I'd appreciate an opinion

[Studman0143]

I am finally getting around to setting up my 29G. I have never done any landscaping like this before, so I went from a small 10G with a rock in it, to this! So a bit overwhelming in trying to design it.

But I have too many pictures to want to paste into here, cuz I feel no need to take up so much space, so I create a page on my site for you to go look at them.

So I would really appreciate it if you visit http://duckweedaquaticcentral.com/tank-setup-ideas/ and come back and give me your opinion, suggestions, etc. Possible plants are listing on there as well.
Thanks so much!

[J.B.]

Just keep moving the pieces around, you'll eventually come up with the design that strikes you. I personally am not feelin' that bigger piece of wood, with all the knobs on it though...kinda the floater in the punch bowl, if you know what I'm sayin'.

[Studman0143]

Just keep moving the pieces around, you'll eventually come up with the design that strikes you. I personally am not feelin' that bigger piece of wood, with all the knobs on it though...kinda the floater in the punch bowl, if you know what I'm sayin'.

Gotcha, see and I thought it was pretty cool cuz it is different than the typical pieces I see. I'd like one with a bunch of branches, but I can't find one, so I thought original would be cool.

But like you said, I'll just keep moving things around. See what works. I'll get a better idea once I clean the tank and put my substrate in

Thanks though!

[J.B.]

It's an interesting piece, but it captures the eye and holds it. As we design our aquascapes, the goal should be to immediately direct the eye to the sweet spot and then encourage it to wander fluidly through the tank. When you have a large, distinctive object, it doesn't allow the eye to wander around the rest of the tank. This is particularly true with that piece of DW because it's so big and so different from the other pieces.

[keith1937]

Studman0143

To be honest none of those at all sorry.

The reason for every one is exactly the same every thing looks out of proportion in comparison to the size of your tank.

Those big pieces of wood and heavy rocks you have would be more suitable in a large 4x2x2 tank..

I very strongly suggest you start by doing a lot of "Googling" on Small to Medium aquascaped tanks.

There are forums that specialize in Aquascapes and will have links to some fantastic ideas.

By that I am not saying try to copy as some of those aquascapes require many years of experience and money to get to that level.


This is a very simple basic aquascape a light twiggy piece of driftwood and select roughly shaped rocks.

Keith

[kb46]

I'm with the others. My personal preference is to have wood, rocks and gravel that look like they could have all come from the one place in nature. So IMHO rocks shouldn't contrast with the gravel - they should be of similar colour and texture. And for most tanks, all wood should be the same type. Then I go and stick all sorts of different varieties of plants all over the place and break up the continuity, blowing all my principles out of the water (no pun intended!).

But remember, aquascaping is an art - so beauty in the eye of the beholder certainly holds true. I think you should set up the tank the way you like it now, and then move things around as your tastes change (as they will!) and you get new ideas (as you will!). Rescaping is definitely part of the fun of the hobby!

[discusfishies]

Deafinitly take out that knobby peice of driftwood. It IS diffrent butt. I did like picture number four the best. Can you post some pics once the taks all setup?

[Studman0143]

Deafinitly take out that knobby peice of driftwood. It IS diffrent butt. I did like picture number four the best. Can you post some pics once the taks all setup?

Yeah, I actually already have a thread started for this tank called My Planted Lair in the journaling studio thread. Obviously nothing is set up yet, but I made it to throw around ideas and get information/suggestions.

But yeah, I'll journalize the whole process

[Studman0143]

It's an interesting piece, but it captures the eye and holds it. As we design our aquascapes, the goal should be to immediately direct the eye to the sweet spot and then encourage it to wander fluidly through the tank. When you have a large, distinctive object, it doesn't allow the eye to wander around the rest of the tank. This is particularly true with that piece of DW because it's so big and so different from the other pieces.

So just to understand, and going off of the post below yours, I would need a bigger tank for that piece of wood so it doesn't take up all the space of the eye? I would need more space around it per say? And you have a point. I would want ones eye to wander the tank and not just stare at the big piece of wood.

[Studman0143]

I'm with the others. My personal preference is to have wood, rocks and gravel that look like they could have all come from the one place in nature. So IMHO rocks shouldn't contrast with the gravel - they should be of similar colour and texture. And for most tanks, all wood should be the same type. Then I go and stick all sorts of different varieties of plants all over the place and break up the continuity, blowing all my principles out of the water (no pun intended!).

But remember, aquascaping is an art - so beauty in the eye of the beholder certainly holds true. I think you should set up the tank the way you like it now, and then move things around as your tastes change (as they will!) and you get new ideas (as you will!). Rescaping is definitely part of the fun of the hobby!

Sadly, everything you see comes from Utah. Every piece of wood came from the same place (even though some look different; and some pieces are still wet cuz I just took them out from where they were soaking). The rocks came from the same stream as well. But not everything is the same in Utah, so I'd just have to look for similar things in the same area.

But I am having a hard time not wanting that big stubby piece in there cuz of how it looks. So like you said, maybe I'll set it up fist, see how it looks, and tear it down if I hate it. Sometimes trial and error is the way to go. I think as long as I don't kill fish or plants, I'll be ok with everything. :sigh: We shall see.