Boring Fish Tank

[Miss Wiggle]

yeah I'd change the backing, if you don't want to go out and buy a new one, just stick some tin foil on the back of it, just gives a nice silver reflected feel to it, doesn't distract from the fish at all. Personally I would plant it and put some more rocks and wood in, I just think it looks too empty.

I'd say you need to decide on a theme/colour scheme so that it doesn't end up looking too disjointed, then just get lots more of whatever decor fits in with that. I think it's just the emptyness of it that's making it look a bit boring at the moment.

You don't have to go natural and planted if you don't want to. I had a thought the other day it might be really cool to do a sort of modern art/industrial feel to a tank, decorate it with bricks and metal poles and that sort of thing, just thought it would look really different and unusual. (although I probably wouldn't recommend this, not sure what effects bricks etc would have on the water conditions, it was just a thought) So why not try for something really different.

 

[soritan]

Is a natural look what you're going for? With an initial selection like a wide open dessert, it's hard to be sure what your focus is on when you first put your current tank together.

Now, all my tanks are "natural" looking, but there are lots of "unnatural" tanks out there that are quite fantastic, and often not featured. Some nifty things have been done with leggos, as well as backgrounds of rock and silicone. It really depends on what you're shooting for, and what you're willing to put into it.

What I'd focus on for you, is depth perception. Decide on a background you like (who cares what anyone else thinks? your tank, your rules), slather it up. Easiest way to establish a 'bigger' looking tank is to put tall things in back, short things up front, a big focal object (leggo castle, drift wood, skull with bottle of wine) off center, and the substrate itself sloping from back to front (highest in front, shallowest in back). This creates the illusion of depth.

And remember your fish! >< If you've spent as much time as I have researching what they like, then you know that certian fish do better in certian circumstances -- such shy fish doing better in heavily planted tanks -- so perhaps another technique would be to figure out what would make them the happiest, and design around them.

*edit: spelling

 

[Bex]

I agree with the others. The background is terrible.

And to go along with others, you can't go wrong with driftwood and rocks and live plants.

Karl

Hi

I have a new aquarium too and found a great background. It looks like a heavily planted aquarium with lots of plants and rocks. I have lots of real plants (much better than fake ones in my opinion) but the best thing about it is that it gives a lot more depth to my aquarium - more so than a plain black one. It looks like it stretches much further back than it really does as the pictures of plants look like they are in the distance. I also agree with the gravel. I have gravel that is very natural but when you look close all the little stones are different colours - black, red, white but mainly a sandy colour. They aren't bright so don't take your attention away from the fish.

Bex

 

[DanDanUK]

Ok here's what i'd do try and picture this in your head also !

Firstly i'd add a Black, Blue or a planted background on 3 sides of your tank then i would get rid of that bloody white and black gravel and go with a more natural look because don't forget that when we keep fish we have a responsability to look after them and mimic there natural enviroment to make them more comfortable and homely if you like. Then once we have removed the gravel replace it with either sand or gravel ( non coloured gravel ).

Then with the fish you have listed in your sig most of which would do extreamly well in a light to medium planted aquarium you can use artificial plants or if you feel up to the challenge of keeping live plants it would also be better for the fish if you did keep live but it's not a problem if you don't you would need a co2 kit to help asist with the growth of the plants also plant need to feed too so you will also need to buy some plant feed even tho plants feed on the nitrite in your tank it's best to get them some liquid feed. as for decor of your aquarium why not go with some nice decorative peices of bogwood and some good sized pebbles large ones and some small mix it up a bit.

post pic's and keep us informed!

 

[shaunza2010]

have no background and just lots of plants and rocks and natural sand not white sand

 

[SLC Flyfishing]

Is a CO2 system absolutely required?

Or could you use another additive similar to plant food which will give the plants the carbon they need which they normaly get from CO2?

I've seen seachem products that claim to have a similar effect for live plants to CO2 systems. They're much less pricey too!

 

[Fadi]

I want to thank everyone for their comments...

What im going to do is the following....

1. Im going to get a blackbackground

2. Im going to buy the grow your own plants kit (the one with bulbs)

3. I am going to get a driftwood about 20 inches long and put it in the center.


All I want to know now is do I have to have CO2 for my plants??

 

[Sheridanp]

Go to the DIY section and look at some CO2 threads. Those methods work nicely.

 

[TammyLiz]

You don't need CO2 for the plants, but without it and without extra lighting you have to set your goals kind of low, and be aware the types of plants that will survive will be limited. I have a planted aqarium that doesn't have CO2. However, the light you have in there already is probably not enough for anything except Java Fern. I'm guessing you have two 18 watt flourescent bulbs. Java fern the only thing I've been able to grow in really low light. Possibly also anubias. Another thing that the gouramis really like is hornwort because it floats and since that stays close to the light, it does OK, too. I don't know about the bulbs. I have some but not in my very low light tank, and even so it seems like they would appreciate more light. It would be worth a try, though, since they aren't very expensive. An all out planted tank with CO2 and extra lighting is a lot of work and money, but if you think it is worth it than in my opinion, there's nothing prettier. If you want something low maintanence, just buy plastic plants. They seem expensive at first but in the long run they're cheaper than real because they don't need any extra hardware. Do some research before you make your decision. Its not something you can have someone else choose for you. Alternately, you could remove all the fake plants and have nothing but piles of slate, siliconed together so the fish couldn't knock them over, if you like the cold, bare look.

 

[Fadi]

Well I do get some light from the sun since I have alot of windows in my home. I will post a pic of my pic with the plant bulbs, new background, and driftwood.

 

[Fadi]

Here is an update of how the tank is going, let me know what you guys think.

EDIT: Image didn't show

 

[fishwatcher]

I like the way this is looking. I'd add a few more plants, and I think it'd look great. I wasn't a huge fan of the gravel at first, but with the black background it looks good, IMO.
When you get some plants in please post another photo!

 

[Fadi]

Thank you, I will be getting plants very soon, first of all if you loo closely you many be able to see that I have the grow your own plant bulbs in there. There are about 7 and if they don't sprout i am just going to stick to fake plants. Overall im just waiting for my driftwood to sink. It is giving me some trouble overall.

 

[ajbettle]

8) 8) 8) 8) WOW!!! the gravel is blinding me!! lol

 

[samyboy]

if you get a nice crystal clear image you might fool someone theres a fish flying over the arizona desert id go for a more natural background with more live plants