need feedback on tank setup

[mizzoutank]

with the approaching teardown (tba)
ive picked up a spare 40b to get my new design nailed down.
i'll order plants when the time is ready, but bare bones this is an initial idea.

thoughts?
i'm way open to criticism and ideas. so please throw anything/everything at me.

my thoughts:
1: wasn't sure of the "river" rock look. just trying to do some eye tricks make the tank look deep.

2: wasn't sure what to do with the far right mopani piece.

current set up has a little rock cave for my rupperlip, he loves his home...so i'm exploring a more natural/cool way to give him his rock cave back, so if you can think of cool ideas on that, lemme know. second pic is of his current home.

actually setting up a tank the right way this time...feels good. better than my impulse purchase with white gravel, fake plants and one swordtail.

[madagascariensis]

my suggestions are, i believe, quite a bit different than your original plans so feel free to ignore...

Both the rocks and the mopane make a good centerpiece to an aquascape, however I don't think there is space for both to look beautiful in your tank. I would pick either the rocks or the mopane and design the rest of the aquascape around them. personally I would pick the mopane because you seem to have all kinds of different rock which doesn't look too good placed together. I'd put the large mopane piece in a back corner of the tank and have the little piece 2/3 of the tank away to complement the large one.

again, feel free to ignore and override

[ScottishFish]

If you are wanting multiple dwarfs then you gota up your decor considerably.

If you search through my photo journal in the photo forum you will see my 'bare river bottom' tank, its a dwarf haven

[mizzoutank]

appreciate the follow up SF

i was looking for post 36 or something and now that i see how you've done it i can def up the decor.

i was planning to visit the other lfs and see their wood choies.

most places in my area don't have the skinny "root looking" pieces that you have. so that'll be an interesting challenge to get that.

and madagas: ya i feel ya on that. having an extra foot would really help, but with your feedback and SF's, i'll see what i can come up with when i visit the stores.

i am going to use a black background this time too. it's black felt and gonna crazyglue it on. really makes a difference having that!

[mizzoutank]

take that back,
the nice lfs across down had a cool malaysian piece.

just soaked it for a few hours and am messing with that design.

the owner said they are bringing in some dwarf cichlids as well as some manzanita style (i think that is the name...but the "root" looking wood) pieces by this weekend.

So ill have a fresh stock of wood and fish! it's all coming together.

hope to get the wood this weekend and the fish (after they acclimate after their move) and put them in QT till the new tank is all ready.

wahooo

[mizzoutank]

how is this for the start of increasing the decor?

added a piece of wood and a few more rocks.

[ScottishFish]

Starting to look more like it!!!

I bet a clown pleco would love that set up

[mizzoutank]

Thanks! It does seem better and in a good way.

This weekend the LFS is getting in more "root" driftwood, so i'll see if they have any pieces to accent this.

I'm going to try it out as a non planted or add in some vals, anubias, easy low light plants this go around.

I hope they bring in some pleco's cuz that would be a nice addition!
I'm almost copying your setup SF. lol

[ScottishFish]

Feel free to copy

I like unplanted, no hassle of trimming plants, fish eating them, expensive lighting, fertilizer etc

Also you don't need to have consistent 8hour light for the tank.

[mizzoutank]

Valid points there and i totally agree.

I have issues with my fixtures as they aren't really meant for this tank-just free one's i've used and now i'm ready for an upgrade.

So I decided on a 36in long LED fixture (shipped out today :) )
it should provide medium light.

but i'm with ya on the plant hassle, i've struggled and am scaling back this time for that reason!
I want easy-near maintenance free. so just some root tabs, sufficient light and focus on keeping the fish happy.

I hope for more pics this weekend and potentially get apistos/kribs/another dwarf species to put in QT for a good month or so