Guess no one else wants to take a bite on this one, so I'll give it a shot:
I feel that this layout, although a great accomplishment for such a small tank, is really unoriginal. The plant placement, the plant choice, even the fish reminded me of the 3L aquascape in Nature Aquarium World Book II.
Doing a side by side comparison, I feel that your tank would be greatly improved if it had a midground. In the book version, Amano used Riccia fluitans and Hemianthus micranthemoides in the midground plantings. Riccia spec Dwarf could replace the Riccia fluitans for a better effect in such a small tank. I would also consider using Anubias 'Petit' and small crypts (C. x willisii) to provide some interesting contrast in texture and color.
I would seriously consider adding some hardscaping (small rocks, very thin driftwood branches) to try and break this scape away from Amano's original layout.
The color accents need to be more carefully pruned in this shot. I would replace the overly large R. macrandra with a smaller, daintier red plant like Rotala macrandra var. narrow leaf or Ludwigia arcuata.
The foreground needs some time to mature --and I feel it is taking up precious midground space.
Plant health needs to be addressed --those stunting or weak looking stems are really detracting from the overall presentation. If you fix this problem and work on the midground, I feel that this layout will be improved quite a bit.
Consider adding some cherry red shrimp to replace the neon tetras.
Bee shrimp would be nice, also.
Hope this helps... hopefully others will chime in,
Carlos
I feel that this layout, although a great accomplishment for such a small tank, is really unoriginal. The plant placement, the plant choice, even the fish reminded me of the 3L aquascape in Nature Aquarium World Book II.
Doing a side by side comparison, I feel that your tank would be greatly improved if it had a midground. In the book version, Amano used Riccia fluitans and Hemianthus micranthemoides in the midground plantings. Riccia spec Dwarf could replace the Riccia fluitans for a better effect in such a small tank. I would also consider using Anubias 'Petit' and small crypts (C. x willisii) to provide some interesting contrast in texture and color.
I would seriously consider adding some hardscaping (small rocks, very thin driftwood branches) to try and break this scape away from Amano's original layout.
The color accents need to be more carefully pruned in this shot. I would replace the overly large R. macrandra with a smaller, daintier red plant like Rotala macrandra var. narrow leaf or Ludwigia arcuata.
The foreground needs some time to mature --and I feel it is taking up precious midground space.
Plant health needs to be addressed --those stunting or weak looking stems are really detracting from the overall presentation. If you fix this problem and work on the midground, I feel that this layout will be improved quite a bit.
Consider adding some cherry red shrimp to replace the neon tetras.
Bee shrimp would be nice, also.
Hope this helps... hopefully others will chime in,
Carlos
