My Tank Looks Ugly But I Don’t Know How To Fix It.

So I have 5 neon tetras, 3 ghost shrimp with some driftwood and Anubis, but it looks ugly to me and I was wondering if you had any recommendations?

 

Ha! Join the club...

Ok, here’s what I thing. That big driftwood, snap it off at the hump so that you have a long skinny piece and the mass that’s on the right. Center that, and get more plants to fill in the back ground. Live or fake for now. Maybe some big rocks? Ooh! More sand/gravel/substance.

How big is the tank. Only now I’m kinda sorta happy with my 5 gallon Betta Tank.

 

That's a cool piece of driftwood! Maybe try moving it around and see if it looks better in a different orientation. Then I would get some Anubias, Java Fern or Java Moss and attach it to the wood. Get some low light plants for the sand. Cryptocoryne is one that should work well.

What size is the tank? What kind of light do you have?

Welcome to the forum!

 

Add some java or Xmas Moss to the top of the driftwood. Plant some easy plants like java ferns and try doing some kind of carpeting plant.

 

Some tall plants will give it some color.

 

Anubis on driftwood like the ones I have already? 10 gallon tank with Aqueon Delux full hood. I can see if I can get bigger rocks, snap it like this?

Would some waxed/mint dental floss be ok for attatching plants?

 

Anubis on driftwood like the ones I have already? 10 gallon tank with Aqueon Delux full hood. I can see if I can get bigger rocks, snap it like this?

Yeah! up to you, I know good driftwood is worth its weight in gold. No to floss. Thread or fishing line work great.

I’ll grab a pic of my tank.


It’s bear on the one side cause the filter is right there. But anubia needs to stick out if the substance. I just have a few roots buried to keep them down. Most is uncovered.

 

Ok I have some clean fishing line (Irony?). I will try attaching a plant and I will post a pic.

 

Fill it with elodea.

 

Mabee a clump of wisteria on the left side. Like this.
In a 10 gallon just about all plants can look tall.

 

Tested moving it and I like it better, I am going to make more adjustments then I will update.

 

Tested moving it and I like it better, I am going to make more adjustments then I will update.

Oh that does look better. I like that.

 

There is some fishing line that needs to be cut, and it the future I may add some rocks or your suggested plants. Thank you.

 

May I suggest tying a large anubias to the knot in the driftwood. Also, cover the coconut shell with some java moss.

 

There is some fishing line that needs to be cut, and it the future I may add some rocks or your suggested plants. Thank you.

Yeah that looks good. makes me want to tackle my Betta Tank again. Just got some new guppies (different tank) and watching them but the Betta Tank needs a clean anyways.

Ooh, yes to the coconut.

 

The result (for now)

 

It's looking better! Try some taller plants that root into the substrate in either corner. A fairly traditional layout is a U-shape with more open space toward the center of the aquarium.

 

While I’m here could you look at my shrimp please? It is a ghost (supposedly) that has some white on its tail area?

 

Nice! Can you get a clearer picture?

 

Much better! Is that an anubias in the sand? If so, move it to the driftwood too, they shouldn't be buried. Try some larger, easy to care for plants such as java fern and wisteria. Put large rocks underneath the wood so it's almost like the wood is sitting on top of the rocks.

 

Much better! Is that an anubias in the sand? If so, move it to the driftwood too, they shouldn't be buried. Try some larger, easy to care for plants such as java fern and wisteria. Put large rocks underneath the wood so it's almost like the wood is sitting on top of the rocks.

Yeah what I have in my tank!

 

Thank you for the suggestions. I will post a bad drawing of my plan. You have the filled in Anubis, some moss on the wood and the coconut, then we have the large corner plants, and a large slab of rock in the middle.

 

Thank you for the suggestions. I will post a bad drawing of my plan. You have the filled in Anubis, some moss on the wood and the coconut, then we have the large corner plants, and a large slab of rock in the middle.

Dude that’s gonna look awsome when they grow in.

 

I have moved somethings. 2 pics then I have gtg.

 

View attachment 376627 View attachment 376629 I have moved somethings. 2 pics then I have gtg.

Man, I have a big pretty rock that would look great right in the middle.

 

Yeah do t want too big of a rock, otherwise the water volume will only be 5 gallons

 

Would some waxed/mint dental floss be ok for attatching plants?

No. Just use some black cotton thread.
You can add leaf litter (beech, oak) currently available if it is fall wherever you live. You can Google branches and leaves for aquarium, it'll give you some ideas.

 

Looks fine to me!
I would do something like 2211Nighthawk mentioned!

 

Any issues with decaying leaves?

 

personally I think more plants of all sizes would liven it up and add colour to it

 

Any issues with decaying leaves?

Nope! Decaying leaves are actually good for a healthy ecosystem in your tank. They produce tannins and other substances that have antibacterial properties that make them good for your fish and the rotting plant matter supports microorganisms that are beneficial to the tank environment.

 

Do you think adding more plants will increase my neon activity? Because at the moment they kind of hover in place when I look at them. (I bet that was caused by my rearrangements)

 

Do you think adding more plants will increase my neon activity? Because at the moment they kind of hover in place when I look at them. (I bet that was caused by my rearrangements)

its probably caused by you moving things around but more plants will definitely make them happy

 

Looks fine to me!
I would do something like 2211Nighthawk mentioned!

Oh I have SO many rocks to choose from. but yeah, maybe a little big for a 10g. Maybe a little big for my 65 gallon...

Neons can be skittish so if they have places to hide they’ll be more relaxed and come out more often n

 

Plants, plants, plants!

Live plants are always the way to go

 

View attachment 376627 View attachment 376629 I have moved somethings. 2 pics then I have gtg.

I like it like this. Maybe some more rocks and more plants.

 

I would reccomend that you get some straight and thin pieces of driftwood that is the sameness kind of wood and make it branch out from the main part of the wood.

 

Do you think adding more plants will increase my neon activity? Because at the moment they kind of hover in place when I look at them. (I bet that was caused by my rearrangements)

Actually if you put a thick bushy plant in there, they may spend much of there time in it. They love vegetation. You may never see them. Lol

 

Oh I have SO many rocks to choose from. but yeah, maybe a little big for a 10g. Maybe a little big for my 65 gallon...

Neons can be skittish so if they have places to hide they’ll be more relaxed and come out more often n

More rocks than me?
I’ll have to show you my rock choices.

I want some seiryu, and dragon stone.

 

Ok, for future plants I am thinking about Java ferns, Xmas Moss, Elodea, and Java Moss. Carpet plants don’t fit my style, and I need to buy more sand. (The only reason I have sand is spare unused pool filter sand)