Help me plan my hardscape!

I’m planning a 20L freshwater tank and need some help deciding on hardscape design. I have two pieces of mopani would that I really love and would like to use as centerpieces. Originally I wanted to do a black water setup and still do, but maybe more blackish(lol), because I’ve over planted another tank and need to move some over to this one. Kind of past the point of doing a biotype unfortunately. I have some spider wood I’d planned to put in, but it doesn’t look good with the mopani, so I guess I’ll keep it simple. Does anyone have examples of mixing the two types of wood and it looking okay?
Also, I apologize for the glare. I couldn’t get great photos, but hopefully you get the idea.

 

the second one looks amazing. I think it would really stand out with some course white/natural sand.

 

I like the second one it would look super good with some white sand and plants by and on the wood leaving the center clear of plants like a path.

 

I’m planning a 20L freshwater tank and need some help deciding on hardscape design. I have two pieces of mopani would that I really love and would like to use as centerpieces. Originally I wanted to do a black water setup and still do, but maybe more blackish(lol), because I’ve over planted another tank and need to move some over to this one. Kind of past the point of doing a biotype unfortunately. I have some spider wood I’d planned to put in, but it doesn’t look good with the mopani, so I guess I’ll keep it simple. Does anyone have examples of mixing the two types of wood and it looking okay?
Also, I apologize for the glare. I couldn’t get great photos, but hopefully you get the idea.

Hi there, I personally think you have a great setup in mind, but if you need more ideas, check out the link of my signature. I have found many tricks to make a great looking hardscape. You should show us the completed tank when you are done. I bet it will look great!

 

Maybe kind of shift the sand upward on all sides, with the highest point being where the driftwood are. So like a hill. You could still do a blackwater biotope and have plants, because your tank is short in height. But that's your choice. Oh yea! and like betta06 said, make like a path going to the roots, kind of like a garden apple tree type thing if you know what I mean lol.

 

I think if you had spiderwood that was shaped in such a way that it kind of framed the tank it could look good. I am not a fan of spiderwood myself, but i saw a piece at my LFS the other day that would go good on an edge framing the tank and the wood.

 

I think your setup in the second picture would look stunning with the sand. You could even use a few small pieces of Dragon Stone around the Mopani to add some texture. That would make for a great island style setup!
Then you could add some taller stem plants behind the Mopani with some shorter plants in-between the rocks and wood like some Crypts or Anubias.

 

Maybe kind of shift the sand upward on all sides, with the highest point being where the driftwood are. So like a hill. You could still do a blackwater biotope and have plants, because your tank is short in height. But that's your choice. Oh yea! and like betta06 said, make like a path going to the roots, kind of like a garden apple tree type thing if you know what I mean lol.

I think this is what I'm leaning towards. I like the second the best as well. Kind of like an island or the build up around a tree stump where the water would have washed away more of the soil surrounding it.