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New 29 aquasape ideas

3K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  Christople 
#1 ·
I made the following plant order:

10 Jungle Vals
10 Narrow Leaf Chain Swords
4 Green Temple Hygrophila
1 Red Tiger Lotus
2 Banana Plant

I believe there is no wrong way to decorate a tank, however I am really hoping for suggestions here as to how you would scape this. Where would you place the plants in this one?

I am thinking jungle vals back left, hygro mid-backdrop, not sure where to place to lotus. the narrow leaf chains of course will be in front.

Also is the driftwood placement good enough?



 
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#2 · (Edited)
First, I agree, there is no wrong way to decorate a tank! It's all about what you like. My kids think I have waaay too many plants. I don't think I have enough yet!

Anyway, my opinion, and please feel free to ignore it if you disagree :-D:
Rule #1: try stuff out, back up, look, and move until satisfied. Rule #2: repeat #1 as necessary!

Driftwood: I really like the texture of the one on the right-hand side. The driftwood arrangement seems a little symmetrical. Are the lined up exactly along the same plane side-to side? If so, you could place one further back and bring one forward. However, I think it's the way the shapes are mimicking each other with a similar tilt that I find "too perfect" for nature. How about laying the left-hand piece flat on the substrate? I know you want vertical dimension, but that should be addressed by the plants over time. How about angling the left-side piece so it lays flat and "points" toward the right front corner. Put the most textured side so it's visible. Position that same piece so the front "point" is almost in the tank center. The, move the right-side piece a little further back and to the right (don't put anything in the exact tank center).

Be sure to group your plants in odd-number clusters, not too symmetrical in layout.
Heck, I'm no good at aquascaping, but it's fun trying!!
Good luck with it.

Note: I find putting driftwood and plants a little off the glass makes cleaning the glass much, much easier.
 
#8 ·
First, I agree, there is no wrong way to decorate a tank! It's all about what you like. My kids think I have waaay too many plants. I don't think I have enough yet!

Anyway, my opinion, and please feel free to ignore it if you disagree :-D:
Rule #1: try stuff out, back up, look, and move until satisfied. Rule #2: repeat #1 as necessary!

Driftwood: I really like the texture of the one on the right-hand side. The driftwood arrangement seems a little symmetrical. Are the lined up exactly along the same plane side-to side? If so, you could place one further back and bring one forward. However, I think it's the way the shapes are mimicking each other with a similar tilt that I find "too perfect" for nature. How about laying the left-hand piece flat on the substrate? I know you want vertical dimension, but that should be addressed by the plants over time. How about angling the left-side piece so it lays flat and "points" toward the right front corner. Put the most textured side so it's visible. Position that same piece so the front "point" is almost in the tank center. The, move the right-side piece a little further back and to the right (don't put anything in the exact tank center).

Be sure to group your plants in odd-number clusters, not too symmetrical in layout.
Heck, I'm no good at aquascaping, but it's fun trying!!
Good luck with it.

Note: I find putting driftwood and plants a little off the glass makes cleaning the glass much, much easier.
Thanks for the idea. I tried your arrangement of the driftwood, admittedly I like it better than my original placement.

I would actually move the left piece over and lay it down by the right one.. Looks a bit too symmetrical in my opinion.

Also, an interesting idea could be to place the vals on the sides instead of the back- they will easily outgrow the tank, and grow along the surface, reaching at the middle.

I would maybe place the banana plants around the left side, a few inches apart, and the lotus in front. The hygro would contrast behind the woodpile.
I think I will put the wood pieces together, right side.

I was actually toying with the idea of place the vals on the side of the tank, but just one side and let it grow over to the middle. Think it'd look better with 5 on each end instead of all 10 on one end?

Hygro sounds perfect behind the wood.
 
#3 ·
I agree on the drift wood but beware that the narrow leaf chain sword will take over the bottom, the lotus is a great plant, to get it to grow shorter trim the long pads, I think vals go in the back and a banana plant in the back and the other in a empty space or where it would look good
 
#4 ·
Trimming the red lotus does NOT keep it lower, it just kills the longer leaves. What you must trim is the stalks that run straight for your surface. Once they get there, they will stop growing leaves and just shoot for the surface all the time. If you trim the longer leaves, it will eventually hurt the plant as the length of the leaves is due to the amount of light in the tank. Lots of light means lower leaves and bushier appearance. Lower light means for taller less bushy plants.
 
#5 ·
opps
 
#6 ·
I would actually move the left piece over and lay it down by the right one.. Looks a bit too symmetrical in my opinion.

Also, an interesting idea could be to place the vals on the sides instead of the back- they will easily outgrow the tank, and grow along the surface, reaching at the middle.

I would maybe place the banana plants around the left side, a few inches apart, and the lotus in front. The hygro would contrast behind the woodpile.
 
#7 ·
I tend to scape very symmetrically (not intentionally though), I agree the wood is better if the two pieces were grouped to one side. I really like the idea of "framing" the tank with the Vals. Neat idea!
 
#12 ·
hahahahahahahaha redchigh, very nice use of my comment, ^^ genius
 
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