tank pix

Both of my 10-gal tanks are so yucky looking. The plants are growing fine, I just don't know how to arrange them to give it that lush look I see in so many other aquariums here. I want to make sure it looks great, but still has enough room for the fish to swim.
Any help will be appreciated greatly!
(Excuse the light colors, there are different bulbs in that tanks until I can get to the store and replace them.)

Here's the second one.

ALso, I'm not against making them look just the same, or completely different. I just want them to make your mouth drop when you see them.
(That's not too much to ask, is it!?!)

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bump again

I'm no expert but to an untrained eye I'd say buy more plants if yours are growing OK. Plant a load so you pruning and thining rather than waiting for the current ones to spread. Lots of online retailers do plant 'sets' that really fill 'em up!

Okay, let's get some info to start with.

What are the tank dimensions and volume?
What substrate are you using and how deep is it?
Do you add CO2?
What are your water parameters in terms of ph, nitrates, and hardness?
What fertilisers do you use?
What lighting do you have, how many watts per gallon?

There's a really good article somewhere on the 'formula' for planting a tank, I'll see if I can find it. There's also a really good website - lemme have a look for it - I'll be back in a mo!

Sarah

fishwatcher:

The second picture looks really nice. I mean it.

The trick to get lush growth is CO2 and good lighting. The arrangement is a trial and error with a few commonsense rules such as: the faster growing plants should be at the back. Same for taller plants.

There are plenty of topics posted on DIY Co2 systems available at thekrib.com. These should get you going.

Wish you the best.

PS: Look at your present lighting conditions and choose appropriate plants

Okay, here is a good place to start aquabotanic.com. They are an online plant retailer but have wonderful galleries and a 'wet thumb' forum.

Your long stem plants need pruning. Use something sharp so the stems don't get crushed. Let the cuttings float for a week or two (or float them in a vase in tank water or your hospital tank) to start to develop roots, then replant them.

As a general rule, put several of the same plants together and create well defined areas. Taller at the back and sides, lower growing in the middle and front. Add root tabs or liquid fertilisers on a regular schedule. I guess the most important thing is lighting (although I'm not an expert by any stretch). If you don't have CO2 you may want to consider it.

And sit down and really think about the look you want for each tank and plan it out on some paper. Check the plant requirements against your tank specs - don't go for intense light plants if you have only got low light - don't go for low PH plants if your ph is 9!

And don't expect instant results, it will take a while for everything to fill in once you've got all the elements right and got the planting right.

HTH

Sarah

Sorry to see your apparent displeasure from the lack of response to your thread. You may have had more feedback if you gave us some more information about your set-up. Anyway I'll give my humble opinions/advice - hopefully it will help.

The "lush" look you describe is a result of a high density of plants, more than just a case of simply re-aquascaping what you already have.

You don't mention lighting, CO2, substrate or ferts used. So I'll assume you have 20W with no CO2 and a plain gravel substrate.

With this assumption you will acheive better, faster results by upping your lighting to 30W minimum and injecting CO2. I've recently posted a method of simple, cheap DIY CO2. http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=99378
The substrates described in this same post will help too.

In summary a good-looking planted tank is a result of acheiving the right combination of lighting, nutrients (CO2, ferts, substrate) and plants. Once you have the correct hardware you can then concentrate on the aquascaping.

Simple aquascaping techniques -

Choose an overall style i.e. a U-shaped compostion where there are tall plants left and right, shorter plants in the centre. A triangular shape where the compostion slopes from one end to the other or a mound-shape where the centre is full and the outer is empty or short.

Design the layout around a main focal point i.e. piece of bogwood. Decorate bogwood etc. with ferns or moss for a more "natural" feel.

Plant like stem plants in groups. Plant each stem seperately and don't use lead weights, use tweezers to fully plant stem. Use lots of the same plant to create a lusher look. Use easy, fast-growers i.e. Ludwigia, Hygrophila species to acheive quick space filling.

Foreground is very important. Sagittaria natans is a good plant that carpets easily and is undemanding. There are more but because foreground plants are short, less light reaches them. They therefore require higher light levels. And Higher light = CO2 injection.

Thank you, thank you!
As for the questions asked (I'm sorry, I didn't know you'd need this info ) )
the tank is 10 gal, typical size, it has 20w flourescents with reflectors, sand about 1 -1 1/2 " deep, I use both liquid and tab fertilizers, ph is 7.0. Nitrates typically stay at 5. I do not have any CO2 devices.
I'd like to have a lush look, but I wonder if that is worse on the fish as it leaves them less swimming room? I have planned on getting a few small pieces of slate and driftwood, so I will now add some more plants to that list.
I actually recently trimmed the first tank to get plants for the second tank. I'm also planning on removing the terra cotta pots when I put in the driftwood. I'd like something natural looking, really, so I guess I should see what kind of areas the specific fish come from and try to replicate that?
Sorry if I sounded impatient... I just really need help! I have no "decorating" sense at all (obviously!).
Thanks to those who responded!!!

Edit: I have a HOB filter and a heater... do I need to make sure the plants don't touch these things?

fishwatcher said:

I wonder if that is worse on the fish as it leaves them less swimming room?

Click to expand...

I would say the extra planting may increase a feeling of security for your fish. Many fish prefer heavily planted tanks, the plants provide hiding places and shelter. Paradoxically a fish in a heavily planted tank is more likely to show itself than in a sparsely decorated tank.

Lots of growing plants provide many other health benefits; oxygen production and toxic compound uptake to name a couple.

OK, thanks! Here I was afraid to "smother" them, and that's what they want... go figure!
I'll be getting some more plants then shortly and will post pix after I re-arrange it.
Thanks for all the help guys!

As for making them look like other aquariums, all you can do is experiment. The key thing to remember is that it needs to look good to you. No one else really matters. I believe that overplanting is the best thing to do. Once the plants grow in, you can take some out. Just play with them and experiment.

Edit:

Here I was afraid to "smother" them, and that's what they want

Click to expand...

Just make sure they have some swimming room.