Tips for aquascaping?

[zenkatydid]

Ok, so I am getting to the point of having enough plant species, and once things fill in a bit more, nearly enough biomass. At the moment I have just planted clumps of eat plant in the general area (ie. front/middle/back) it will end up in, but have not put much thought into scaping. I would like to!

So, what I would like to discuss, is general thoughts on placement, contrast of leaf types, how to cover unsightly bottoms of stems, etc.

For instance... For a natural look, should I spread plants around, or clump each type together in a bunch? When planting stems, should each stem be planted individually, or should they all be planted as a bunch? How far apart should stems be planted? I love the look of a huge bush of stem plants, where all you can see are the tops growing out towards you. How do I do that?

Here's some pics of it at this moment. My thoughts: I am not happy with the java fern, I think it clashes with the sword behind it. I need something bushy (or maybe some rocks?) where the H. polysperma is now - I don't like seeing back to the bottom of those rotala stems. I don't like the moneywort behind the stargrass, they both get lost.

So, yeah, I would love to hear any general thoughts on these things, as well as any specific suggestions or ideas you have for my aquascape.

[Mosaic]

You have a good start going there. It has a nice balance, composition-wise, even now. I love the driftwood! I agree about the java fern. I think maybe I'd put it on the left piece of driftwood, if I kept it at all. It's hard for me to imagine what it will all look like when grown out, but I think the rotala can give the bushy effect you're looking for if you put it where the hygro is (maybe swap places?). To fluff up your groupings (definitely keep them in loose groups, don't spread them out too much), start cutting and replanting stem tops. I don't worry about spacing the stems too much. I cram them in where I can, which gives me dense groupings.
I would start thinking about adding some color. You need some red in there!

[rkilling1]

Originally Posted by zenkatydid

For instance... For a natural look, should I spread plants around, or clump each type together in a bunch?

Most people will tell you to bunch the same species together and not spread them around the tank.

Here is a thread that may help:

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=90162

[triazole]

ok, first off, i'm a bad aquascaper myself - that's why no pix of my tanks anywhere. but i'll try my best to give some ideas about your scape.
the best feature in your tank is your driftwood. there's a nice flow formed by the driftwood contour, starting from the left top corner, touching the bottom and reaching up to the top right corner (something like a C turning 90 degrees). so imo you should try to reinforce this flowing pattern with your plants.
tying the java fern to either the left stump or the right stump would be a start. i'd prefer the left, as it would grow up to cover the heater too. the sword is too centered and thus, breaks the flow from left to right. it needs to move towards to right. definitely cut the tops off rotala as mosaic mentioned and replant them to get a bushier feel. a strong low foreground would do wonders too.
anyways, enough babbling - back to work!

[hashbaz]

I love the "smiley face" shape of the wood. What do you folks think of a "frowny face" of tall/medium plants behind the wood? I think that would look sweet.

[zenkatydid]

thanks for responding, guys.

i'm afraid i really like the sword there, so for the moment it will stay as it grows bigger, i may replant it to the absolute right of the tank (it was actually there originally but i was afraid it was being shadowed by the wood - it was smaller then) when it outgrows it's current position.

i absolutely want to continue the flow of the wood with plants, so taller plants on the right, tapering down towards the centre. the rotala and the stargrass are only new - less than a week old, so they are still settling and growing in. (though, that said, i quite like the idea of a contrasting 'frowny face'... especially if i keep the sword in the middle - or do you think i'd just lose the lines?)

i quite like the idea of the java fern growing off the wood on the left... i hadn't even considered that. i could make it look quite tree-like if i did it right... hmm.

what about the stargrass and moneywort? any ideas for position or good plants to contrast them next to/behind?

also, i only have medium light (though the stargrass, and moneywort are growing well-enough). what really red plants could i get?

[travis simonson]

To get nice bushy plantings of stem plants (especially Rotala spp. and other straight-growing types) trim the tops and discard them. The plant will grow back in even bushier. Doing this twice over the period of about 4-6 weeks should provide a very thick bushy look. You can also experiment with trimming the bunch in a rounded/topiary manner which will give more shape to the bushiness. It's amazing what you can get some plants to do with a little judicious trimming

[zenkatydid]

thanks travis!

my rotala is doing very well. i noticed some stems doing a 90 degree turn and growing sideways for a bit before straightening up, and at first thought this was messy so was going to trim those bits off, but the stem that is horizontal has started shooting up more verticals. looks really neat! the first few times i trim, i think i will just replant the tops, because the leaves on the stems that i received aren't as nice as the ones growing in my tank. small and green instead of long and pink. once i've got good leaves on all the stems, i'll start bushing out. same with the stargrass, though i expect that will take longer.

i have only made one plant move, the rest i am still pondering over. my boyfriend really likes the java fern where it is, and it does provide a nice environment for my new yoyo loaches, so i will wait a bit on that too. anyway, i have moved the apon on the right over to the far left, where there used to be some val and a crypt. it looks absolutely awesome, i'm really happy with it - it changes the whole feel of the tank, and makes some really nice lines.

[travis simonson]