50G – New Tank & Hardscape
November 5th, 2008I mentioned last week how I’ve been tearing down a few of my smaller tanks in order to consolidate them into a single larger aquarium. Well, I’ve begun setting up a new 50G breeder tank. The nice thing about a 50G aquarium is that it is as tall as it is deep, giving it very nice dimensions for creating an aquascape. I still don’t have a light fixture for this tank yet, so up to now, all I’ve been able to setup is the hardscape.
Using a huge manzanita root ball on the left, my goal was to create the look of a log or tree that’s fallen into the water and has sat there for awhile. The limbs have settled in between rocks, and only the larger ones remain undecayed. That’s the premise so far. I’ve had a difficult time trying to decide what plants I’m going to use in this tank, and exactly where they’re going to go. I’ll likely use a bunch of smaller leaf’d plants, such as various rotalas, but I still haven’t figured out how they’re supposed to fit with this hardscape. I think my biggest stumbling block right now is more about where to position the negative space (unoccupied area), rather than cramming plants throughout the entire thing. I’d love to hear feedback on the hardscape itself, as well as, any ideas for planting.
November 5th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
It even looks good bare. I’ve never done a full teardown. What’s the process? Just pull everything, drain, reposition, and refill?
November 6th, 2008 at 3:24 am
This looks like it is going to be very good indeed. As with gardening, a good foundation design makes all the difference.
November 6th, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Thanks for the comments!
M@: It depends on what you’re doing, but generally, to simply rescape it’s a 4-5 hour process. Pull out plants/hardscape, net out fish, drain, perform any needed longterm maintenance (scrub pipes, replace brittle tubing, etc), may/may not replace the substrate, position new hardscape, fill to substrate line, plant, fill up rest of way, done. Usually I save enough tank water and don’t clean the filter, so I can add the fish back in then without too much shock in the water chemistry.
November 7th, 2008 at 1:19 pm
First off, I agree with the others that the hardscape looks great, even without plants. I could easily envision it with just a few spots of Anubias nana for some light touches of green.
If you were to have just one clump of rotalas, I’d put it in the rear, just to the right of the root ball, but definitely left of the tank’s center. This way, you’re maintaing that nice asymmetrical composition that you’ve got going.
I’m not sure where it would be best to put other rotalas, but – based on this photo – I think you’d want to have a greener species near the root ball, and redder species further from it. That way, you’re counter-balancing the reddish tones in the root ball, with the plants closest to the root ball contrasting it.
I’d maintain negative space along at least part of the main “trunk” of manzanita, and around most (but not necassarily all) of the small rock cluster to the right.
… and, having said all that, I’m already reconsidering my ideas – and it isn’t even my tank! For example, I’m now envisioning just a small sprig of something grassy in front of the hardscape – again, just to the left of center (but right of the root ball). One thing’s for certain: we’ll all look forward to seeing what YOU do with this!
November 7th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Great ideas, Mark! I think we’re already envisioning some of the same things — rotalas, negative space on the right side, and grassy in front. I’m chomping at the bit to start trying some of these things, but I’m still waiting on a light to arrive before I do. Thanks for all of the encouragement!
November 7th, 2008 at 6:55 pm
Also, don’t know if you noticed, but about a month ago I gave a rather tardy reply to your September posting on the Cichlid Association meeting. It was just about one guy’s compromise between providing a bare-bottom tank and a planted tank for his discus … it’s an approach that I think you could do justice to, if you ever decide to bite the discus bullet.
November 8th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Thanks for reminding me, Mark. I missed that comment some how.
November 10th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
My corner 55 gallon started leaking last week, my husband heard the dripping early in the morning, and within 15 minutes 1/4 of the water had leaked out. Trying to drain the tank thinking it was just going to explode any second, and trying to find the “big” net to get the fish out and into the other 55 gallon was no fun. Now I have one overstocked 55 gallon with with 4 filters, and I’m stressed thinking this one will leak at anytime, and I have no where to put these fish if this tank leaks. I think I’m done with big tanks for a while!
November 10th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Kim, that really stinks! I’ve had some leaks in filters before that have drained many gallons of water onto the floor. This fear, plus the weight, is why I’m currently migrating all but one of my tanks into my basement. All I need is 50 gallons dripping through the ceiling, and ruining everything inbetween. Good luck with your consolidation efforts.