thing that is a concern for me - the Cryptocoryne retrospiralis in the front -as it looks from the drawing plan- could be too tall for the front line, especially when it will send runners, even initially is placed in the front corners...The rest look promising, with some nice green-red contrast you will have there. Good look!