1st time, honest input plz!

[BillyVille]

This is my first time aquascaping. I decided to stop and get some input before I went on. So plz lets hear it! Dont take it easy on me because im a newb! lol
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[travie]

It doesn't look bad at all. I don't know why you would put a bookcase and window picture on the backgound though... Just joking. It looks good.:thumb:

Edit: I relooked at the picture. One thing that might help would to lower the level of the of the substrate in the right front corner.

[siymdapolio]

Very nice billyville, Just wait till those plants grow up and have a mature tank not a young one! :thumb:
(wait are your plants fake???)
The only thing that I would change in your tank would be maybe move that big thing on the right around and make some caves and cover for the fish! Those coral decorations look cool and would provide cover but your tank is filling up!

looks nice buddy! :19:

[Tooch]

It looks good! I would maybe suggest alittle less gravel. Also, try to stick you're filter intake behind that large plant on the left to hid it, or move the plant to in front of it. Looks good tho!

[travie]

What size tank is it? And how deep is your gravel?

[BillyVille]

Thanks guys! Yea all fake plants! lol Im putting a cave made out of black slate infront of the big bush on the right. I love the big lava rocks on the left, they were expensive at the lfs but worth it. I made some tunnels and caves in them for my rams im getting! When you say its filling up, is that a bad thing?

[BillyVille]

What size tank is it? And how deep is your gravel?


Its pool filter sand. And when Im done it will be about 3" Its all messed up now, so dont pay any attention to the sand it will be fixed! lol I just stopped long enough to get some input from you guys! Ohh yea its a 29 gallon.

[siymdapolio]

No!!! It looks great just saying its filling out you know!!
The tank looks great you can even move the substrate around to make a wall or a mound on a side.(Just a suggestion your tank looks fine)
I love slate rock! that would look awesome billyville, looks like you are on your way!

I did not think of what civic said but moving your filter to the side behind that plant would look great.

[plow]

doesn't do it for me. white gravel isn't natural looking imo, will it discolour with time? background is too bright.

edit: is that pool sand? wow it looks so bright!

some may like it, thats cool, just not my style.

sorry man, just being honest.... hope thats cool.

good luck anyway.. remember to fishless cycle!

[BillyVille]

It looks good! I would maybe suggest alittle less gravel. Also, try to stick you're filter intake behind that large plant on the left to hid it, or move the plant to in front of it. Looks good tho!

Good idea, Thanks!

[BillyVille]

doesn't do it for me. white gravel isn't natural looking imo, will it discolour with time? background is too bright.

some may like it, thats cool, just not my style.

sorry man, just being honest.... hope thats cool.

good luck anyway.. remember to fishless cycle!

Its white pool filter sand not gravel. but thats cool man, I want to hear that! no hard feelings at all! thanks

[travie]

Sorry about saying it was gravel. 3" might be boarding on too much sand. Deeper it is the more likely anaerobic bacteria can build up, which is bad because if a lot builds up and then is released, it can kill your fish. Just make sure you stir up the sand occasionally.

[BillyVille]

Sorry about saying it was gravel. 3" might be boarding on too much sand. Deeper it is the more likely anaerobic bacteria can build up, which is bad because if a lot builds up and then is released, it can kill your fish. Just make sure you stir up the sand occasionally.


Ohh its ok, after looking at the pic it does look like gravel, no water in it yet. Thanks for the advice, I will take some out!

[BillyVille]

I was going to move the filter over to the right behind the bush but I only have one opening for the filter and its on the left.... that sucks, I would just cut out a hole for it to fit, but then I would have a big open space on the left side where fish could jump out...

[MandyL]

You can always cover the extra hole with duct tape, covering the bottom of the tape with another piece so it's not sticky where the hole is.

[BillyVille]

Can I put the heater and the intake tube side by side?

[BillyVille]

????? anyone?

[Blue Ram]

I think it looks nice! What are your stocking plans?

[Blue Ram]

Can I put the heater and the intake tube side by side?

I dont know if this could happen but the heater might melt the intake tube if the intake tube is plastic. Listen to other members though. They may have a better idea about this then i do.

[A340]

I hate answering questions like this because what one person may like, another may not, but here goes .....

Personally, I'd get rid of the blue background and go with black, it brings the fish's colours out much more and gives the tank more depth. Using the black background will also contrast much more nicely with your bright substrate and is more colour neutral with your lava rock, wood and plants. Not to mention, it'll make your filter intake and heater blend in more so they don't jump right out at you.

The substrate is fine, just seems a little too much as it's burying a lot of the plants and decorations. also, try to slope it more from front to back (front being lower than the back), this will give your tank a deeper look to it. The thing with substrate (especially sand) is that it's a lot easier to move around to it's final look once the tank is filled with water, since dumping water in moves everything around.

Also, a quick tip. When you're filling a tank that has sand, keep the filter off until everything has settled. You don't wanna burn out your impeller or motor the first day.

Hope that wasn't too much for you ... :22:

[Kristin]

Looks great so far! But I do agree there is a little too much sand..... Love the rock by the way.

