Thanks for the kind comments, but I am not happy with the layout yet and planting needs a rethink...
Rugby sevens got in the way of getting some fish this weekend unfortunately...but in the next week or so I will be adding a female bristlenose (albino?) to go with the male and 8 silver hatchets I think...then it's waiting time for the rotkeil Sevs
I've yet to re-scape now that I have lots of slate and rocks (some just too big though) to play with, so long as a rescape is done before the Sevs go in I'll be happy.
Layout wise I plan on setting up a slate cave system at the room corner end of the tank (using slate and granite rock hard against perspex sheeting which will be protecting the glass
)...then the wood will go to the far end and there will be a clearish area in the centre (< 2ft).
Do you think it best to have multiple caves in the tank (I have one at each end at the mo) for refuge or is one big place okay? The other option to do the end cave system and to also create some sort of DIY cave system I can bury in the sand, that might be nice...
Plant wise I think I will either go 1) with purely java fern (as no fish touches it) and floating plant or 2) use silk plants and live floating plant...currently my frogbit isn't doing too well and I think I may switch to duckweed...not sure though
I don't want to get too much into planted tanks as I would sooner enjoy only the fish and have no need for ferts and root tabs. Currently my vallis is being torn to shreds by something and I figure it's just cover so fake plants would just be easier to replace with.....I need to look at some of these silk plants to know how they will look in a tank.....
Anyone care to share pics of fake silk plants that they use and are happy with so I have an idea of what is achievable with them?
Or if anyone has suggestions on plant types which don't get eaten or shredded and grow without any additional ferts that would be great too. I do like live plants but want something that does the job for the fish and requires minimal effort to maintain