[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
Re: Critique Jeff Kropp's Efforts
>Jeff,
My coaching is on the 3rd year of the tank.
this is a fairly good effort, but I have some problems with it.
Most of the plants are much too healthy looking, this leads to a poor
contrast between healthy and unhealthy plants. This particular contrast is
important because it accentuates the health of the good plants, making them
stand out more.
The tank is optimally lit so everything can be seen. I have a problem with
this, it has to do with maintainability of the tank, there are not enough
dark corners for something to lay dying and rotting without being noticed.
Your plant selection is questionable, you have too many difficult and
unusual plants in your tank. When you do this, a judge has to assume that
this is the way that the plant should look, but does not really know for
sure. I would recommend much more use of H. Polysperma and V. Spiralis, to
make the Aquascape more judgeable.
Your tank is un-Amano, and all we experts know that cant be a good thing.
You have given us a plantscape that appears to be your own creation, this
is grossly unfair, when we have all just learned to identify what is
Amano-Like.
Your juxtaposition of plants of different color and leaf texture, leaves
me confused. Either use red or/and green plants in your tanks, but dont
confuse us with these hints of orange and pink, it is too much of a color
palate, for me personally.
Your Fish selection, is too harmonious for a planted tank, without the
challenge of some fish that will unpredictably eat leaves, how can your
total plant keeping skill be judged.
The layout is overplanned, you have put too much thought into this layout,
it smacks of perfectionism. You need to allow some elements to look out of
control or unkempt.
Overall, I think you show some promise, but are taking this whole thing too
seriously, back off a bit so other tanks can look better in comparison
My critique has nothing to do with your comments on my tank (I think it was
something like "lets see it in about 5 years when you have a clue what your
doing" ( I realize you were being kind).
JimL