[Wet Thumb Forum]-FeeFeeFish's Natural tank

[feefeefish]

This tank has been set up for 2 mos. 29 gallon freshwater. Florabase substrate mixed with sand and covered with gravel. Plants: Anubias, swords, wisteria (floating), some red plant, vallisneria, brazilian pennywort (I think).

It receives no fertilizer except what the fish give it. Lighting is a 20 watt flourescent bulb and a bright room.

It looks scraggly and disorganized to me. I'd appreciate any advice...

Thank you!

[feefeefish]

This tank has been set up for 2 mos. 29 gallon freshwater. Florabase substrate mixed with sand and covered with gravel. Plants: Anubias, swords, wisteria (floating), some red plant, vallisneria, brazilian pennywort (I think).

It receives no fertilizer except what the fish give it. Lighting is a 20 watt flourescent bulb and a bright room.

It looks scraggly and disorganized to me. I'd appreciate any advice...

Thank you!

[dwalstad]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by feefeefish:
This tank has been set up for 2 mos. 29 gallon freshwater. Florabase substrate mixed with sand and covered with gravel. Plants: Anubias, swords, wisteria (floating), some red plant, vallisneria, brazilian pennywort (I think).

It receives no fertilizer except what the fish give it. Lighting is a 20 watt flourescent bulb and a bright room.

It looks scraggly and disorganized to me. I'd appreciate any advice...

Thank you! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

It looks fine to me. I think that it is up to you to decide what you want your tank to look like. My criteria is met if the fish/plants are healthy and I don't have to change water.

[superjohnny]

That's an interesting background

Congratulations on your success.

[SCMurphy]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by feefeefish:

It looks scraggly and disorganized to me. I'd appreciate any advice...

Thank you! <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Don't mind them, they missed the point of your question.

Try trimming the stem plant and replanting the tops next to the stumps to create a stand or bush look. This will give you a fuller look and get away from a scraggly appearence. Be patient and as the plants fill in you will see what I'm talking about.

On a side note, putting a background on the tank will also reduce the 'glass box with water and plants' look. It will also bring out the colors of the red plants so they contrast better with the greens. If this will effect the growth of the plants by limiting the light then you might want to consider using more light, but that is a last resort for a natural tank setup.

[feefeefish]

Thanks, Sean! I put a black background on the tanl and it makes the colors look brighter. I also put 55 watts on this 29g instead of the previous 20w, and the plants have filled out quite a bit at last!

Best Regards,
Fee