Java Island on Sagittaria Sea

the sag just looks too tall to be a carpet plant in that tank.

but nonetheless...stunning

i would like to swim in it too

First off i'd like to say, Wow! Great tank g, it almost doesn't look real. Somewhat iconic imo, is that even a word?
I mean its a perfect tank one would try and model their own to look like.
If anything, I would just place a nice marble slate, something slanted sharp looking and kind of place it off-centerish.

How about something that will accent just the tetra in the tank. Might seem wild but why not bed the substrate with riccia, lots of it and create some depth perceptions leaving the back of the tank higher than the front. And for an even bigger challenge, create small bonzai-looking trees out of small malaysian wood and place two on either side of the tank and leave the gagp in between clear.

frankly mate i think it is fantastic

You could always play around with an imaging software and try out different things

Here's what your tank would look like with a carpet of Glosso...Hope you dont mind



Is usually do this when i'm thinking of changing things in my tank.

Paul.

Bit of pretruding bogwood action with the glossostigma?

what if you planted something bright red on the left and a little in front of the java fern? maybe some myriophyllum tuberculatum, red foxtail?

you definitely need something spiky to accent the java fern and sagittaria, but what you currently have in there doesn't really show up that well against the black background.

I love the imaging!!! That's so cool.

Based on the glosso pic I think definitelyyou'd need some rock/wood to break it up.

That piece of wood bunjiweb looks like its there!!

Lovin' the feedback guys and girls, thanks again.

Those imaginging techniques are great - what software is that?

Adobe Photoshop all the way!! Been using it for years, its great!

Ben

I've made a few minor changes.

You're more than welcome to leave any feedback in my journal thread - http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showto...ndpost&p=913737

It's hard to find any reason to be critical of your tank gf225, you certainly have the eye and the knowledge of how things should look. Where do you draw your inspiration from. Do you have a plan in you head before you start or do you form a basis and evolve that idea. I honestly do think that you should give the Aquatic Gardening Assoc. competition a go. Even if you don't win a prize you will know where you stand and what you must do to improve for the following year. Go for it is what I say and Good Luck..
Regards
BigC

BigC said:

It's hard to find any reason to be critical of you tank gf225, you certainly have the eye and the knowledge of how things should look. Where do you draw your inspiration from. Do you have a plan in you head before you start or do you form a basis and evolve that idea. I honestly do think that you should give the Aquatic Gardening Assoc. competition a go. Even if you don't win a prize you will know where you stand and what you must do to improve for the following year. Go for it is what I say and Good Luck..
Regards
BigC

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Thanks BigC.

It sounds corny but I am inspired by nature - it is the planted aquarists best teacher in my humble opinion.

I am a massive fan of the "Nature" style as opposed to the "Dutch" style - this is one reason I switched my original layout (see the beginning of my journal). Don't get me wrong I appreciate the conventional beauty and technical prowess of the stunning Dutch layouts but I find the Nature aquariums more awe-inspiring. They appeal to something deeper within I feel. Takashi Amano's work has been a huge influence on me, I can safely say without me studying his work you would not be looking at the tank you currently see before you.

As for planning a layout - I don't really. It evolves from a basic idea. My first Dutch style layout was very unplanned, every visit to my LFS resulted in me buying a new plant and simply squeezing it in wherever I could, or wherever it looked right. Now I plan more and have an idea of what the final result will be, now more than ever. I'm quite excited about my present ideas.

I'm too late for this year's AGA (Sept 15th closing). Plenty of time to get it looking good for next year though - I hope to get it as I want and get the photos before next April as I go away for 4 months to the Falklands. I dread to think what state it will be in upon my return!

Thanks again for the feedback.

Not sure how I've missed this thread, but I've been kinda busy lately and things can get buried fairly quickly here !

But in my non-expert and personal opinion, I think your tank is truly scrumptious !

Edit: just saw the latest pic in your other link and I do like the new tweaking as well. However I really liked the spindly plant that was on the left hand side - what happend to that ?