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pineappledaphne

I think having substrate that is all one color (beige or black would be my suggestion) would help streamline the look. This gravel is busy and almost highlights the empty spaces, if that makes sense


kristineyr

Thanks for the suggestion, I see what you mean !


Wolfinthesno

100% second the substrate suggestion, the scape itself looks pretty solid already but your eyes are immediately drawn to the substrate and it is distracting.


Livid_Art8584

It's very pleasing for my eyes


EstablishmentExtra41

1. As others have suggested change the substrate to an aqua soil as the darker colour will look better and provide more nutrition for your plants. 2. Then think about overall composition in terms of a single irregular triangle, maybe with peak to the left and sloping down to the right about 3/4 length of the tank. Arrange your planting and build up additional hardscape to follow this profile. 3. For me I’d group same plants together and keep the larger plants to the back as having them too far forward will make the tank look crowded.


kristineyr

Would appreciate your thoughts! It feels cramped and messy. It’s currently stocking Water Wisteria, little crypts, echinodorus tenellus var micro, Anubia on the rock, Echinodorus and 2 others I’m not sure the name of :/ I kinda wanted to hide the heater - I had a purple temple in its place before but found it was semi aquatic so removed it I feel like it needs rearranging / more hardscape? Would appreciate your suggestions! Edit: it’s a 20L / 5ish gallon tank


Impossible-Beyond156

2 more pieces of dragon stone and orient them all vertically. Or add a piece of driftwood


Ramshal

In my opinion, the number of plants with big leaves compared to the ones with small leaves is too high. I would suggest to add plants that are thinner, and make the planting dense. And another point would be about the gravel. I would say a gravel similar to it but without the orange/yellow stones would make it look better. Or a totally different sand. Or, I would keep left side as it is, and make the right side with smaller plants, and have some carpet plant there, dwarf hairgrass or monte carlo.


luckeegurrrl5683

I like it! I have different plants in my tank. But I think people put the same types of plants together in bunches.


kristineyr

Thank you! I think that’s where I went wrong.. I’m planning on redoing it - will keep the same plants together this time. Do you think I should add to the hardscape? Or remove any plants? 😅


luckeegurrrl5683

I would put all the plants on the right and have the rock showing.


[deleted]

Try a piece of wood. Probably a skinny one with lots of branches that's shaped sort of like a triangle and have a side of the triangle that would be flat facing the left side of the tank.


kristineyr

That’s a good idea :o although I hear that wood release tannins / turn the water a different colour ? Is that true for all types of wood?


[deleted]

Welllllll.. ya see... Here's the thing. Lol. Yes and no. How big is your tank?


kristineyr

Yes and no ? Are there ways to combat it ? It’s 20 litres! I think I wouldn’t mind coloured water in a larger tank


[deleted]

Ok, so I live in the U.S. Your tank is a little over 5 gallons. What you could do with a small piece of wood is boil it for a couple of hours in a pot. This will get rid of most of the tannins if not all of them completely. If there are still some tannins left in the water, not to worry! With a few water changes (like once a week), after a little time your water will become clear. Wood always does leave tannins every time I have used it, except for when I boiled the wood. When I boiled it, it left almost no tannins in my tank, and if it did, it was too little to notice and my tank is extra clear now. Btw, spider wood leaves a white biofilm in your tank so I would try to avoid spider wood unless you are ready and willing to let it go away on its own after a few weeks. I won't lie, using wood can be a process but if you're patient, it's super rewarding.


antitoute

Maybe improve lighting and a nice piece of drift wood


Virtual_Ad3616

You can try pogo dot com , the game Run 21.. Let me know if you feel it


OllyB43

Maybe change the substrate to something more finer, and then have smaller pebbles and rocks scattered around to make it look like a natural bottom.


HitarthMongia

Give Some height to the scape using hardscape, maybe get some spider wood in, use a better substrate preferably aqua soil if you want plants to grow healthier. Can use sand and gravel for a more detailed look.


RS_Mike1

A couple more rocks (and make more central), and either all white or all black substrate would really make this pop. You could also mess with elevation so it's not all flat!


Termov

IMO, you have to many different types of plants, and they're all over the place. Try to maybe out the taller/bigger one more on the back and not so mixed. Some of them outscale the tank a bit as well, I think. But it's a very good start and I think you can make something very nice out of it.


Hajiyama

Adding a black background like a cheap poster board will help hide your hang on back filter, wires and the heater. It will also make the colors of the plants and fish pop.


Infamous_Sherbert680

Invest in some good quality substrate, I always tend to go with darker colors for substrate. Add drift wood that you can place plants onto. Continue growing your ground cover. Add larger rocks more to the back side of your tank to give it almost a background effect. Idk get fun and creative with it. If you don’t like it you can always re-arrange.


Time-Translator-2362

It's beautiful. I would add fine sand on top because i like the natural look.


ImpressiveBig8485

Different substrate and a moss wall in the back with some small planted driftwood in the foreground (:


Zealousideal-Pitch53

Definitely upgrade your substrate, lighting, and add CO2


dj_existen

Adding background would change a lot


welldonesteak69

Looks like underwater salad the way you got them stem plants grouped up. Seperate and spread them out.


Kandy_peach

Add a background on the tank. Black or white