How should I rearrange this tank to provide more hiding spaces/cove

This is my current tank, waters a little cloudy but I just finished feeding so filter usually cleans up.

My question is: How should I rearrange this tank to provide more hiding spaces/cover or just generally look better.

I was planning on taking out the right portion or gravel and making a type of sand shore and use a terracotta pot to make a small cave there, especially before I place my Electric blue acara in the tank as he'll need a place to hide as well.

Was also intending to introduce some pieces of java moss over lava rock as I am new to keeping tanks.

Open to suggestions thanks.
55 gal and good water params just checked

One of the reasons I want to add some sand is because I've heard it not only makes feeding easier for my cories but also the electric blue acara likes to dig into substrate sometimes.

This way I could pellet feed on the sand and flake feed my others at the surface.

 

What fish do you have in the tank as a lot will depend on that...

I also assume most, if not all, the plants are fake?
I would definitely suggest replacing some (or all) with real plants. Usually, fish prefer real plants over fake ones as they can more easily hide in real plants.
Real plants also improve overall water quality

Sand isn't the easiest to work with, especially if you want to clean it...
I will also have pleco and corydoras in my tank but I don't use sand. I just use a fine substrate. It's suitable for them and rather easy in cleaning.

 

Ah okay, so would you say my substrate is okay? And I am new to plants so ive decided to start with java moss as it's incredibly easy to care for.

And yes all plants are fake unfortunately.

My main priority now is creating more hiding placed as I don't really have any.

The ship is currently owned by my rainbowshark so I don't want territorial issues in the future.

My angelfish usually hides behind the plants when he feels like but he comes out very often.

 

What other fish do you have in the tank?
The rainbow shark is a territorial fish so you have to be carefull with other fish... especially the bottom dwellers like plecos and cories... If the thank is big enough, it will make life easier but otherwise, your cories might invade his territory and might cause some hostility.

I would go for easy plants, different types of anubias are good. They can be small or big.
Also pick some bigger ones, the angelfish like those to swim in.

 

The set up is :
9 tiger Barb's
7 cories
1 rainbow shark
1 angel fish

Ik the angelfish shouldn't go with the Barb's but he manages to do good with them and I monitor daily and do fin checks

And do I need a special substrate for the live plants like Anubas, or can I attack it to some lava rock as well

 

And do I need a special substrate for the live plants like Anubas, or can I attack it to some lava rock as well

You can just attach anubias to rock, yes

 

You can just attach anubias to rock, yes

Great, if it's not too expensive I'll give it a try. You seem to know what you're talking about lol. Should I keep plants towards the background or in the front?

 

Great, if it's not too expensive I'll give it a try. You seem to know what you're talking about lol. Should I keep plants towards the background or in the front?

Oh goodness, thanks for the thought, but I'm also pretty new! I learned everything from research and here over the past couple of months!

But, regardless, it doesn't much matter where the plants are, so long as they get light.
In my tank (and I think most people's), the tall plants are in the back, and the shorter ones are in the front. I have my anubius attached to some driftwood and rocks; one is more to the middle and the other toward the front. It just depends on what you think looks nice, and where the light gets to.
I know you said you have a 50g, so I'm not sure if whatever light you have will be able to reach to the bottom of the tank or not (I only have a 20g). But from what I can tell, java moss and anubius (especially the nana variety) are pretty forgiving

 

Oh goodness, thanks for the thought, but I'm also pretty new! I learned everything from research and here over the past couple of months!

But, regardless, it doesn't much matter where the plants are, so long as they get light.
In my tank (and I think most people's), the tall plants are in the back, and the shorter ones are in the front. I have my anubius attached to some driftwood and rocks; one is more to the middle and the other toward the front. It just depends on what you think looks nice, and where the light gets to.
I know you said you have a 50 gallon, so I'm not sure if whatever light you have will be able to reach to the bottom of the tank or not (I only have a 20 gallon). But from what I can tell, java moss and anubius (especially the nana variety) are pretty forgiving

Yea, my lighting is good. The tank is long rather than deep so I'll be fine. Do you have any tips on how to go about rearranging my tank?

Currently I obviously have water and fish in there. Do I need to take them out and then rearrange or are there any tips on rearranging with the fish in there?

Or should I wait till it's time to try a full water change?

 

Yea, my lighting is good. The tank is long rather than deep so I'll be fine. Do you have any tips on how to go about rearranging my tank?

Currently I obviously have water and fish in there. Do I need to take them out and then rearrange or are there any tips on rearranging with the fish in there?

Or should I wait till it's time to try a full water change?

you won't get as wet if you wait for a water change but that's the only benefit that I can think of.

 

J.MacGregor is right! Waiting for a water change would be much better; I usually rearrange my tank during my water changes!
But, there's nothing that says you can't rearrange without doing a wc; it just keeps you (and your surroundings!) dryer because there's less water.

And, as for removing the fish, they're gonna be a little stressed either way. I usually leave mine in there, but I removed 5 out of 6 ember tetras when I did a substrate change. I didn't want to accidentally bury them in the new sand. But I couldn't catch 1 of them, and so he (along with my betta) stayed in the tank. Both were totally fine and got out of the way when things were being shuffled around. I think it would have been fine to leave them all in, but I was Worried