[AV8TOR]

Please describe what ever logic there is for driftwood location and placement. I have 3 pieces I am getting reading to put in a new 55 planted tank. One large triangle shaped that I am thinking maybe a center piece and the other two are more like limbs. They are Malaysian wood pieces. No doubt the location I pick will be wrong so I seek the wisdom of the group. The limb pieces do not have any slate to hold them in an upright position. I have plenty of sheet plastic at my disposal so I may position them as coming out of the substrate.

 

[AV8TOR]

Maybe you could take some pictures and we could critique each placement?

Good Idea here they are. The tank is dry and I just placed them in a center focal point. My thought are to place a lot of tall in the background but I can decide whether to spread out the wood. It really did not look good but I do think plants will help.

 

[AV8TOR]

Thanks Mike. When you say turn it clockwise are you referring from the straight on front view just as the camera took the picture correct? Are you thinking like 90º? All opinions welcome so if you think of anything please let me know.

 

[AV8TOR]

Here is a view with one piece removed and the larger piece rotated.

 

[AV8TOR]

Much nicer although a bit to symetrical to me. At lesat as far as the location of each piece is concerned. Have you decided on any plants or an overall "shape" for hte tank. By shape I mean triangular, mound, concave, etc.

As you can see layout is not one of my talents. As far as plants I was thinking some watersprite, red tiger lotus, rotala marcandra, anubias barteri, some swords ludwiga repaens and maybe some pigmy chain swords.
As far as "shape" to me it's a little difficult because that it is a 55 gallon. Only 13" to work with front to back. I was mostly thinking planting around the wood with accents. I guess concave then with a little open front swimming and viewing area.
Thanks

 

[AV8TOR]

Give yourself a bit of credit You are just starting out. As for hte shape check out this thread by Tsunami http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=42 I found it to be very helpful.

Thanks I had missed that post. Tonight I will try a layout where the center is open more by rotating the large piece as you mentioned and moving it to the far left or right and try the other/others on the opposite end.

 

[AV8TOR]

Let me bug you you once more. I tried a shift as Sir_BlackhOle mentioned.

 

[AV8TOR]

OK thanks I will try that tonight.

Is the big piece too big? What do you feel about using the smaller two pieces?

 

[AV8TOR]

Last night I played around a little and instead of laying down the small branch types I stood one up and it made all the difference in the world. I switched and put the big piece to the left 1/3 and stood up the one to the right 1/3 with the other laying down in the back giving it a concave appearance. The other advantage was I could rotate the wood so it opened up two cavities where I could plant some Bolbitus in.

 

[AV8TOR]

Wow aquoi can't wait till I get home and try that. Look great

 

[AV8TOR]

yes! av8 is going to try your suggestion!!!! wow...that's awesome to be a part of that. I can't wait to see how it looks.... av8 do you have all your plants ready yet?

Going to more than try it........that is it. The plants should be here tomorrow.

Being this is a 55 gallon to arrange those two left and right pieces might touch the glass, is that OK?

 

[AV8TOR]

Well here it is and I really like it. Thanks so much everyone and especially aquoi for taking the time to play around with it on the computer. It actually came out pretty close. I had to cut a few protrusions off the big piece to rotate just right. the other two pieces are locked under the big now but as you can see I did have to prop a rock under the one on the left. That gives me a nice shade area too. There are real nice spots on the wood for some fern bolbitus that I have coming.

Is the heater OK back there. I am lost without a sump. I did not want to put it right behind the center piece because there would be no room for plants there. I also added some slope as you suggested.

Thanks again

 

[AV8TOR]

A little crazy with the holiday weekend. The tank got planted yesterday and it is looking quite nice. Most plants are only 8" tall. and the Red Tiger Lotus were all bulbs. Lots of air bubbles in the tank right now but clearing. It is making havoc with the CO2 reactor. The home made bubble counter did not work to good leaking gas under pressure. Right now I am counting bubbles going into the reactor.

 

[AV8TOR]

Sorry it has taken me so long to respond but here is the tank set up from aquoi's suggestion. I could not me more pleased. Been planted for a week and already I had to do some trimming. Amazing. Thanks so much again all that offered suggestions.

Sorry for the crappy picture, just learning the digital as well and no time to experiment. I just did not want to be rude and not show you the results.