How To Better My Tank?

I currently have a 36 gallon bowfront with the following stock

1x Bolivian Ram
2x half grown platy
6x harlequin rasbora
9x albino cory catfish
1x zebra snail

(Almost all of them are behind the driftwood at the time of this picture for whatever reason lol. Also that plant up front is fake, it was for the platys when I first put them in. I was going to remove it but I kind of like the look of it so I’m 50/50 on it).

These are my plants:
5x amazon sword that is tall
2x medium sized amazon sword
1x anubias nana
2x compacta (small for now)

I was wondering what plants,
rock, or driftwood could make my tank look better? I kind of want to take out my fake driftwood piece. Also if you think of any fish I could put in there, that would also be handy. (Also that log with java fern tied to it is fake, it just hasn’t sunk yet for whatever reason).

 

I think that’s one of those floating betta logs... I bought one of those once and wondered why it wouldn’t sink. Then I read the receipt lol

 

I think that’s one of those floating betta logs... I bought one of those once and wondered why it wouldn’t sink. Then I read the receipt lol

Yeah I'm starting to think that's what that is lol. Sadly I don't have the receipt. In the store it wasn't marked as a betta log. If so it'll be a little irritating as I bought that specifically to tie java fern to but it's not that big of a deal. I have a Betta that it can go to anyways lol.

 

Anyone else?

 

I like the hardscape you have. Is that actual rock or something you bought like that? I don't know what plants to suggest, but I'm thinking maybe something tall for the background.

 

I like the hardscape you have. Is that actual rock or something you bought like that? I don't know what plants to suggest, but I'm thinking maybe something tall for the background.

No unfortunately it’s fake. I was thinking of maybe ordering some jungle cal.

 

I assume you meant Jungle Val. That would look cool. I'm about to set up a 36 gallon bowfront myself and I was thinking about getting something like that. Having so much more height (than my 10 gallon) opens up a whole new world of plants.

 

I assume you meant Jungle Val. That would look cool. I'm about to set up a 36 gallon bowfront myself and I was thinking about getting something like that. Having so much more height (than my 10 gallon) opens up a whole new world of plants.

That awesome, bust of luck. I just bought new hair grass and a big amazon sword, though I think I’m going to switch their places.

 

BrandedUW

 

View attachment 507041

BrandedUW

That's lookin' good. I need to start researching plants for mine. Both of your new plants look good!

 

That's lookin' good. I need to start researching plants for mine. Both of your new plants look good!

Thank you! Best of luck. Although it’s pretty basic I would recommend Anubias Nana.

 

Its a pretty tank. What stood out for me is because its against a wall, a colored background could help the tank pop. Maybe blue or black...hard to say.

 

Moneywort? Or maybe guppy grass? I'd love to see what you choose to do with the tank. Maybe add more driftwood and some floating plants like some duckweed or dwarf lilies.

 

Try adding some really tall plants in the back for some dimension

 

Its a pretty tank. What stood out for me is because its against a wall, a colored background could help the tank pop. Maybe blue or black...hard to say.

I think I like that idea. I'm not sure what I'd get though, I guess it's just preference. I might try a solid black background.

 

Moneywort? Or maybe guppy grass? I'd love to see what you choose to do with the tank. Maybe add more driftwood and some floating plants like some duckweed or dwarf lilies.

I know duckweed multiplies rapidly, do dwarf lilies do the same?

 

Try adding some really tall plants in the back for some dimension

Yeah I agree. I added the tall sword in the back left and some val in the back right but I think I'm going to switch it the locations around. Also I have 5 amazon swords behind my driftwood but I'm already seeing not so great progress, but we'll what happens.

 

No

I know duckweed multiplies rapidly, do dwarf lilies do the same?

no they don't. They do get pretty big but don't reproduce really. They are a bulb plant.

 

I think I like that idea. I'm not sure what I'd get though, I guess it's just preference. I might try a solid black background.

What I did was get posterboard and paint and try a few ideas out first before committing to sticking the cling stuff on. Then you can get an idea.

 

No
no they don't. They do get pretty big but don't reproduce really. They are a bulb plant.View attachment 507450

I have this plant too. Its too new to say what it will do in my tank but Ive seen it in others and it can get huge! Its lovely but also a bit terrifying if that's not what you want.

 

One of my absolute favourite background plants is bunch baby tears! (not to be confused with dwarf baby tears.) They're bright green and look great against a solid black background! They grow super quick with little to no ferts and no co2 necessary.

 

One of my absolute favourite background plants is bunch baby tears! (not to be confused with dwarf baby tears.) They're bright green and look great against a solid black background! They grow super quick with little to no ferts and no co2 necessary.

Ooh, I'm gonna have to look into that too.

 

What lights do you have? Any fertilizers? root tabs? This would help with recommendations on plants.

But you could do: crypt spiralis, crypt wendtiI bronze, vallisneria and water wisteria(most hygrophila species will work) as a background plant, these will grown in most conditions.

Dwarf aquarium lilies are a good option too. They grow fast once settled in, and can grow nice and compact in good light.

 

Absolutely LOVE what you have so far. Have you considered a moss wall? There are plenty of videos on you tube and they are gorgeous behind rocks like those you have.