Not happy with how tank looks, suggestions???

Hi everyone, my first tank, a 75 gallon tank looks really unrealistic and I feel like my fish aren’t the main attraction. I’m planning on changing the gravel, I just don’t know what color would suit my tank and fish. I was a thinking a lighter gravel like pool filter sand so that the aquarium looks brighter overall. I’m also going for a River look with pool filter sand in the middle and dark colored gravel on both sides. I don’t have a lot of plants so *cheap fast growing* plant suggestions would also be appreciated. I want to still keep some things such as the cups on the top of the tank, the plants hanging on the back, the coconut huts, the bubble decorations, and the log.

 

Hi everyone, my first tank, a 75 gallon tank looks really unrealistic and I feel like my fish aren’t the main attraction. I’m planning on changing the gravel, I just don’t know what color would suit my tank and fish. I was a thinking a lighter gravel like pool filter sand so that the aquarium looks brighter overall. I’m also going for a River look with pool filter sand in the middle and dark colored gravel on both sides. I don’t have a lot of plants so *cheap fast growing* plant suggestions would also be appreciated. I want to still keep some things such as the cups on the top of the tank, the plants hanging on the back, the coconut huts, the bubble decorations, and the log.

Could you attach a picture? I believe it would be easier to give suggestions when we can visually see it.

 

Hi everyone, my first tank, a 75 gallon tank looks really unrealistic and I feel like my fish aren’t the main attraction. I’m planning on changing the gravel, I just don’t know what color would suit my tank and fish. I was a thinking a lighter gravel like pool filter sand so that the aquarium looks brighter overall. I’m also going for a River look with pool filter sand in the middle and dark colored gravel on both sides. I don’t have a lot of plants so *cheap fast growing* plant suggestions would also be appreciated. I want to still keep some things such as the cups on the top of the tank, the plants hanging on the back, the coconut huts, the bubble decorations, and the log.

 

Try to use the directional nature of the decor in you plants to create a flow. Here is my 29g scape. The wood has a flow to the left side. I feel that a lot of your decor is scattered so condensing it would be helpful for the aesthetic of your tank. IMO the best fast growing, cheap, and easy plant is hornwort.

 

How about black diamond blasting sand with the pool filter sand in the middle? For plants you could try water wisteria, Crypts (not fast growers though), Rotala is pretty fast, so is Myrio green, and hornwort is great too but it sheds a ton of leaves when first added. It also doesn’t like hard water.

 

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Another suggestion is to take out all of the floating stuff and clutter in the right side of the tank.

 

I’d get some black sand, throw some wood and rocks in there and add in that river bed idea. I’ve had great luck with moneywort, super fast grower (For me) and I like the looks of it.

 

For the new substrate I recommend one of these.

1. Petco link----
2. Amazon link for the same substrate---- Amazon.com : Imagitarium Black Aquarium Sand, 20 LBS : Pet Supplies

OR

2. You can just grab any old pool filter sand but the top one is my favorite substrate.

Some tips:
1. put a black background of poster board it really makes the fish and plants pop.
2. Put some more plants in there which fertilizer do you use?
3. Take out any plastic cups and colorful decorations and extra clutter out.
4. Put a few cryptocorns, anubias, and one java fern to the side.
5. Also you need about 66 lbs of substrate for 1 in
6. watch the video I listed it will be very helpful and it's only a few minutes.
7. If you don't take the extra stuuf out I mean that's fine but you should rethink it.
8. Also you should watch the youtube channel girl talks fish. I am not her but her videos are very helpful.

I’d get some black sand, throw some wood and rocks in there and add in that river bed idea. I’ve had great luck with moneywort, super fast grower (For me) and I like the looks of it.

Another suggestion is to take out all of the floating stuff and clutter in the right side of the tank.

I agree with you guys.

 

guppy grass and hornwort are cheap and easy. also if you can afford it you can buy HUGE amazon sword plants for $25 and up. those would immediately make your tank look more full.
i'd do black or regular colored sand. get rid of your fake plants, keep some of the decorations if you want, and get some floating plants up top too. get ones that form really long roots, like dwarf water lettuce.

 

Adding a black background on the back of the tank does a lot. It hides tubes and wires going down the back and makes everything in your tank pop more.

 

I think the biggest thing that draws attention away from the fish is the substrate. Some tanks can pull off the multi-colored look, but in this case it’s just too busy. Especially since your fish are colorful themselves.

If you change nothing else, I feel like solid white/ tan/ black sand or gravel would be a big improvement and simplify your look

 

Adding a black background on the back of the tank does a lot. It hides tubes and wires going down the back and makes everything in your tank pop more.

