How to Aquascape My 1-Year-Old 55-Gallon Tank?

[SilverArowanaBoi]

I am going to ditch the soil idea; it's pretty expensive. So, what are some low-tech grass-like plants that can be kept in just pure sand? I've had anubias before, along with many others. Very few were successful long-term, but the anubias at their height produced flowers for me.

Also, I'm worried about trying plants again because they always had a coat of algae. How do I prevent that from happening again?

 

[Deadeye]

Plants will always get algae on them - the only way to combat it is with lots of algae eaters (snail, shrimp, smaller plecos/otos) and manual removal.
Valisneria is an attractive grass like plant, but will get much larger than hair grass.

 

[Jexnell]

Get a plant light like the Finnex 24/7 one. Get some planted plus substrate. Add tank, fish, and water and in no time you will have an aquatic jungle.

This what I started with. Six Vals a couple Amazon Swords and a couple stem plants.


And around six months later...
Front view

Side

Top


I ended up pulling all plants, removed the Swords and stem plants replanted with just vals and overgrown again four months later

This is what I pulled out, some of the Vals were 5 foot plus in length

Right after replanting

Four months later, overgrown again

 

[Abominus]

Plant invasion

 

[SilverArowanaBoi]

Get a plant light like the Finnex 24/7 one. Get some planted plus substrate. Add tank, fish, and water and in no time you will have an aquatic jungle.

This what I started with. Six Vals a couple Amazon Swords and a couple stem plants.
View attachment 1527711

And around six months later...
Front view
View attachment 1527716
Side
View attachment 1527713
Top
View attachment 1527715

I ended up pulling all plants, removed the Swords and stem plants replanted with just vals and overgrown again four months later
View attachment 1527717View attachment 1527718
This is what I pulled out, some of the Vals were 5 foot plus in length
View attachment 1527719
Right after replanting
View attachment 1527721
Four months later, overgrown again

I have to say that is honestly impressive! I had one plant that grew like crazy, but it was never even close to 5 feet, it was like 2 feet lol. I also love your convict colony.