Steven_Chong

My feel for this tank is that there is not enough space for plants. Rather, the lacking feature is density. Anubias especially look best in thick dense groups which I'm sure you know are not the case in this tank. Bolbitis seems a bit large for the tank, and for a plant acting as both mid and background, is noticibly thin. Pomatageten is just a thin plant by nature. You can have it for years and never really make a bush out of it.

As a result, the planting looks thin, undeveloped, but cramped at the same time so it seems doubtful that they could develop much better. While "proportionate leaf size" should be a creative factor that can be played with by the aquascaper, the realistic limitation is that all plants have a certain amount of space they need to look their best, with larger plants needing more. I think this is a case where many plants (the bolbitis and anubias) just don't have this space.

To me the culprits seem to be:

--Too much space allocated to foreground with not enough thought to making space for plants.

--Plant species that are large for these dimensions.

I also have an 18g 60 cm, and I 'd say that I'd hesitate to to use plants like E. Stellata or L. Cuba just because those plants are so big for a tank of this size. Bolbitis should probably be considered even bigger than these plants.

Sorry for all this critical feedback on a tank I know you are really proud of . . . just trying to help, and you asked for feedback.

It looks like all the pieces really are here though. The rocks and sand are beautiful-- though I think you can make even more improvements with the rockwork. Good luck Dennis! It's really all there! Just keep playing with it.

Craig Tarvin

Nice, but what are those black things on the top and bottom of the tank?

AaronT

I really like the rocks you used in this scape. I agree with John that one side or the other needs to be pushed farther to the side. As is it feels to 'symmetric', at least as far as weight goes.

I think a light blue backround would set this 'scape off nicely as well.

dennis

Sorry to let this thread go stagnant. Thank you to all who posted comments since my last post.

Steven, thanks for the criticism. I am not in the least bothered by it and I definitely see what you are saying about the space in the foreground. It seems no matter how hard I want to really think/plan everything though, I always end up not taking enough time. The foreground is certainly to large but then I was trying to create abit more visual depth and initially I considered a Marselia or glosso forground. That's not going to happen though.

Anyway, here it is at 15weeks. The fish eat every stem plant eventually so please excuse the few ratty stems of Rotala in the background. I think it will be a little nicer when the Bolbitis and windelov fill in. Thoughts?

stepheus

There is beauty in its simplicity. I could imagine staring at it in person with the fauna absolutely contrasting with the plants. Good job.

Kelley

I did not know that rosy barbs were big plant-eaters! I'm glad you mentioned this because I was thinking of getting some of them. Eeeeek!

dennis

Yup. P. gayii and an unknown local, Rotala green, colorata and pink, Bacopa araguaia, Bylxa japonica (seems to be their favorite), Hydrocotyle and Ranunculus were all eaten in short order. Mosses also. They go after the Rotala sp. last. The only plants they don't touch are Anubias and the "ferns". Mine never seem to eat any algae either.

Stepheus, Thanks!

Kelley

They don't even eat the algae? Worthless fish!

I really was considering them for my next tank. I know it's really girly of me, but a tank full of pink fish sounded sooooo pretty.

I hope your fiance likes the tank.

Steven_Chong

Tough break with those fish dude. I mean, the bolbitis is really too big IMO. I sitll like the rockwork in this tank though. I wonder if they'd eat crypts?

dennis

I'll admit the fish are attractive and very fun to watch. I just wish I could keep more plants with them. About the Bolbitis, I am going to start trying to train it to be smaller. I really wanted everything established first though before I tried it. Now that the stemplants won;t work, I may try pushing the Bolbitis back and having something a little lower in front. Bylxa would be... oh nuts That is one nice thing about these kinds of plants, You can easily move the whole mass around.