Which Is Better?

driftwood next to each other



driftwood on either side of tank

I would say either side of tank as it seems to me that with them on either side of the tank it makes your tank look at lot bigger.

Together, without a doubt. It creates a natural focus point. If you seperate them you're gonna have a hard time finding a focus points by using plants. Definitely together.

Where did the white tube go in the second picture?

If I have them together, I can easily use the java fern growing in the centre there (when it grows bigger,) as a focus point. I can also plant something else in front of the area between the elodea and hygro, and I think that part looks a bit bare anyways.

If I have them apart, the java fern isn't as effective. However, I've noticed my kribs and BN pleco seem to like them apart, more territory I suppose, more space to roam about... Don't see how it my tank look bigger with them seperated though, but thats just me, and everyone sees art differently.

Keep the comments coming, and thanks for the feedback atm and pseud!

Together But I'd possible group them on the left hand side.

atmmachine said:

Where did the white tube go in the second picture?

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It's for CO2. Removed it because I was doing a water change, and wanted to see how it'd look if I moved a few things around.

You can see in the 2nd pic, the heater is partly hidden by the vallis on the right, but you can just make out it's red light, so I'm probably going to keep it there. Does anyone think this is a bad idea, mainly due to circulation problems? I have a Eheim Ecco 2336...

Also wanted to fiddle around with my CO2 diffusor, to see whether I could adjust it in relation to the output pipe. The aim was to get the most CO2 bubbles get caught up in the current from the pipe, causing more CO2 diffusion in the tank.

Thanks for replying fishkiller...

bloozoo2 said:

Together But I'd possible group them on the left hand side.

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Thanks for replying bloozoo, its the most thought provoking so far!

I can understand why you'd like it together, but on the left? Why?

The aquascape I've loved the most was the one of it with just the vallis and rotala, with the driftwood together on the base of the rotala.

Pretty much how everything is in the tank in the 2nd pic, but with just the rotala and vallis with both with a month's growth on them. Sorry I've no pics to share.

The rotala and vallis is something I'm hesistant to change, and I think the driftwood looks better on the right because of this.

fishkiller_nomore said:

You won't have a heat circulation problem if the heater is placed near/next to/under the filter outflow. Not sure where your filter outflow is though, I'm not familiar with Eheims lol!

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Don't want to sound rude, but since my heater is not "placed near/next to/under the filter outflow", that is why I'm asking this question. The outflow is near the fish in the 1st pic. Pretty much middle of the pic, towards the top... The outflow is pointing towards the left of the tank, where the two panes of glass meet I mean (Hope that made some sense) The heater is on the back right corner of the tank.

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PtarmiganUK said:

Discomafia said:

I've noticed my kribs and BN pleco seem to like them apart, more territory I suppose, more space to roam about...

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If your fish like it better that way who are we to argue
In which case stay with them apart but may I suggest you remove the plants from the far right, move the bogwoods and everything else to the right leaving some free space on the left,, and then replace the plants that were on the right over in that free space that you just made on the left thus to cover up the filter inlet pipework.

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I feel that having the vallis on both the left and right side would make the aquascape look too symmetrical. But it really does a good job of hiding the filter intake, so maybe I should move the filter intake to the extreme right of the tank, pretty much where the heater is right now... I had somemore to say in reference to your reply, but I kinda forgot, so I'll just post it later in a new reply.

Thanks for the reply btw, really insightful, and WOW! on the (bank) of the 'river scenario, really opened my eyes to a few possibilities.

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Since the general consencus is that together is better, I rearranged the piece of wood. Angled it I mean. LFS was having a plant special, and I got some Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig', and some ludwigia repens (I think?) and the purple plant which is in the centre.

Not sure if its even an aquatic plant, so an ID on that and the other plant would be much appreciated. Or would better pics be required? I know the purple plant in the centre is the focus of the tank right now, but I plant to change its position (since its also hiding the giant hyrgo, which I think I should move anyway.

Once again, comments and feedback much appreciated, esp. in plant placement! My Cryptocoryne beckettii ''petchii'' in the foreground (in front of the Hygrophila polysperma 'Rosanervig') is hardly noticable, should I move that? And to where? Should I move the purple plant to it's position?

Oh yea, forgot to mention... Since it was half price, I added a 4 pound bag of Hagen Geosystems fine gravel, and it looks really great IMO.

Also, would adding another piece of driftwood (short small piece, or a longer branchier one) would be a good idea? Looking to balance the aquascape, and I feel that using another piece of wood would complete this... If branchier piece of wood, where should I angle it towards?

New piece of wood. Hope they all turn into the same shade of brown eventually... This is the view from the chair I'm on right now.