Need Scaping Opinions

I'm starting a 75 gallon tank (probably a discus tank eventually) and I decided to diy a couple of driftwood/slate pieces. The two that I put together, however, are a little large and I'm just not sure whether they look right. Maybe I'm overthinking the layout, but I really want this tank to be the centerpiece and I want to get opinions before I proceed. I'm thinking of making this a sparsely planted tank (or doing silk plants for the first time). Please help me with some opinions/critique on the look. It's a little cloudy because I just added the sand, there are no fish yet.

This was the tank with the first piece and no sand. I'm not sure whether adding the second makes it look crowded.

 

I think it looks better with the two pieces of wood in it. Fills out the space better.

 

I'm also looking for opinions on the background. One of my other tanks with sand substrate has a black background that I like, but the rocks in there visually "pop" a little more than wood and plants might.

 

Black sand and Black Background will bring out the colors in the fish and plants.

 

Thanks Max - I was thinking the same thing on on the extra wood filling the space. When I got both of them in there I started thinking that it was maybe too crowded or symmetrical. Good to know that people have had success with plants and black backgrounds, I've seen a lot of blue but I don't like the look as much.

 

When I got both of them in there I started thinking that it was maybe too crowded or symmetrical.

I think it looks great with both. Those are nice pieces. You could move them closer to one side to give the tank less symmetry. I would try the big one on one side and the smaller around the middle. Preferably with the extended branches to the open side.

 

I moved them around about a hundred different ways... I tried putting them more on one side but they have so many branches in different directions that it was impossible I think I finally found a layout that I like... It's not too much different but I laid down the left piece to get rid of some of the symmetry and turned them so that the thicker branches anchored the backdrop and the spindly branches pointed toward the front. I even got a few long-finned danios to to celebrate!

I'm hoping that this will be the start of a great tank. I will probably have to switch the filter out, but I'm liking the driftwood & pool filter sand look.

 

What filter do you have on the tank. It does look good, I'd start throwing in some plants. Java Fern and Anubus can be tied to a branch or two of the driftwood.

 

Too much filter, I'm running an fx6. Even the danios have a hard time staying still enough to grab flakes at the top. I have an Eheim 2215 that I'm cycling on another tank, I might use that one instead.

I don't have the correct light yet for the plants. Anubias might be able to handle low light though. I'm also going to transition the temperature from around 78 to 83 over the next few months... The current fish inhabitants will be in another tank by then but do you think it will kill the plants?

 

A FX6 maybe a little to much flow in a 4' tank. I'm running and FX4 and a Magnaflow 360 in a 5' 100 gallon tank along with a 360 gph pump for the chiller. My fish really don't seem to mind the current. When I get the 125 completed it will have a pair of FX4's on it.

Java Fern will also be able to handle low light, it's an incredibly hardy plant.

 

I have an fx6 on my other 4 footer... But it's full of stocky mbuna and so it doesn't bother them (and possibly limits their murder potential). I put this one on the new 75 because the other one makes water changes so dang easy.. then I saw the danios getting swirled around and realized that even a spray bar would not make the filter acceptable for discus. It gives me an excuse to buy a bigger tank I suppose.

 

Nothing wrong with going bigger at all. As we use to say when I flew in CH-53's Go Big or Go Home.

 

Didn't they used to call the CH 53 the Super Pooper? That's kind of how I feel about my mbuna

My spouse just agreed that installing an RO system in the crawl space and piping it up behind the tank into a heated water change reservoir would be an acceptable idea. I might wait another couple of months to drop another "bigger tank" bomb.

But if I can find a smaller filter that has similar water changes I can further justify the RO. The Eheim doesn't have too much to offer here.

 

The Echo model of the 53 was known as that, I was in the Delta model so they where just Poopers. Now with the new Kilo model they will be King Poopers. The FX4 has the water change option on i, I haven't used it yet, I still use a python. They maybe on sale at Petsmart for $199 on the Labor Day weekend sale.