I think the biggest thing that draws attention away from the fish is the substrate. Some tanks can pull off the multi-colored look, but in this case it’s just too busy. Especially since your fish are colorful themselves.

If you change nothing else, I feel like solid white/ tan/ black sand or gravel would be a big improvement and simplify your look

I agree. Replacing the substrate with black sand, putting black paper on the back, removing all the current plastic cups and colorful decorations and extra clutter, and adding a bunch of live plants should help.

 

Adding a black background on the back of the tank does a lot. It hides tubes and wires going down the back and makes everything in your tank pop more.

That is true. I spray painted the background of my tank.

 

I agree. new substrate, and ditch the purple and pink plants

 

I agree! Natural looking tanks make the fish pop more I think.

 

Ok! I’ll definitely try the black background, and then get black air tubes to go along with it. I’ll remove the flake plants too, the only reason I still had them in was to make the tank seem fuller since I don’t have enough real plants. I think the substrate definitely is the main thing that annoys me about this tank, so I’ll replace it with the black diamond blasting sand and pool filter sand. As for the cups on the right hand corner I’ll keep them since my beta fish really likes them, and it’s like his mini corner. I’ll get some guppy grass to fill in part of the tank and some moneywort.

 

As everyone has already said black sand, black background, and plants. You don't have to go nuts and get tons of plants right away that can get expensive. If you have local fish stores with plants just pick up a new one every once in a while and keep adding. Find some local driftwood by a river or beach, pick up some rocks from your area to use to create a natural looking hardscape in your tank. There are plenty of plants that can do well under low light like most Sword plants, Crypts, Anubias, Jungle Val, Java Fern and Java Moss. You'll have a much more success if you dose an easy all in one fertilizer. Myself and most others use either NilocG Thrive fert or Easy Green by Aquarium CoOp. I use Thrive with great results.

 

Ok! I’ll definitely try the black background, and then get black air tubes to go along with it. I’ll remove the flake plants too, the only reason I still had them in was to make the tank seem fuller since I don’t have enough real plants. I think the substrate definitely is the main thing that annoys me about this tank, so I’ll replace it with the black diamond blasting sand and pool filter sand. As for the cups on the right hand corner I’ll keep them since my beta fish really likes them, and it’s like his mini corner. I’ll get some guppy grass to fill in part of the tank and some moneywort.

Oh! By the way diamond blasting sand is quite sharp and you can not put any bottom dwelling fish but I still don't recommend it. I recommend you go with this brand instead. Also, do you have one albino cory? If so, they are schooling fish and need to be in groups of 6 or more. Try putting at least 2 more corydoras. Hope this helped!

Amazon.com : Imagitarium Black Aquarium Sand, 20 LBS : Pet Supplies

 

How about black diamond blasting sand with the pool filter sand in the middle? For plants you could try water wisteria, Crypts (not fast growers though), Rotala is pretty fast, so is Myrio green, and hornwort is great too but it sheds a ton of leaves when first added. It also doesn’t like hard water.

Agreed, get one color and do black will make the fish stand out more..
Another easy plant is Java Fern

 

Oh! By the way diamond blasting sand is quite sharp and you can not put any bottom dwelling fish but I still don't recommend it. I recommend you go with this brand instead. Also, do you have one albino cory? If so, they are schooling fish and need to be in groups of 6 or more. Try putting at least 2 more corydoras. Hope this helped!

Amazon.com : Imagitarium Black Aquarium Sand, 20 LBS : Pet Supplies

Actually it’s not sharp enough for it to damage corys. A lot of members here use it and I’ve heard of some corys actually breeding on it. It’s basically the same as that brand except cheaper and it has slightly larger grains of sand. Kuhli loaches also do great with it.

 

Oh! By the way diamond blasting sand is quite sharp and you can not put any bottom dwelling fish but I still don't recommend it. I recommend you go with this brand instead. Also, do you have one albino cory? If so, they are schooling fish and need to be in groups of 6 or more. Try putting at least 2 more corydoras. Hope this helped!

Amazon.com : Imagitarium Black Aquarium Sand, 20 LBS : Pet Supplies

Dont worry, I don't have a cory, I have gouramis, angelfish, 1 pleco (He stays on the wood not the ground), glofish, danios, and 1 betta fish. None of them are really "bottom dwellers" so I think they'll be fine.

 

Dont worry, I don't have a cory, I have gouramis, angelfish, 1 pleco (He stays on the wood not the ground), glofish, danios, and 1 betta fish. None of them are really "bottom dwellers" so I think they'll be fine.

oh....okay..well nice!