Dendroboard... help rescape my 125G!

[tclipse]

Currently:


Any advice for plants/placement etc. on my 125G would be greatly appreciated... I can handle scaping smaller tanks just fine, but I'm not experienced enough with scaping or plants to know what everything will look like once it all grows out.

I'd like to plant some smaller leaved plants to give it more of a larger scale feel.. like you're actually looking at a larger portion of the forest instead of the actual 6 foot length. For example, ficus salicifolia looks like a mini-tree.. selaginellas are also a thought, and panamanian ficus on the background.

Also, lighting is currently 4x65W power compacts.. let me know if you think I'd be better off switching to T5 for more PAR/less heat or T8 for some lower light stuff like mosses/selaginella.

I'd be into certain larger leaved plants too, especially ferns (and there's a thin-leaved plant that looks sort of like a fern on taller stems that I'm definitely looking for) I already have one lemon button and will probably add another, as well having an alocasia "black velvet".

I'm thinking about:
-getting rid of the smaller water feature on the left side and planting some stuff there
-lowering the soil in the front to make more visible surface area
-putting the aluminum plant and larger broms in a different viv and replacing with some smaller leaved plants
-trying to fill in the upper left background and moving those tillandsias to the right side where the others are (the vent is there so it's a bit drier).
-more driftwood/rocks
-some thinner leaved broms other than neos
-any cryptanthus that stay smaller?


Other thoughts include- a calathea or two, mini begonias, a patch of riccia, and some smaller orchids/hoyas/dischidia. Also maaaybe a small tropical pitcher plant like N. bellii or a begonia pavonina if I can get my hands on one.

So there it is, help me make this thing look awesome! Any ideas/tips/thoughts on plants, scaping, or basically anything are very, very welcome

[candm519]

Huge tank, huge project, what fun!
You are joining in my game now. (and several other mini-plant enthusiasts on the board)
Remember playing in the sandpile as a kid? You get to do it some more now.

I would try to create all sorts of diagonal lines, using all 3 dimensions. Steep hills, ridges, deep valleys. Use varied hardscaping materials: dirt, rocks, wood, as well as plants.
Somebody recently posted a pic of a successful ledge, planted on top, with a cave beneath. It looked natural and mysterious.

With such a long tank, it is difficult to see end to end all at once. Think about creating several different vistas; one end could be mountainous, phasing into the other one representing deep jungle.

If you are planning to do water, hide a pond to discover at one end, but not right in front; even a tiny trickly recirculating waterfall.

Cool challenge!

[harrywitmore]

Anne, post a picture of your terrarium. It's the treatment this needs I think.

[candm519]

Thanks Harry. Okay.

This is my 4 ft 'BigTank' (a while ago):
Notice that all vertical and curving aspects of hardscape are exaggerated.



And from a particularly pretty time:
Left side:


Right side:

[harrywitmore]

Beautiful Anne. This is a superb design for a horizontal.

[candm519]

Keep in mind these things go in cycles, and it definitely doesn't look like this now. Whole story should soon appear in a thread near you (Groundhog's Let's see Tank Pics OVER TIME)

[candm519]

Rollinkansas Mike, I'd love to make a 'zone' of mine to look like your mini tank. Could you post a front/side view? From the top it looks like really nice scaping in miniature format, and a pic would suit this thread.

[rollinkansas]

Originally Posted by candm519

Rollinkansas Mike, I'd love to make a 'zone' of mine to look like your mini tank. Could you post a front/side view? From the top it looks like really nice scaping in miniature format, and a pic would suit this thread.

I dont think I ever took one of that angle. There were so many plants in the front, and some were growing up the door, so the only access I had was through the top...although now you made me wish I did take some at that angle.

[tclipse]

Originally Posted by harrywitmore

Beautiful Anne. This is a superb design for a horizontal.

Agreed, puts my inferior planting skills to shame.

Originally Posted by candm519

Keep in mind these things go in cycles, and it definitely doesn't look like this now. Whole story should soon appear in a thread near you (Groundhog's Let's see Tank Pics OVER TIME)

Yeah, several tanks from that thread (Highfyre's, as well as others.... and also a 150ish gallon mint terrib viv from another thread, can't remember who's it was) were the inspiration for this rebuild.

[Dendro Dave]

Hmmm....I'd say really getting some vining plants, or mounted plants to fill in that back wall is the main thing I'd strive for... Maybe make more bumps and hills instead of that long flat area between water features...I don't see a need to remove 1 water feature, thats a judgement call there. Maybe Install a drip line using a toms pump running the length of the back wall. You can do it by running 2 sections of air line(with holes punched in them ever few inches) off a "T" and having the out put line attached to the T...of course you'll need an intake line running from the pond to the pump also (and will want to hide it)

You've got a nice row of taller plants a long the back, I'd scape/sculpt the front lawn with hills and dips and then plant a bunch of mini plants, like mini sinnigias, other mini Gesneriads, begonias, maybe throw some peacock moss(might take over a bit, but it is so pretty) in there and some jewel orchids. I would also add some half buried drift wood and/or some boulders(fake maybe) to that front lawn of leaves (at least it looks like you have a front lawn of leaves?). Anne did an excellent job of scaping the terrain in her viv...I'd emulate that. Also maybe extend the black tape or whatever blocking the substrate all the way to the top so you can only see the first centimeter of soil or less.

I think mainly it boils down to varying the terrain, and getting more green on that back wall and in the foreground. Should be pretty good to go at that point.

You can also add some thin fake vines(drinking straw diameter or slightly larger) siliconed to the top glass to hang down....helps add depth and that "jungle feel".