Documenting my first real aqua-scape!

I'm redoing my 55g. I have grown live plants, had rocks, and wood, but I feel like I'm finally doing my first 'aqua-scape'. So far I have received my plants. I also have my rocks and sand. I'm waiting on my spider wood to arrive. Here are some pictures and a list of the plants I bought.

6 - Java fern
3 - Anubias Nana
3 - Christmas Moss
3 - Cryptocoryne petchii ’Pink’
3 - Staurogyne Repens
3 - Cryptocoryne Wendtii Green
3 - Mayaca Fluviatilis
3 - Hygrophila Siamensis
3 - Ludwigia Repens
3 - Bacopa Australis

What I'm moving over from my other tank:
1 - Amazon Sword
1 - Red Flame Sword
1 - Golden Anubias

My plants are currently in a holding tank with the 55g's tank water in it and some fertilizer.

 

Healthy looking plants there should look pretty good, good luck with it!

 

Those plants are gorgeous- where did you order them from? Excited to see the progress

 

Those plants are gorgeous- where did you order them from? Excited to see the progress

Aquarium Plants Factory. Buy 2, get 1 free. Thank you! I'm very excited!

 

My wood has arrived. They are so large and stunning! The piece on the left is 24 inches tall. So it will need to be cut for my 55g.

 

Question, I assumed my plan would work this whole time, but what do you think? I plan to cover my old established substrate with new sand. I also plan to use the same established filter media from my filters. I shouldn't have a problem with my cycle, right? I shouldn't lose it, right?

 

As long as there has still been food to keep the bacteria alive you won’t have problems

 

No you won’t lose your cycle as long as you feed it.
great looking plants. APF has always been a great place to get plants .
As for the 24” piece of wood don’t cut it. Lay it down or lean it against the tank at an angle. What I would do is attach a suction cup to that bend on the end and attach it to the glass. Then attach some of the moss to it up high and the fern towards the bottom. Maybe an anubias. I like to grow the anubias in the shade of other plants. Good luck!!

 

Trillion bacteria on plants that are oxygen fed by plants. Keep plants healthy and you get rewarded with a mega filter.

 

Get that wood wet as soon as you can

I’d also not cut it , lay it across the tank .. unless your tank is shorter than 24” ? Do you have a lid ? If not , angled and out of the water would be beautiful imo.

 

Thanks, everyone! There should be food because the fish will be put right back in after I rescape it. I'm hoping I can get the whole thing done is a few hours and have the fish back in! I actually bought the wood to stand up straight, so I had to cut it. I know.....I cut a beautiful piece. I also have hungry cats, so I have to have a lid.

 

Hey,

throw some fish food in the "quarantine" tank for your plants, also add a bubbler if you can. Bacteria will settle on the plants and that adds to the cycling. Just make sure they don't dry out when you're planting them.

 

Thanks everyone for the tips! Here is the before and after. Hopefully it's obvious which is which. Now it's time to pray I don't kill it all.....lol. I will say this was way more exhausting then I ever expected. I'm done for the weekend. Tike to heal my back muscles. Apparently I'm really out of shape, lol

 

Looks great, those plants will grow in well. I’d still if laid the wood sideways across the tank but I like what you’ve done. Can’t wait to see the filled out scape !

 

Here is the before and after.

The after looks good & once the plants grow in it will look lovely

 

Thanks, everyone! I'm very excited. My family will really enjoy it. Next is to save money to buy more fish. I'm understocked. I might get some amano shrimp also.....

Yeah, laying it on its side would have been pretty, but I wanted some height because the top of my tank is usually bare.

 

Thanks, everyone! I'm very excited. My family will really enjoy it. Next is to save money to buy more fish. I'm understocked. I might get some amano shrimp also.....

Yeah, laying it on its side would have been pretty, but I wanted some height because the top of my tank is usually bare.

I just want to thank everyone on here again for being kind. My scape was criticized on another site. I know it's not the best scape. I just enjoy seeing others share theirs, so I thought I'd share mine. Fish keeping and aquascaping is an experiment and an art. It's something you continue to learn about as you go. I don't understand some people.....

 

People are jerks sometimes. They do mean things to make themselves feel better. Your scape is really good. I like it a lot. In the end it doesnt matter what anyone thinks anyway. Its your tank. Its waaaaay better than any of my first scapes!

 

I completely agree with StarGirl ! People are mean, especially on the internet. Your scape is awesome, I really love the driftwood.

 

Who cares what other people think art is going to be liked and hated that is what makes us different people with different personalities. I don’t particularly like Bettas that is a personal choice it doesn’t mean you are wrong if you love them.
Unfortunately the world is full of keyboard warriors who like to hate.
I am actually on a Facebook page for aquascaping the other day someone asked what substrate was that. This guy had to comment a “horrible ugly one” why if you don’t like it don’t comment. Unfortunately the world would be such a nicer place without all the people but hey we have to live with them.

 

Your scape is great! Ignore the trolls!!

 

Love the way your tank looks. Guess I was kind of raised to keep my mouth shut if I didn't have anything nice to say, wish more people were that way. Glad you're enjoying your tank