 

For the background I like both white paper which I have on my 20gal, and cheap frosted window film.

This is white construction paper

 

I think I finally found a layout that I like..

Nice. I like how the braches look like they are reaching towards each other. I think you found it! Could a different return fitting help with the fx6 flow? Split it or design a spray bar?

 

Nice. I like how the braches look like they are reaching towards each other. I think you found it! Could a different return fitting help with the fx6 flow? Split it or design a spray bar?

Both the FX4 and 6 have have a dual outlet set 90 degrees from each other, a DIY spray bar would help.

 

For the background I like both white paper which I have on my 20gal, and cheap frosted window film.

This is white construction paper
View attachment 464635

I really like the white construction paper! It gives it a lot of depth. I will get some today and post with an update.

 

Nice. I like how the braches look like they are reaching towards each other. I think you found it! Could a different return fitting help with the fx6 flow? Split it or design a spray bar?

I measured the output line diameter yesterday and mocked up a spray bar. I'll probably take it out and shorted it so it doesn't overlap the filter input. I'll have to paint it something other than stark white since they did not have black PVC in 1".

I have a small string attached to one of the branches to check for flow. Now instead of being pulled in one straight line it dances a bit (for lack of a better term). I will still be switching to the fx4 later on, but this is a big help and the danios are happier at least.

 

I also added two tiny anubias to the branches. I'm going to get more online, the prices at lfs and PetSmart seem unreasonable.

I'm going to dose it up with a little flourite to get more plants started later in the week. I ordered a finex planted+ light, which should support more plants. I also have a CO2 system that I'm not using right now that I can experiment with to get more plants on a good start.

I'm going to wait until December to get the discus so that I have time off to properly care for juvies. Until then I'm going to stock the tank with what I will eventually move to a 55 gallon.

 

To attach it I just used packing tape on each corner and since it’s against a wall it doesn’t affect the looks at all. The film will stick right on. It’s easier than paint IMO.

 

I'm liking the feedback so far and so I'm going to update this post as the build evolves. I'm not planning on getting my discus until December and so I stocked a few fish in the interim... Neon tetras, Phantom tetras, a couple of kribs, a zebra nerite, and a rainbow shark. Other than the neons they are all babies and destined for different tanks.

Per Max advice I'm starting to stock up plants - anubias on the driftwood and I found some big Amazon swords for a backdrop (I'm using root tabs since the pool filter sand won't be sufficient for a root heavy plant).

Unfortunately I'm going through a minI cycle... I found 2.5-5 PPM ammonia in the water and so I've been doing daily water changes. The water clarity is very much improved, so I'm just waiting for the parameters to get right.

This week I hope to finally get the paper for the backdrop and try various colors.

 

I've also constructed a small but extremely convenient water change enhancement. Hopefully the FX4 has the same diameter I/O tube at the bottom so that I don't have to rework it when I make the switch from the FX6 (still waiting on that Labor Day sale...).

 

I've also constructed a small but extremely convenient water change enhancement. Hopefully the FX4 has the same diameter I/O tube at the bottom so that I don't have to rework it when I make the switch from the FX6 (still waiting on that Labor Day sale...).

The FX 4/5/6 series use the same hose.

 

And... last but not least I improved my DIY spray bar design to make the holes less visible and the bars shorter. I'm letting the paint dry for a week before I put it in the tank.

 

... and a short note on the trials and tribulations of keeping neon tetras alive: the 2 hour drip acclimation system.

 

The new spray bar and finnex planted+ light is in. Today I'm hoping to try some backdrops and add a few more Amazon swords.

 

More swords and anubias.

 

I tried more background colors than I care to admit, but I finally compromised between black and white with a dark cerulean-silver wrapping paper. $7!

 

I tried more background colors than I care to admit, but I finally compromised between black and white with a dark cerulean-silver wrapping paper. $7!

Wow! Your tank looks great!