Advice On Hardscape

Hello,

At the moment I am still looking around for hardscape for my future set-up, but since I've never done it before, I don't know how to approach it. I got this wood piece that I liked, with the cave-like curvature, but I am not sure it fits right in the aquarium. In a few days I should receive the soil and gravel, but in the meantime I want to slowly build an idea of how I should place things around.

Any advice on how to place it, and what else I should look for in terms of hardscape? I am aiming for a planted aquarium, with a moss wall behind.

 

See the planted scape pics.
We have google, Instagram, etc where you can find ideas.
For beginners its okay to look at ideas of other scapes.
Once you do couple of scapes, your imagination will kick in and you will be able to improve with each scape.

 

I’m a spider wood person myself though I have used driftwood before. I never like “centering” pieces as to me it looks unatural.

If I were you, I’d leave that piece where it is and have some rocks creating a cliff look around or even on the other side.

Before I started aquascaping I stole a lot of ideas from the internet. YouTube was my best friend.

 

This is what my tank looks like. I didn’t really centro anything. But at the end of the day if you’re happy with it that all that matters.

I could have easily placed plants in the foreground but this is a Cichlid aquarium. Maybe one day I’ll convert it when I get a larger tank.

 

I like it, but add a large rock on the right side, if it’s a rough enough surface on the rock maybe you can grow moss up it.

 

View attachment 451287
This is what my tank looks like. I didn’t really centro anything. But at the end of the day if you’re happy with it that all that matters.

I could have easily placed plants in the foreground but this is a Cichlid aquarium. Maybe one day I’ll convert it when I get a larger tank.

Try some moss on those beautiful rocks!. It will take the beauty up a notch.

 

I’m scared the the Africans will eat it up.

 

This is a really informative series:

 

I’m scared the the Africans will eat it up.

They Do deserve a salad once in a while! .
That's George! Great scaper! I just saw a "triaptych scape" vid of him. Nice and bizzare and weird idea, and I love it!

 

So I updated my hardscape. Check it out! I have the evolution of my tank here.

 

Looks amazing but is a bit hard to see, you know most of those higher power lights have dI'm modes on them

 

Yea it’s a simple Marineland led and the tank is still cloudy due to cycle

 

Are

So I updated my hardscape. Check it out! I have the evolution of my tank here. View attachment 452781View attachment 452782View attachment 452783

those real plants or fake all on the rocks?

 

Are

those real plants or fake all on the rocks?

All fake

 

Yesterday I did a water change and I managed to get one of the roots unsettled. I am talking about the root on top (see picture). Problem is, that root is now just placed there, with nothing to hold it in place. I tried pouring superglue gel but all I managed to do is create a white mess in there.

Anyone knows how I can fix that thing for good there? The aquarium is already full, and planted - so taking the hardscape out is not an option.

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• happah
• Aug 5, 2018

 

I see aomething floating in the top left corner and I assume you are talking about it. Correct me if I am wrong.

Use a small stone or some heavy thing to hold the root down and in place or Use a soaked small driftwood piece. Tie plant with a cotton thread to the piece. And then insert the piece into substrate as necessary.

Also,

#1: superglue or any glue will not stick properly if its wet/ too wet. Also cyanoacrylate based glue crystalize on contact with water (in any form). I dunno what other type of glues are used.

#2: for pouring water use something that slows the water that falls down. I use DIY waterbottle that is cut at the base and has many tiny holes at the top half of the bottle (i.e. near the cap). Then I just place it in tank upside down and pour water in it. It does not disturb the substrate. I also have another piece of pvc 1inch pipe. Drilled 16 tiny holes and plugged the end with some sponge. Glued some old bottle (cut the base to add water) to other end and voila. I use this for my deep tank. It is safe and does not disturb the potting soil substrate.

 

Hey, thanks for the reply. No, I am talking about the big root on top of the huge one. The one with Pogostemon HelferI on it. As for the WC, it is indeed a huge mess. I am looking for a sieb with a long handle that I can rest on my aquarium, or maybe I'll just buy a pump and simply pump it from the bucket or something like this.

 

Haha! I dumped my canister in the drum last week to transfer water to tank.
You can do the same. (with any filter.)

As for the root, it seems better to tie it off.

 

I gave up and ordered a python from JBL; it's only my first aquarium and already I see the 00's of euros flying away. It hurts!

 

Welcome to the 'how did I spend so much' club.