Help choose driftwood placement in my 125g

[mhx]

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Option 4

Option 5

Option 6

[aggrocichlidfan]

4

[Matt in Houston]

5 or 1

[mhx]

I think option 5 looks best. VS what the other options look like. I am glad I took the pictures. I think theres a few more options I can show. But I really like that stump standing & it hangs out of the top of the tank like 1inch which is cool.

The LED night lights look really cool in the dark room :)

[Complexity]

I like any of them where the stump is upright. The only thing I'd change is to move both pieces so they aren't so centered in the tank. However, if you create the focal point at the upright piece with it then trailing outward towards the other piece of wood, that would look good. Google "golden ratio" with planted tanks to get an idea of what I'm talking about. Off-center is generally more natural and pleasing than centered.

[mhx]

Here is the golden ratio 'grid'

So by doing this I should focus the wood in the center of the middle boxes on the left & right?

OR

Make the high points on each driftwood line up with the vertical line?

[cichlidchic]

option 6 left piece looks like an owl or a cat... anyone else see it? try propping one on top another...

[Complexity]

Here is the golden ratio 'grid'

So by doing this I should focus the wood in the center of the middle boxes on the left & right?

OR

Make the high points on each driftwood line up with the vertical line?

I'd make just one of the lines be the focal point. The other driftwood then compliments the focal point.

Keep in mind that plants will hide most of the driftwood, especially the lower parts. So the concern over which way to turn the upright driftwood is pretty much moot since all that will most likely show will be the upright part. The bottom will most likely be completely hidden by plants.

What I'd suggest doing is put the upright piece on one of the inner lines and put your showiest plants around that. Make it so that part draws the eye's attention first. Then have the plants cascade away from that centerpiece, using the other driftwood to add to the cascading effect.

Since the tank is so large, you can have two focal points, but make sure one is dominate over the other. The other is only complimentary.

option 6 left piece looks like an owl or a cat... anyone else see it? try propping one on top another...

Yes, I saw that, too! I was thinking of the irony of having a "cat" inside a fishtank.

[Complexity]

I should also add that your focal point can be either a high spot (mountain effect) or a low spot (valley effect). My sig picture is pretty small, but I think you can see that my focal point is a low spot in the tank. I have a red tiger lotus at that spot which is very eye-catching due to its color and huge leaves. Having a break in the background plants (instead of a full wall of plants covering the entire back wall) emphasizes that focal point.

In that same spot, I have driftwood branches arching upward and outward which further reinforces the focal point. Everything draws towards that spot in the tank.

My secondary (complimentary) focal point is created by the rocks in which the largest rock is placed roughly on the second "inner" line with other rocks flowing towards the main focal point.

[mhx]

Here is a link to my new journal:

http://houstonfishbox.com/vforums/showthread.php?p=404820#post404820

Enjoy