[BillyVille]

I hate answering questions like this because what one person may like, another may not, but here goes .....

Personally, I'd get rid of the blue background and go with black, it brings the fish's colours out much more and gives the tank more depth. Using the black background will also contrast much more nicely with your bright substrate and is more colour neutral with your lava rock, wood and plants. Not to mention, it'll make your filter intake and heater blend in more so they don't jump right out at you.

The substrate is fine, just seems a little too much as it's burying a lot of the plants and decorations. also, try to slope it more from front to back (front being lower than the back), this will give your tank a deeper look to it. The thing with substrate (especially sand) is that it's a lot easier to move around to it's final look once the tank is filled with water, since dumping water in moves everything around.

Also, a quick tip. When you're filling a tank that has sand, keep the filter off until everything has settled. You don't wanna burn out your impeller or motor the first day.

Hope that wasn't too much for you ... :22:


Hey thanks for the advice man, sorry im stuck with the blue background for now, I glued it on. Before its all done alot of the sand will be out of there. But what do you think about the intake tube and heater? can they be a inch or two apart?

[Kristin]

My filter intake and heater are about 5 inches apart and no problem but I've never had them closer so I wouldn't know.

[A340]

But what do you think about the intake tube and heater? can they be a inch or two apart?
I'd have the heater at least a couple of inches apart, three inches would be even better. Ideally, I would place the heater close to the spill way (where the water comes back in from the filter) that way, warm water spreads out a bit more evenly. If you have the heater close to the filter intake, not only is there a slight chance the plastic may melt, but also you'll be losing warm water into the filter, which by the time re-enters the tank will have cooled off, so the heater will be running very inefficiently.

If you're worried about the holes and space you have on the canopy, cut out what you can and as mentioned earlier, you can always fill some of the excess holes again with plastic and silicone or waterproof tape.

BTW, what kind of filter are you running?

Also, in regards to the background. If it's glued on, I'd get some nail polish remover and a good razor blade to scrape it off (just make sure you don't get the nail polish remover into the siliconed corners). It's a lot easier to get done when the tank is empty as opposed to full. So, if you want it off, now is the time, but it's completely up to you. Your tank, your say!

[Ellen4God]

I think it looks great. Of course, as you said, you're a new-be, so there is room for improvement! I think I agree with everything everybody has said. Good luck!! I like that you're open to the constructive criticism - it'll be fun to see what your finished product is!!!

[BillyVille]

Im using a emperor 280 filter. And I just stuck the heater on the left side behind the lava rock I stacked up, some of it can be seen, but it looks good enough for me.

I cut out a new hole for my filter on the right side, and instead of taping the old hole i just stuck my crappy filter that came with the kit in there. I cut the intake tube in half on it so it wouldnt be seen very much and stuffed some foam up the tube. im not worried about this filter doing any filtering but it can serve as some added water movement on the left side of my tank. And a update, I have removed a lot of sand and as soon as I get my slate cave and a few more flowers put in I will fill up with water and post more pics!

Ive never did all this before and Im having a blast! Thanks everyone for your input!

[A340]

Ive never did all this before and Im having a blast!
Thats the most important thing! Rep points for you ... :19:

[BillyVille]

As for stocking goes this is a list I have put together, dont know if I can fit them all but we can all dream cant we? lol

2 Bolivian Rams
2 Angel
5 Skunk Cories
6 Cardinal Tetras
3 Silver Tipped Tetras
2 Upside Down Catfish
3 Platy
4 Octoinclus
2 Dwarf Frogs

[Wild Turkey]

Looks great so far! Lava rock for the win! love the lava rock. Maybe a little bit too much sand but its close, i guess its whatever u perfer, just be careful about air pockets and such. As for the heater, usually stuff that isnt actually touching the heater will be fine. Anyone ever touched their heater when its in the water? it doesnt even feel hot until u leave ur finger on it for a few seconds

[travie]

If you would like more constructive criticism on your stocking plan, definitely start a new thread. I'll give an early warning there will be some constructive criticism coming from people.

[jphonger]

looks nice to me! if you take some of the suggestions that others have made here, I think you will like the results, but great job!

[Dsoto87]

Everything looks great. Especially for your first time. My first tank looked nothing even close to that.

The only thing that bothers me is the substrate. I see others have already told you so Ill keep it short.

For 1, its extremely bright it almost looks like its snowing, and 2, its extremely thick

Both of these are just the preference of the tank keeper. I myself like dark and thin substrate beds. So if your happy with that then its great since Im liking everything else

[BillyVille]

Thanks guys!

[SkarloeysMom]

Looks good so far! You've gotten a lot of good feedback. I agree with the reducing and sloping the substrate up towards the back. Can't wait to see it filled up. Great job!:19:

[lacnibor]

I like the idea of the black background. I think that would really bring out the colors in the rocks and sand. Nice work and BTW, it takes a big person to be so open to "ideas".

[jbeining75]

I actually love that tank. It looks awesome.... I like the wood in the middle and the big red rock...

[BillyVille]

check out the updated pic in my new thread! thanks

[jb300m01]

Looks good! :thumb: Can't wait to see it with fish!