Tank transformation, advice and opinions please

[Zimmanski]

So with my 20 gallon long I have venturing out into the high light and co2 side of the planted world and I had been unhappy with how my tank layout was so last night I decided to do something about it. I went out and bought some fluval stratum to replace my regular caribsea sand then came home and ripped everything out. I ended up painting the back of the tank while I was at it too. I thought I would share some before and after pictures here so I could get some feedback on how I did and what to do from here. I still have a bunch of bacopa caroliniana that I either need to decide where to put it in this tank or I can use it when I redo my 10g betta tank.
Tank has:

Fish:
3 panda corys
5 black fin something corys(hate that I can't remember the name)
3 panda loaches
3 nerite snails
6 RCS

Plants:
Micro sword
Dwarf baby tears
Java fern(on the driftwood)
Bacopa caroliniana - may or may not be used based on what you guys think

Equipment:
Fluval AC50
Coralife 30" dual T5HO
Fluval co2, I now have an adapter to use a PB tank
Dry ferts

Any thoughts on what to do next of opinions on how it looks so far?

 

[herp_mommy]

Looks good with the darker substrate. I'd suggest something tall. You've got a big space of empty water up there. Maybe some nice manzanita with plants growing on it.

 

[Convict2161]

I absolutely love your new setup! The attention to detail. I like to smooth rocks also and mix of colors. Driftwood is always a touch!

Enjoy your newly scaped tank

Only thing I would have some was paint the back ground black. That with your black substrate would look insane!!

 

[Zimmanski]

Thanks guys! I was trying to be a little natural/random with the placement of things but the former Marine in me wouldn't let that happen haha. I also notice the emptiness at the top level, driftwood may be a good idea, and I may end up using some of the bacopa that I have a ton of for hight. I'm really liking the dark substrate too, its the stratum capped with Tahitian moon sand, I know it will settle eventually but I thought it would look better until the plants fill in. Here's some side pictures, the pictures from the front make it harder to tell how the sand is sloped.

 

[Zimmanski]

I absolutely love your new setup! The attention to detail. I like to smooth rocks also and mix of colors. Driftwood is always a touch!

Enjoy your newly scaped tank

Only thing I would have some was paint the back ground black. That with your black substrate would look insane!!

I thought about black too, the green turned out so well with the 75 gallon that I thought I'd use it again. The girlfriend picked out the green so that probably had something to do with it too haha

 

[Convict2161]

Thanks guys! I was trying to be a little natural/random with the placement of things but the former Marine in me wouldn't let that happen haha. I also notice the emptiness at the top level, driftwood may be a good idea, and I may end up using some of the bacopa that I have a ton of for hight. I'm really liking the dark substrate too, its the stratum capped with Tahitian moon sand, I know it will settle eventually but I thought it would look better until the plants fill in. Here's some side pictures, the pictures from the front make it harder to tell how the sand is sloped.

Again it's amazing and very natural looking. Great job!!

 

[Zimmanski]

Took the advice and grabbed really nice DW pieces while I was out buying a paintball cylinder, I didn't expect to find exactly what I was looking for but did! They should look like perfect roots when in the tank, gonna start boiling and soaking now!