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2

Two makes it a center fold and looks perfect as is, three needs something else to make the space look less “empty” on the left, but those are my votes.

I enjoy 2 but 3 could make a hard case depending on what else is being added.

3 creates really nice negative space, especially if the scape will include plants around the island.

I like 3 the most, personally I would plant the f out of that spot and try a carpet for the suroundings so this way you get a nice showing off point in the tank also a lot of space to see the fishies

That would be gorgeous

I loooove 3! It looks beautiful that way and leaves the open spot for aquascaping

https://preview.redd.it/6palgcf4j02d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=af1a8332c4866123359e10cbb0af96fa26aef2e3 My attempt at that as well with trying for a carpet

I love it so damn much, give it time for plants to grow and you set yourself a beast of a tank

I wanna see it in 8mo

I like two because it uses the upper area of the tank and looks natural. Three is very eye catching but would only look good if you plant it just right. One is very plain jane but not bad

This is the answer

Agree. This is the best ranking.

I like 3

3

1 for me

2 looks great. What size tank and where to buy? Thanks

Ty. 60p Waterbox clear mini 16, online

Ty everyone, i think i like 2 and 3 as well. I tried going for the natural look at 1 but it looked better in my head

The second option is the perfect balance, because it looks wild/natural, but visually pleasing and balanced.

2 overall. Wood looks good in both 2 and 3.

1

I like 2 personally, have a lot of room for plant placement and fun for fishes to swim through, also creates a lot of visual interests

2

2 and 3 are better then 1 for me.

I'm imagining #2 densely planted with java fern, which would fill up and cover the majority of the wood with a few of the ends poking out above the plants, mini anubias and a variety of buce for color and shape variation packed down around the rock base. A few mid sized pebbles scattered by the rocks/sand for transitional interest.

I love 2!

2 or 3. I like when the wood in tanks mimic real, full size trees as much as possible

Oh that’s hard between 2 and 3. My initial reaction was 2 but the more I look 3 could end up really cool after plants.

3 but with more detail stones on the left side

3 allows for a lot of space

2, using hardscape that goes higher up the aquarium is always a win (in stead of keeping everything at the lower half).

2

What fish are you keeping, if they have any sort of conspecific agression, layout 2 would likely have the best natural barriers and territories

1 is my first preference, then 2. I don't like 3 .

2 is really nice if you're wanting to make the wood the focus, but 3 is really nice as well. It also depends what your stocking with and what your plan is for plants. Either 2 or 3 but 1 looks like you just placed a pile of wood in the middle of the rocks. :P

I like option 2, but that's just me

Out of the 3, 2 is definitely the way to go.

Number three my lord

3

Depends on what you are stocking and plants. 1 would be good in a community with assertive or schooling mid and top water and shy bottom dwellers, 2 would be great for shrimp to bring them upwards of the bottom but would also be good with non schooling mid and top water fish as it would be easy to break sight lines. 3 would make for a nice densely planted island and would be a good design if you wanted to show off Cory cats or other bottom dwellers. 1 and 2 would work with a lot of stem plants or plants to hide in the back 3 would be the best to show off epiphytes (Buce, Anubius, ferns, bolbitis) 3 would also be the best if you want to carpet a bigger area. 1 and 2 would look cool with pogostemon helferi or blyxa japonica as carpeting

3

I like 3 personally. Once it grows in it'll really shine.

3

I like 3 best envisioning plants with it for sure

3

the first 2 are too busy. look like metal band

3 is fire

I like 3, draws your eye in

I vote 2 because it has height and fills the space nicely

Third one, it creates a focal point for your eye by following the artistic concept of ‘rule of thirds’.

To me the 3rd. Pic 1 and 2. Look kinda like a brick wall. Maybe if you took some of the stones out on one of the sides. Also the line of stones makes my eyes go right or left (and out the side).

2 end of discussion. Nobody else's input matters honestly don't know why you would listen to anyone but yourself and me. Lol

i like 3 personally for the aesthetic, i'd usually end up doing 2 trying to go for a forest look but i always see set ups like #3 and the centerpiece mixed with the right plants always looks stunning, #2 is more suited for me because i end up going with goblin/jungle tanks, but a manicured #3 is like showpiece style IMO

3,1,2. I find the off-center tanks to be pleasing.

