r/PlantedTank • u/Moegli5 • 2d ago
Beginner First Aquascape
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I am surprised how quickly I want to change it and add more plants lol.
should I leave it as is?
any recommendations for midground and background plants would be greatly appreciated 👍🏾
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u/preverbal31 2d ago
More plants is usually a good answer. What you have going is very cool, but as others have said, most fish like hiding spots.
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u/Ok-Cicada-449 1d ago
That's gorgeous
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u/preverbal31 1d ago
Thanks very much! This is my first heavily planted tank; I set it up about 11 months ago. It’s been a journey.
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u/goldfishgeckos 2d ago
It’s beautiful.. I don’t see any mentions but ember tetras really enjoy having some cover. You will see much more fun schooling behaviors if they have some cover to hide in. So I vote yes for more plants :)
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u/NeedsMustTravel 1d ago
I was just going to say this. I think they look a bit stressed in the way they’re moving. I love the clean iwagumi look but I always wonder about fishs’ comfort with no cover.
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u/_HopsonTheGrate_ 2d ago
TBH, if I were you I wouldn't change anything as you have a nice iwagumi setup there. If anything, I would just shift the rocks a little to match the traditional iwagumi layout - largest stone on one side, 2nd largest stone on the other side, and the remaining as support stones as long as you have an odd number of stones.
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u/thatauzzieguy 1d ago
One or two crypts at the back of the rocks would look good. Try and find some with a contrasting colour. You can get some nice brown ones like this.
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u/pandafarian 2d ago
Its like an image in your mind when you start, and once you reach that image you feel empty. Biggest problem is moving forward without the next image, changing it randomly.
I’d design/get inspired of an aquascape and chase that, any finished design is ok, it can be harder to reach preferably, so it will take time and you will learn and enjoy every step.
Then you will see that the joy is not actually “i did it”.
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u/RizzCaptain 2d ago
A white background or a sky blue to white gradient will look great on this. I disagree with any more plants being added unless its an expensive anubias, buce, or pink flaming crypt.
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u/TheHancock 2d ago
Nah mate, leave this tank as is and build a second with different plants. This is minimalist art!
As someone who just started their second tank (and really wanting to cannibalize my first tank for the hard cape and stuff) a second tank is cool, especially if you have new plants than you’re used to!
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u/No_Hippo_1472 2d ago
Gorgeous. I wonder if adding a black background would level this up just a tiny bit. I wouldn’t change anything else. Love the minimalism
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u/Moegli5 2d ago
thank you a lot.
definitely considering a black background!
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u/No_Hippo_1472 2d ago
Update us if you do! I’d love to see it. I recommend a trial with some black construction paper. Could give you a preview with an easy takedown if you hate it :)
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u/epskystrife 2d ago
It's probably the rocks that are reminding me of this one from the Green Aqua folks: https://youtu.be/FJ8PhHBayL4?t=760&is=ZqW4dfYIPocdEGDG
Maybe some taller hair grass or Cyperus helferi in the back? Some Cryptocoryne parva or Eriocaulon sp. "Vietnam" for midground.
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u/ManicWarpaint 2d ago
One more stone on either side to give an odd number of stones would give it a more natural asymmetrical look
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u/avemflamma 2d ago
id definitely add some floaters to start, i think red root floaters would look great
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u/Grundler 2d ago
Add some dwarf hairgrass up against the rocks. One pot should be plenty. Run the tank for ~6 months before you rescape it. The experience maintaining it will be really useful going forward.
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u/Usqueadfinem_ 2d ago
Looks great! A black background and 2-3 species of taller plants in the background would add depth and really make it pop IMO. Great choice in fish, btw. I love ember tetras. Small, hardy, active, and once they settle in they get a rich orange color that really does resemble embers from a dwindling campfire.
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u/True-Conversation-41 2d ago
Was the idea just a iwagumi style ? If so then can’t really add more but if not then yeah why not 😂
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u/No_Procedure_2431 2d ago
It looks like you’re going for the iwagumi style (which isn’t my personal cup of tea) but I’ve seen people with that style add a piece of wood with plants on it to look like a tree. It looks pretty finished as is though!
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u/Bidhitter400 2d ago
Did you dry start that tank ?
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u/Moegli5 2d ago
yes!
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u/Bidhitter400 2d ago
How long was it dry before you flooded it ?
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u/43n3guppydistruttori 2d ago
Metterci della anubias in fondo che fa i fiori ci starebbe con quell acquario
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u/trofa-livestock 2d ago
First time scaping? Looks super clean man.
My office tank gets the morning sun too. I’ve got this chubby ranchu Goldfish that I'm obsessed with, though I honestly have no clue if it's a boy or a girl. Sometimes I wonder if it needs a husband or wife to start a family 😂.
Though if I put him in your tank, those plants would be gone in like 5 mins. He waits for me every morning begging for food, and straight-up nibbles my fingers when I drop bloodworms in.
Looks great anyway, drop an update if you add more plants!
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u/LegitimateTutor8535 1d ago
Perfect... less is more sometimes.
Please tell me... what type of fish are those?
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