It's Time to Start Thinking About Aquascaping & Theming Our 60 Gallon Goldie Tank...

[Kimlafeiet]

The ship and the skull on the far right of the tank came from Petco. The skull with the knife through it and the treasure chest bubbler and all plants were from petsmart. The ship actually had quite a bit of plants already attached to it, and I added the taller pieces in the back, using plastic and silk ones in reds and greens.

 

[ArtesiaWells]

Is THIS the shipwreck set at Petco you got?

Penn Plax Sunken Gardens Shipwreck Aquarium Décor at PETCO

I kind of like it; it comes with some plants already attached...

Also -- what do you think of Petsmart's "Clipper Ship" they have out now? I had some bad experiences in the past with these white fabric sails like this has (it collects TONS of algae):



Does this seem "pirate" to you...or is it more of just a classic sailboat as you see it?

 

[Kimlafeiet]

I think I paid about a hundred bucks for the ship alone, each piece was 50, but it was well worth it in the end. I wouldnt have got the look I wanted with a smaller ship. This one is large, and as you can see, fills a good portion of the tank

 

[ArtesiaWells]

The ship and the skull on the far right of the tank came from Petco. The skull with the knife through it and the treasure chest bubbler and all plants were from petsmart. The ship actually had quite a bit of plants already attached to it, and I added the taller pieces in the back, using plastic and silk ones in reds and greens.

Yeah; I figured that was the ship set from Petco you had in there...did you buy it as TWO separate pieces? Indeed, the plants attached is a nice touch...

And I figured I recognized that skull -- I had it in my last tank! It's this one, isn't it?

 

[Kimlafeiet]

Yes, that is the ship I got.
And I think thats the same skull too.

 

[ArtesiaWells]

I think I paid about a hundred bucks for the ship alone, each piece was 50, but it was well worth it in the end. I wouldnt have got the look I wanted with a smaller ship. This one is large, and as you can see, fills a good portion of the tank

Yeah...that's a lot of money for those pieces, but it's what the castle pieces would run me too....

Do you think that ship you got at Petco would fill in, as a centerpiece, a 60 gallon TALL like mine? Here are current pics of my tank:

 

[Kimlafeiet]

And yes, it was 2 seperate pieces. each piece was about 50 bucks I think. somewhere around there.

 

[ArtesiaWells]

Yes, that is the ship I got.
And I think thats the same skull too.

Do you buy the two LARGE ship pieces?

Did you get a chance to look at the Petsmart "Schooner" picture I provided as a comparison to the ship you bought? What do you think?

And, do you think the ship theme could work with my current substrate, which looks like THIS?

 

[ArtesiaWells]

Some more updated pics of my tank:

 

[Kimlafeiet]

I think it would fit nicely in your tank. they also had it in a size smaller, for around 30 bucks each piece, but I went with the bigger pieces because my tank is long. you could probably get away with a size smaller if you tank is shorter in length than 4 feet.

 

[Kimlafeiet]

I think a pirate theme would look good with that substrate and a solid black background. like gold pieces from a treasure chest.
Yes, I love the schooner from petsmart with the fabric sails, but I had no luck finding a big enough one in the stores. if I couldve, I would have bought that one
But I bet the fabric sails collect a lot of brown diatoms.

 

[ArtesiaWells]

I think it would fit nicely in your tank. they also had it in a size smaller, for around 30 bucks each piece, but I went with the bigger pieces because my tank is long. you could probably get away with a size smaller if you tank is shorter in length than 4 feet.

I see; thanks for the input...

Indeed, my tank is taller than it is long, but it's still on the long side...I don't know if it's longer or shorter than four feet; the top surface can hold two 24" hoods, if that helps, so about 48 inches across...

Do you like the ship you got over the Petsmart variant, which looks like THIS?

 

[ArtesiaWells]

I think a pirate theme would look good with that substrate and a solid black background. like gold pieces from a treasure chest.

Not sure what you mean by "like gold pieces from a treasure chest"; are you saying the black background would look okay against this natural gravel? Do you have a black background on your tank?

Yes, I love the schooner from petsmart with the fabric sails, but I had no luck finding a big enough one in the stores. if I couldve, I would have bought that one

They don't make different sizes of this ship, unfortunately; but a ship doesn't have to be massive, does it? Couldn't you just build up the centerpiece with plants, etc?

Wow -- you like the Petsmart schooner more than the one from Petco that you got? Now I don't know WHICH to choose...

But I bet the fabric sails collect a lot of brown diatoms.

You have NO idea...the last one we got, which looked like THIS:

Turned COMPLETELY green and brown on the white sails within months, and the stuff would not come off...

 

[Kimlafeiet]

My tank is 48 inches too, so you would probably be best to stick with the large one, like I did.
I wanted to get the petsmart one with the sails you have pictured, but now that its all said and done, I am so much happier with the large 2 piece ship I got from Petco. I know I would have been dissapointed in the smaller one that is only 1 piece.

 

[ArtesiaWells]

My tank is 48 inches too, so you would probably be best to stick with the large one, like I did.

Okay; good to know...

I wanted to get the petsmart one with the sails you have pictured, but now that its all said and done, I am so much happier with the large 2 piece ship I got from Petco. I know I would have been dissapointed in the smaller one that is only 1 piece.

Interesting; how did you end up figuring out how to "position" the two pieces in the center so it looked like a genuine wreck?

 

[Kimlafeiet]

Yes, my background is black, and I think a black background would make your gravel "pop". If you put a treasure chest in the tank, the gravel color would look like gold treasure.

 

[Kimlafeiet]

I put them in first and just left enough space between them so it was obvious they were 2 pieces. I tried to tilt one of the pieces as if it is starting to tip over. then I just filled in around them with plants and added the skulls and chest where it looked bare.

 

[ArtesiaWells]

Yes, my background is black, and I think a black background would make your gravel "pop". If you put a treasure chest in the tank, the gravel color would look like gold treasure.

Gotcha.

Is your background paper or did you paint it?

 

[Kimlafeiet]

And i made sure the ship was not dead center in the tank, its actually off to the right side more, leaving more open room on the left for the chest and skull and plants to hide my filter intake

 

[ArtesiaWells]

I put them in first and just left enough space between them so it was obvious they were 2 pieces. I tried to tilt one of the pieces as if it is starting to tip over. then I just filled in around them with plants and added the skulls and chest where it looked bare.

Okay; did you do this before fish went in?