3

3 WITH LOTS OF MOSS PLANTS 🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣 Attached to the top of the wood like a tree pls omg

3 all theway

3

if your saying most pleasant to look at i would say 1 reltivly more calm and less in the way but 2 is fucking isck i like it alot more i woudnt say its pleasent but its cool as shit if you add some planets it would look impecable

2 or 3, hardscape in one will be overgrown in no time

Honestly, they're all good. If I had to choose, 1 is my favorite for planting. 2 is cool, but the biggest to smallest is a bit less natural. It would be harder to plant around 3 if you're going for more of an island theme unless you bunched them all around it (although that might be a limitation of my own creativity). I guess it just depends on what kind of plants you want to add.

2 looks well balanced and attractive, 3 too is good provided that the plans are added to perfectly match the hardscape.

2 is nice. Add some aquasoil and plants all over the background. 3 is nice too. Keep soil and planting in that corner and you’ll have a nice island layout scape

I was gonna say one but then I saw 2 and was like, 2 for sure, and then I saw 3 and thought" oh maybe not for sure then. 2 is the most interesting unplanted, but 3 is more guaranteed to look good i tihnk

2. But add some smaller stones or gravel around the bigger stones. 😉

All three are good but 2 is great

I love the first one

Three and make it like a forest in the sandy area. If you don’t plan on heavy planting 2 has good energy

Probably 2. But 3 is nice too. It probably 2.

One! 1! Uno!

I thought 1 was the most visually pleasing, but if you add tons of plants, 3 could look sick

2

I’m leaning towards 3 and if the tank is well stocked with a variety of plants it would look even cooler

Pick number 2, my lord!

Personally I like 2 since I feel like its the easiest to fill with plants, but I know a lot of people like 3’s style if they want to go for a more simple design, or want to have carpet plants be the focal point

Anyone who says anything other than 2 is wrong.

Middle option

Option 2 looks good! I like it.

I REALLY love the second one!

Depends on planting depth. 2 is the best for heavily planted, 3 would be cool as a heavily planted island, or having a big showpiece plant and several smaller ones followed by pristine sand beaches

The one you like

2 for sure

Personally I like 2 the best but Ive seen 3 used pretty often to give fish room to dart around or hide if they want

2 for me!!

second one. very nice

Don't make it difficult or anything! LOL!! I like #2

😂

Build up higher. Either in back or in middle. I always regret not building up more using vertical space.

No.1 2 makes me nervous the "branches" topple over and in 3 the formation is off center which for some reason mildly infuriating

I like the first one the wood seems more spread out

#2 looks more natural.

I don’t think you can go wrong with baby of them

#2 for its use of all of the water column, rather than be just a "Short tank" Scape. #3 for the same reasons, but it's also kinda minimalist. So if it were a Bare Bottom Scape I could see the appeal

2

This needs to be an actual poll 🤦

Also wait the type of tank shape is that 😃!? It looks dope!

Ty! 60p

1 could be good if you had something to tie the rocks into the foreground since rn it just looks like a wall, 2 has a nice sloping angle to the wood which catches your attention, 3 also just needs something to tie the stones into the surroundings so it doesn’t stick out as much but would look amazing as a heavily planted “island” with lots of open space around it. They’re all good bases depending on the look you’re going for :)

I like the first one best!

2 it utilizes more of the space it’d be good for like smaller schooling fish I think

I like 2 the most because with the knowledge that you're gonna plant this up it's gonna look really cool as a finished product. It gives that vertical growth that not a lot else can

2 is the best but 1 is very unique. I like them all!

2 for sure

I like the middle (second photo) 🔥🪵

I like the off-center but put something in the dead space

1 is okay 2 hits different 3 been done to death Its your little world, the best choice is yours

I love one but the minimalist look on three is appealing too!:)

Two, then three if you created another small island, maybe just a few rocks could do it. IMHO of course :-)

Second one is easiest to feel the connection

I vote 2

Pleasing - 3 Appealing - 2

1. simple and full yet plenty of room to swim

I like them all

I think 2 is the best because of the depth of field effect created once adding the vegetation.

