Depressed about 55gal =(

[johnnyr]

This was my tank with driftwood. It looked so kick ass. This is my tank after a week of trying to boil soak, and do whatever I could to get rid of the leaching tannins. Didn't work. i'm not very happy with it now, since the driftwood didn't work out. I was thinking of going to a planted tank with sand, but decided I wasent really ready to put out all the money and commitment neccesary for a great looking planted tank. Then I thought about a setup consisting of beige sand with large rocks..then I just got depressed. Help please.

 

[Dorkhedeos]

what exactly do you need help with?

 

[johnnyr]

Just some ideas for this tank...Like I said, I'm not happy with it at all at this point. Just looking for some creative inspiration.

 

[OohFeeshy]

It looks quite nice with the tannins. I think you could add more plants behind the wood though.

 

[sammydee]

Well plants don't have to be too difficult to keep. You can keep java moss, java fern, hygrophilia and hornwort at least with less than one watt per gallon. At least I do anyway. If you do plenty of water changes, maybe put some carbon in the filter, I think the yellowing will go away soon eough.

Don't get depressed about it!

 

[johnnyr]

Lol...ther is no wood in there. Thats a rock =( Sad, I know. I'm leaning towards sand...I just am a bit discouraged at getting live plants. I was going to get them, do fourite on the bottom and sand on top, get compact flourecents, CO2 system and plant the heck out of it. I just don't know if I can put the time into it to make it look really spectacular, I don't want to just keep low-light okay looking plants. and it just sounds like plants die more often then not..., esecially the great looking ones, which makes me reconsider putting all that money into converting it. I don't know, I'm just confused =(

I'm not really concerned about the tannins, that will go away with water changes..it's just what to do with my tank that makes me frustrated.

 

[OohFeeshy]

Oops... didn't even notice the wood was gone. Silly me.

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Well, I know I'm never going to keep driftwood again...in one of my bigger tanks, after countless days of boiling and soaking, it STILL wouldn't sink, and I put it in the tank in the hope that it would eventually and the whole tank overflowed Doh! And it wasn't even a big piece!
Anyway, that driftwood looks ace in your tank, but I do think it looks better without the tannins. I think you'll find that adding a few real plants will really brighten up the tank, and will help to get rid of them. Also, as Sammydee said, put some carbon in the filter, as this will absorb the tannins quicker, and do plenty of water changes! They'll be gone sonn enough!
Good luck!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

just do some water changes and use carbon and other media. amazon swords would look nice in your tank

 

[johnnyr]

Like i said, I'm not really concerned about the tannins, that will go away with water changes..it's just what to do with my tank that makes me frustrated.
I wanted to convert to a full blown planted tank...just that i was unsure about the matinence of the live plants..are they fairly easy to keep, given the description of the tank i would have? (fourite on the bottom and sand on top, get compact flourecents, CO2 system and plant the heck out of it.)

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

Yes, I would say most plants are fairly easy to keep. I just bury the bottoms in the gravel, and pop in a plant food tablet. I put one in once every 2-3 months, and I don't do anything else with my plants! I don't even know what any of mine are called, when I'm at the LFS I just pick out one that looks nice!

 

[Dorkhedeos]

if you want a plant that is good for everytank and is easy to keep, get some java moss. looks great and fish can hide in it

 

[Nuttygal! :0)]

 

[rrdrummer5]

a backing might not make it look to bad either. They sell ones with plants and rocks on it so that it would match your tank. That way you wouldnt see the blank wall and tubing through the tank. Just my opinion though B)

 

[nc_nutcase]

I strongly agree with RRDrummer about the backing.

Everything I've ever learned about plants says that the hard part is deciding what all to get to establish the planted tank (substrate, CO2, lighting, etc) Different plants have different levels of needs. But once everything is up and running... there really isn't anything you can do for your plants. Plant food every few months and what else? Just regular water quality maintenance does the rest.

As far as other creative thoughts for your aquarium... that's hard... everyone's taste varies. I'd say surf the net and gaze at pics and find out what strikes your fancy then recreate your own version of it. (did I just say 'strikes your fancy'???)