Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping => Gallery Showcase => Topic started by: Alex_N on August 10, 2015, 09:35:36 AM

Title: First Tank.
Post by: Alex_N on August 10, 2015, 09:35:36 AM

My first tank, comments and constructive criticism are all ways welcome.
Please take special note of the headless Ivysaur in the bottom right of the tank  :o

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Sue on August 10, 2015, 10:04:45 AM

It's looking good  :)


Constructive criticism coming up.
You could do with a few more tall plants before getting fish. It sounds wrong but the more decor you have, the more the fish come out. It's all do do with them feeling safe and having somewhere to hide when that predator shows up. They don't know there aren't any predators.

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Alex_N on August 10, 2015, 10:30:36 AM

Great thank you, looking at it from a different perspective it is a bit bare. Is there any in particular you would recommend?

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Sue on August 10, 2015, 10:44:42 AM

If you don't want to rush into live plants yet, have a look at silk plants rather than plastic. They look more realistic. Most fish shops will sell a selection.

Down the line a way, if you want to try live plants java fern is an easy starter plant. This is grown tied to ornaments rather than planted in the substrate. It's a plant I can manage to keep alive  ;D There are also various species of anubias that are also grown on decor and are easy. They both have rhizomes which rot if planted, which is why they are fixed to decor.

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Alex_N on August 10, 2015, 11:23:43 AM

I am tempted by the artificial, but I am really tempted by live plants as well, I have a tiny piece of Java Moss waiting for me at my dad's. The issue I've got with artificial is they look 'wooden', (possibly because mine are plastic) after seeing them in the tank. I'll have a look at more Java plants and the Anubias varieties.

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Sue on August 10, 2015, 01:21:11 PM

There are two 'java' plants, java moss (which you mentioned) and java fern, Microsorum pteropus, which is the one I have. Some of my pieces have huge leaves now.

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Alex_N on August 26, 2015, 08:40:55 AM

I've added 3 more silk plants. Two larger leafed one's to the back left and right of the trunks and a medium sized one to the back left behind the plant near the bridge. I'm thinking of more as the tanks I've seen in the gallery are a lot more dense with vegetation.
I would take a photo but it's hard to see without a bulb and the room doesn't get much natural light or artificial light.

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Alex_N on August 26, 2015, 09:26:12 AM

I managed to get a decent photo, it turned out a lot better than first thought.

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Sue on August 26, 2015, 10:58:21 AM

That's looking nicer  :)

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Alex_N on October 09, 2015, 01:48:52 PM

Slight shift around today.

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Alex_N on January 12, 2016, 03:05:42 PM

Finally happy with the tank decoration.

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: fcmf on January 12, 2016, 06:50:46 PM

Wow - how lovely!

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Anne on January 12, 2016, 10:06:53 PM

Looking good and a big change but where is the headless Ivysaur?

Anne

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Alex_N on January 12, 2016, 10:21:53 PM

Thank you both.

A big change for the better I hope, admittedly I should have done a lot more thought and preparation in the beginning.
The headless Ivysaur is still there, it's at the back right near the silk swordtail plant.

Title: Re: First Tank.
Post by: Paddyc on February 25, 2016, 09:10:49 PM

Kudos on your improvements, very lush looking  8)