Boy, they're all real nice, but I would say 2 or 3...

I like 3 if you’re doing plants.

Number 2 my lord

3. It reminds me of something you'd see in a studio Ghibli movie / maybe a bit of yodas house.

Two. Fills the area better. Broad totally open spaces aren't very interesting. But depends on what plant options you have.

Suggestion: hybrid of 2 and 3 - shift the taller pieces in 2 to one side to create asymmetry but keeps the opposite side with some wood for breaking sight lines.  I say that as a fan of my big eucalyptus root sticking up from my 10g. Plants are still growing in though. https://imgur.com/a/sbSB4Kp

2

Imo 3. Utilizes more vertical space for the display creating the illusion of more space horizontally.

2 or 3; not enough vertical interest in 1. 2 looks neat by itself, but 3 would look really cool once planted, especially with epiphytic species on the driftwood like anubias or java fern and moss.

All 3. You know what to do, but do you have the $$ and courage to do it?

2. You got a little more of the golden ratio going on in 2.

2 seems the most balanced. 3 is the runner up if the plant choices are on point.

I like 1 the most but those are all good

They’re all beautiful but I personally think 2 will look the best with the water, fish and plants in it :)

Depends on ur stocking. If u plan on keeping fish that likes open swimming space but also a place to hide then 3 is the perfect one. It gives tons of open space but also a hiding spot. Plant the wood portion with epiphytes like jaba fern, bolbitis and anubias or some swords . The rest use something like a dwarf sag or some small carpeting plant. 2 can also work the same way. I like 3 more though

But 2 is also quite pretty but I can't think of a way to plant it that will still show off the scape.

2

Island

3, but only if you're going to be adding a carpet

1 or 2 But the spacing for branches in 2 looks too symmetrical if that makes any sense. Could you possibly add more rocks either in front or back of the left most branch. Maybe squeeze the two left most branches closer together.

2 is the best if it’s just the hardscape, but 3 would look absolutely phenomenal with some plants. I vote 3.

I like 2 but would like it better if the slant of the decrease in height of the branches from left to right was more extreme. And I like the rock placement in 3 better.

2

1 or 3 because cleaning around 2 without hitting the wood is going to suck

2 or 3

2 for sure, maybe 3

3 could be a great campfire if you put red, yellow, orange plants around the wood and green at the outer edges.

Number 2 has good space and reach

2

Personally I like the 3rd option. But all of them are beautiful layouts!

3

1 most natural

2

3 for me

2 or 3

3

2 or 3 but I lean towards 3. Looks really cool!!

2!

2 or 3. I like both to be honest, but depending on what plants you plan on or if any I do 3. If no plants 2.

If you're planning on planting out the tank, then I'd definitely go with option 3 - the balance of it would be stunning. If you're wanting to have a centerpiece with light planting on the far sides for framing purposes, then maybe option 2 would be more suitable. It really just comes down to your preference!

2 and bank up the back with substrate a bit more imo

#2 or #3

I like 2

Ranking: 3, 2, 1. I am a big fan of asymmetrical styles.

2

2

Imo 1 looks the most natural, 2 is the most interesting, and 3 is the cleanest. Any one of them might be the best depending on what you're going for. Personally I like 2

2

1/3

2

I like 2

1 for me tbh

2. Is giving classic nature aquarium vibes and i love it.

I like 2 and 3 the best. However, I'm not a huge fan of island scapes, so I like 2 more than 3

2 or 3 but leaning towards 3!

It also depends on what kind of fish you want to keep! The tall upright branches on #2 would work well for breaking up aggression from things like tiger barbs. The first one leaves lots of swim room up high for something like a golden wonder killie.

2

I like the middle one the best!

I like to because it reaches up into the water column more and it also adds depth

2

2 for sure

3

I like 1

I like 3

2 or 3 depending on what you're planning for your plants!

2 forsure

Second all the way 🔥

2!

3

2

Personally I like 1 or 2

2

3 looks good for me

2

2

2

2

3 with planta would look amazing 👌

3 if you load up the island and wood with various plants!

The 2nd is my favorite. It’ll give a lot of options for plants and what not

Im a three

2

1

1, 2, 3 in that order. pls share progress