My ugly tank

[mystical473a]

But no really my tank is ugly, right now all my tanks are grow out tanks until I can finally master the art of growing plants perfectly.

See this tank is my neigbours and compared to this, my tank is ugly

[RinsMom]

I'm not saying your tank is ugly... but one thing I see is that your neighbor's tank looks much more mature... with just a few kinds of plants, and large clumps at that.  There are short things in the foreground, and larger things in the background.

When I plant, my tank tends to look like yours...  sorta random, because I really don't know how or where to put the plants.  I'm still learning, though... and, at any rate, I do like a planted tank, no matter what it looks like.

[mystical473a]

No my neighbor is just much more skilled. U would not believe me if I told u that tank is only 1 and a half months old. Just right after cycling.

[RinsMom]

Wow..... can you get him to help you, to teach you how to aquascape?

[mystical473a]

Yeah we compared notes and its not so much about the aquascape, I can do that even though sucky but its about how we grow our plants. He can grow inches in a day while I grow inches in a week. I get tired of planting them and not seeing them grow out. Instead stay small and have deficencys. So far we fixed most of it and I hope my current fert and light plan works.

[RinsMom]

Sounds like you are on the right path, then.

I really know nothing about fertilizers, etc. I am sure there are deficiencies in my tank, also.  I just increased my lights from 80 watts to 110 watts on about 45 gallons of water.  It will be interesting to see how things change with that.  The bulbs are completely different, also.. the color is much nicer!  (I don't really know what kind of lights they are... they came with the fixture, and it is used.)

[chrisinator]

I think you can organize your plants a little better. Put the biggers ones at the back, and try not to shade the smaller ones in front. Add some hardscape such as driftwood or rocks (test them) and such things like that.

[mystical473a]

Well at least growth is pretty good. Looks good from up top.

[mystical473a]

Ok a little better but I still think its ugly. *sigh* someday

[redwoodbsq]

you know, i felt the same way about my planted tank... well, not that it was ugly, but more 'blah' and unexciting.  I put a big rock in the front and it really brought it together.  you might want to think about doing the same... or some driftwood. I dunno, just something that helped me make mine look cooler.

My tank:



It has nothing real exciting as plants go, just java fern, amazon swords, and an anubius.... but I think the white and red of the rock really bring the greens out.  Just an idea for ya.