Aquascaping 29gal

[cjtabares]

I’m new to freshwater and need some suggestions. I am looking to go for a natural blackwater look. I have pods and leaf litter coming in, hopefully this week. My planed stock is 15 cardinal tetras, ~5 Venezuelan Cory’s, and 1 male apistogramma agassizii. It will be lightly planted with some Amazon swords(Echinodorus Bleheri) and Sagittaria Subulata. Would you change anything, maybe add something to the right of the tank?

 

[A201]

Maybe randomly spread a few good sized, interesting looking rocks in the open area, then position a small branchy piece of wood to lay across & between them.

 

[Noroomforshoe]

maybe attach some plants like anubias or ferns to the wood?

 

[Mudminnow]

That's a nice start, and I like your choice of fishes and plants.

Mainly an aesthetic thing, but I'd prefer to see the substrate in the back much higher that what it is in the front. Here's a video showing one way to do this:

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Besides, it'll be a lot easier to plant your swords and sagittaria in a substrate that's a bit deeper.

 

[cjtabares]

Thanks for all the tips. Think I might get some more wood on the right to see how it looks. I am not sure it’s there in the picture I posted, but I added more sand in the back after I liked where the wood was to be able to plant.

Wip still, not sure if I went overboard with the plants, but I think I like it. Ordered more wood to place on the right. Might lower the water level a little as well.

 

[cjtabares]

Pretty happy where I am at. Added more wood and some botanicals.

 

[cjtabares]

I ended up replacing the sand, as it was buffering the water, added some more botanicals and a large pod. Added the pod today, not sure how I feel about it yet. The water lettuce is also growing pretty well.

 

[Bearcore]

I ended up replacing the sand, as it was buffering the water, added some more botanicals and a large pod. Added the pod today, not sure how I feel about it yet. The water lettuce is also growing pretty well.

The water lettuce giving a super cool eerie vibe

I’m new to freshwater and need some suggestions. I am looking to go for a natural blackwater look. I have pods and leaf litter coming in, hopefully this week. My planed stock is 15 cardinal tetras, ~5 Venezuelan Cory’s, and 1 male apistogramma agassizii. It will be lightly planted with some Amazon swords(Echinodorus Bleheri) and Sagittaria Subulata. Would you change anything, maybe add something to the right of the tank?

View attachment 915905

Some limnophila in the back left corner would look great. And maybe some juncus repens planted in the sand around the hardscape island. Then I’d scatter a few smaller pebbles around randomly on the sand. My 2¢