Getting ahead of oneself ?

[TKTG]

Well, I have always wanted to set up a "Dutch" aquarium but three months after the initial setup (12L) I now think that's perhaps too demanding for a beginner like myself. When I first started I overlooked too many factors (e.g. the very fact that when plants grow they don't just grow taller they grow wider too) and now I am stuck with this incomplete design.

Honestly I am surprised that I have manged to finish the HC carpet on my first attempt but other than that the design as a whole now looks incoherent. I do like to have a little bit of everything in my tank but just somehow when I put everything together what I end up with is a mess instead of a beautiful and natural looking wall of plants. I guess perhaps if there is a solution to this it would involve some sort of improvement to the right side of the tank. Any suggestions anyone ?


June: initial setup

Aug: Now

 

[Martin in Holland]

The carpet grow in nicely, but I'm not sure is this is HC it looks more like Monte Carlo...anyway...try to settle for less plants in the back and make the groups a bit bigger, also try to get foreground planting (carpet) middle ground planting and planting at the back, last but not least, make the carpet smaller (maybe just a half moon circle in the middle) place some middle ground or low foreground plants left and right to get more depth ....
O yeah, one more thing, your substrate looks as if it doesn't slope up to the back...??

 

[Bacms]

I think your main problem is there really isn't any attempt to try and create depth. The easiest way to achieve this is as bee said to create a slope from front to back. Also try to create some kind of slope with the plants as at the moment you go from flat carpet to some high plants on the background immediately.
Have a read at the aquascape threads on the forum:
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/aquascaping-basics-part-one.199/
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/aquascaping-basics-part-two.200/
http://www.ukaps.org/forum/threads/aquascaping-basics-part-three.201/

I am a newbie myself will try my first planted tank next month and also a fan of the dutch style aquascaping so only have experience reading about it not really doing it

 

[Greenfinger2]

TKTG, Looking Good Nice carpet