SA Cichlid Aquascape

[Aquanero]

If your lighting's halfway decent you could do Java ferns and water sprite. Water Sprite is a nitrate sponge and I usually have some growing in most of my tanks either planted or floating. I have it in my GT tank along with fake plants from the reptile dept at Petsmart they suction cup to the glass and are great cover, hide equiptment and don't take up any room in the swimming area pluse add alot of area for nitrifying bacteria to grow on.

 

[Yellow_Perch]

try plants and driftwood it would look nice

 

[The Flizzle]

Ill go through the driftwood I have and see if any of it will look nice in there. I have very good light. It used to be planted when I had discus. In fact, I took some of the bulbs out since its not planted. Ill most def get some sprite and fern. My LFS is expensive on the java, maybe Ill be able to find some at Petsmart or something. Will java fern grow on rock? I think I heard it will.

 

[Aquanero]

Java fern should be grown on rock or drift wood the roots should never be planted.

 

[The Flizzle]

Here is an update. Im not sure im satisfied with how it looks.

Whole tank ...

Left side

Right side

I am thinking of ether removing the "root" looking wood on the left or moving the fake plant at the top right and incorperating it into th roots. I would eithercut it up and zip tie leaves to it or float it at the top.

On the left I added a small portion of java fern. Front right I tied some anubias to a rock. Right back I added somedrift wood with java moss. And the large plant on the right is some fake vine from the reptile section of petsmart. Any thoughts?

 

[Aquanero]

Try weaving the vine into the root looking wood without cutting it up and move it to the right oriented like you have it but resting on top of the cave making that the dark side for cover. Move the anubias to the laft side bottom next to the little rock out crop infront of the overhang. Put the moss/driftwood on top of the overhang under the fern. Using the left side of the tank as the open lighted side and the right as the shaded subdued side. You could also take your heater place it on a 45 degree angle and move it behind the branch once the vine is woven through it to hide it. The way the tank is set up now it draws your eye to the center of the tank where the heater is too obvious. try it and take a pic.

PS once the moss starts to grow on the rock it's going to look nice and in a month or so the whole look will change and IMO will be really nice.

 

[The Flizzle]

Thanks for te advice. Ill try it out and take a pic. Ill post it a bit later

 

[The Flizzle]

Im starting to like it a lot more. Im still not sold on the large fake plant on the right. I love the idea of a shaded side, but Im not sure it looks right yet.

Whole tank ...

Left side ...

Right side ...

 

[Batboi3000]

That made a big difference. I like it! I think it looks a lot better. Now ya just need time for your plants to grow.

 

[The Flizzle]

Thanks!! I cant wait to see how it looks once things fill in.