Well I thought I would let ya'll see what I am up to since the AB contest. I have taken down my 55gal entry tank (entry 14) for a cleaning and redo. Here is a full tank pic.

I plan on changing the foreground plants and adding some more java moss but all in all I think I will let it grow in a bit before I make any major changes.

here is the Left side



this is the Right side

update 11/14/03
Here is my 55gal tank after a summer of tweaking. This picture was taken 11-14-03 . This redo did not turned out quit like I had in mind to look like. I find it really hard to get any foreground plants to grow. By the time the mid-back ground plant mature, they shade the foreground out. I think the next step will be removing the Java Fern on the left side. Its on a piece of horizontal driftwood. That should make some room for some foreground plants. I think I will replace both sword plants (left and right side) they are to big for this 55gal tank now. I might try them in 75gal., if not they should make some great trade ins at my LFS.

update 11/21/03
OK, here's what I am thinking about doing to this tank in a few weeks. After closer look the Echinodorus 'Oriental' on the left has become two large plants, so I will split them up leaving one. This Sword grows very nice there. On the right side I found a Echinodorus 'Rubin' narrow-leaf to replace the very large Echinodorus x barthii. I'll put both of the large swords I replace in my 75gal, It is a newly set up tank that has more room. I most likely will trade or sell them both. I still am not sure if I should take out the Java Fern at the left to open up a spot for foreground plants. I think it would give the tank more depth. What so you think? If I did remove the Java Fern, what kind of foreground plants would you use?

update 1/17/04
Here is an update, as you can see this tank is in need of a major trim and rework. The Echinodorus 'Oriental' that I thought was two plant turned out to be four plants. I left the largest of the four in he left corner. As you can see the one Echinodorus 'Oriental' Sword has grown bigger as one plant. Its starting to crowd out some smaller swords.

On the right side the Echinodorus x barthii was replaced with a Echinodorus 'Rubin' narrow-leaf. Now its grown all most as large Echinodorus x barthii it replaced but the narrow leaf Rubin doesn't take up as much room.

I am still not happy with this tank. The next full day I have to spend on this tank I will do some major changing. Some of the smaller plant have to go, there's just not much room for them. The biggest change I plan is remove all the plants in this area. I will replace with tall Vals in the back and shorter dwarf sag.

This tank shows the most common problem with 55gal tanks. Their to narrow to show depth with large plants. By replacing this area I hope to give a little depth and contrast to all the larger plants in the tank. I think one of the biggest problems with this tank is all of the java ferns are out of control and to large. I all ready did a major hack job on the java moss.Any ideas? anyone!

update 1/21/04
post by Carlos:
I would really avoid such large plants in a 55g. I think the swords are really not helping
you to create a greater sense of depth.

I am beginning to think so too. If I plant a med. size sword in this tank, in three or four months their growing out of the tank. Stem plants are worse. With five tanks, having to trim twice a week gets to be a pain. Its not to bad when I can sell the cutting to my LFS but it seems like I grow them faster then they can sell them. I will have to think about what to do with this tank. IT looks like it well be some time in Feb. before I can get a whole day to redo this tank.

update 2/16/04
Once I started changing things I made some big changes. The Rubin Sword had to go. It was way to big. The leaves where over 24" long. It was so big I had to use a garbage bag to take it LFS to sell. I replaced it with two "Kleiner Bär". I will separate them as they grow to just one. I am hoping they will not get over 12' - 14' tall. We will see how the Dwarf Sag. fills in. I have had trouble growing it in this tank before. If I do I will replace it with Baby Tears. I am hoping I can get the growth I need by the time the AB contest ends.
2-16-04

update 3/3/04
Well! this tank is history!! I am sad to say last night about 7.30 the bottom busted. In less then 2min. all the water was on the livingroom floor. I saved most of the fish and my new "Kleiner Bär" swords along with all my anubias, but the rest when to plant haven. I have know idea what happen, the tank has been setup over 3 years. The glass just blew out.

I don't think I will put another tank in the house. Its a real mess to clean up. I will stick to my aquarium room where all I have to do is sweep the water out the door.

OH! I was going to use this tank for one of my entries this year. Bummer!!

Hawk