Rearranging the cichlid tank

[Connershawzz]

I’ve been struggling with how my tank looks , I feel like there’s a lot of negative space. It’s just been one of those little things that has bugged me since I set it up almost 8 months ago. I think I figured out a solution. I will need some more spider wood and maybe some slate on each side. But to me I feel like this looks better and the cichlids have LOVED it. They haven’t left the center of the wood where I left a little opening.

Before:

After:

Thoughts?

 

[gwand]

To be honest I like the “before” better. You may want to replace the current wood with larger pieces of wood. But I would leave new wood in a similar location. You could replace the artificial caves and build rock caves with more vertical height.

 

[MaloK]

You have a lot of possibilities, only with your plenty of cute caves.

I reached this point, as some kind of engineer. my setups ended too symmetrical to be bearable. loll.

And I started dropping things in the tank, eyes closed, and nature seems to be a lot better than me to do things. I left them going anyway....

But with time I got to be able to overcome this inherent, professional disformation, loll.

A good way to install decor is in triangular ways. horizontal and vertical... from a side to another.

And have a scape leaning toward your point of view, keeping a clear space of view at the bottom from the front to a mountain in the back.

Bring your power filter near the surface to create more agitation, put your sponge filter deep right.

Agglomerate all your caves in a pile of rock in the left back corner (leave place behind) put all the wood close if not over it, slightly going center.

Fill with plants, taller at the back small in front, crank the light and observe.

 

[Connershawzz]

Thank you both

To be honest I like the “before” better. You may want to replace the current wood with larger pieces of wood. But I would leave new wood in a similar location. You could replace the artificial caves and build rock caves with more vertical height.

You have a lot of possibilities, only with your plenty of cute caves.

I reached this point, as some kind of engineer. my setups ended too symmetrical to be bearable. loll.

And I started dropping things in the tank, eyes closed, and nature seems to be a lot better than me to do things. I left them going anyway....

But with time I got to be able to overcome this inherent, professional disformation, loll.

A good way to install decor is in triangular ways. horizontal and vertical... from a side to another.

And have a scape leaning toward your point of view, keeping a clear space of view at the bottom from the front to a mountain in the back.

Bring your power filter near the surface to create more agitation, put your sponge filter deep right.

Agglomerate all your caves in a pile of rock in the left back corner (leave place behind) put all the wood close if not over it, slightly going center.

Fill with plants, taller at the back small in front, crank the light and observe.

 

[Connershawzz]

Redo-do , something like this then add some plants , maybe dwarf hair grass In the front then some taller plants in the back?

 

[MaloK]

Loll that was not an order...

But a suggestion to think about....

Never take what someone is saying on the web as ca$h to do on spot.

Now the fish are stressed enough for today....

Think of a lush valley nestled between a background of towering rocks, woods and caves formation dropping into a small diagonal plain at the end.

In miniature.

 

[Connershawzz]

Well it’s done now and my fish are fine. They are liking this set up.
i will add plants Next week to make the right side look more filled. I don’t know why but I’ve had 2 pairs start breeding within an hour of switching the set up (yellow labs , ob zebras) . So that gives me the idea that this is somewhat right.

 

[Magnum Man]

It's your tank, but I don't like the plastic caves... when I had rift lake Cichlids, I used slabs of limestone to build structure and caves... I never put driftwood in my rift lake tank... I used some realistic plastic plants... but that was 30 years ago... BTW... I like the before better, but in the end you need to like your tank best...

 

[MaloK]

Don't get angry, But your reaction. Is a " my tank will never look good no matter what " syndrome case.

I understand and gave up, place your hardscape as you want and let plants and fish decorate as they wish.

Honestly these fish like variety and won't get too much stress from a scape change and more. So having movable stuff is in deed a plus.