Please critique my Mini M layout

[Francis Xavier]

You're welcome!

UG and HC aren't really that hard to grow (about the same in difficulty really), both just need good lights and co2 and you'll do fine. However, the only thing i'd say about UG is to make sure you plant it really deep, this will make it grow in more 'flow-like', thicker, and hugging the ground more.

[Bubba_Shrimp]

Ok, made the following changes:

- moved all rock a bit to the right (I think it looks crowded, no?)
- added another small rock on the left side
- changed slopes
- raised left rock a bit hire

On pictures it looks like there is plenty of space between rocks but in reality not that much.

[Francis Xavier]

Decrease the slope in the front right, the slope is too high there. Instead, use that to keep the slope in the back right higher than the front, and cover some of the rock cover in between. Create a little bit of a mound in between the rock structures. the 4th stone in there is fine as long as it maintains looking like it's attached to the left-hand stone.

Also rotate the main stone just a tad counter-clockwise so more of it's face is showing in the display, while moving back all the rocks about half an inch (towards the back pane) so you have more room in front of the middle stone for the carpet plant while maintaining the spatial distance between the rocks as they are now.

You can always increase space by adding soil to cover rock surface, although most of it should be covered by plants anyway so is largely unnecessary, and you only want to cover things at this point that will be covered by plants anyway. We've got all the major characteristics of a good Iwagumi hammered out, now it's just going to be a sequence of small adjustments until it gets "just right." So keep us posted on the adjustments you make as you make them!

[blair]

Thanks Bubba! Glad to help. Its easier to critique than to produce it sometimes. Collaberation on this is really going smoothly and the product is improving. Now, to comment on your current changes:

Wow! I am actually digging that...

Yes, it is more 'crowded'. I'd prefer to call it dense, but either way, once your plants take off it will effectively move them apart. I really think some blyxa in the middle would work wonders for the illusion of space as it fans outward from a small footprint.

X has a good plan with the slope. It will provide more depth and perspective with the slope more at the rear of the right side. Mounding soil will also add space if needed. I did this in my large tank and it significantly helped. I would have to agree that the main stone could mildly rotate to feel a bit more dominate. If the room exists, pushing it all back a margin will increase the frontal expanse. He pretty much nailed it; better than I would have. Lets see what evolves from here. Oh, and I really like the light too! Fancy setup

This is well on its way to making a profound statement in a subtle box. Keep it up!

[Francis Xavier]

I told you not to underestimate the small support stones Blair! I learned that the hard way.
Even when they get mostly covered by plants they still add tremendously to the impact of the scape.

[blair]

You are right! This is why I consulted you Oh, and I'm waiting for the right stones to be available to redo my tanks. When they are in I'll be looking for your help in much this same collaborative way

[Francis Xavier]

I was just thinking about how your rockquest was going. It's such a PITA to get good stone. Did you keep those kettle stones? I've been trying to think of what to do with them while bored. Luckily they only cost like what $20 for all that yeah? Sorry for the little derail there bubba.

[Bubba_Shrimp]

Need more help!

Pic #1 - changes made by previous suggestions.




Pic #2 - I received a new rock and need your opinion again.



Top view of new rock.



Thanks!

[Francis Xavier]

I'm not a big fan of the "V" design like that, it strikes me as too symmetrical and too 'unnatural' so to speak. V's are kind of hard to pull off.

But here's what you can do; increase the slope under the main stone (the right stone/new stone), and then lay the old main stone horizontally, and diagonally towards the main stone, so it's going up the slope with that little crevice / enclave being near the mainstone. Then with the open space in the front between the two you could toy around with the smaller support stone being in the front middle of them, so there's space in between the 3 rocks and space in the front.

[Francis Xavier]

Ok, this is a really bad mockup (maybe someone could do a better job with graphic editing skills!), but here's the basic idea:



Alternatively if you wanted to keep the V you'd have to bring the left stone in closer in proximity to the main stone.

[blair]

X is right about the V being too unnatural (at least the way you have it)... it might not be all bad... but the rock in the middle is hurting it due its symmetrical properties. Placing that stone in between the V is like screaming redundancy. Give me a little bit and I can try to make a mock-up playing off both of yours. I have to finish wet-sanding the cabinets

[Bubba_Shrimp]

Agree. Kind of unnatural...
What about this? I removed old main stone as it is too wide and covers lots of ground area if setup as X suggested.

I had another rock (right). Maybe I should stick with 2 main rocks layout?

[blair]

I like it... oddly reminds me of the Lion King, haha! I'll comment more on it in a few, but before I do, here are some other ideas before I saw your rescape.



This one takes the V but spaces it drastically, reducing the false feeling it otherwise gives.



This one places it VERY close together and makes it work.

Both tanks utilize the 1.6-to-1 golden rule.

I have to finish the yard, but I will get to the Pride Rock later tonight...

[Bubba_Shrimp]

Wow, you are good with designs!
I didn't even suspect before that Lion King had an Iwagumi Pride Rock layout!

[blair]

Okay, sorry for the delay. My problem with the Pride Rock layout is that the large stone seems unstable. It would need more soil around the base to make it believable. I would also attempt to turn its right side a bit more toward the glass front pane (pivot the piece counterclockwise).

The fallen rock looks fine... its support seems more real than the actual Lion King version, so I like that.

Also, the small rocks are just lined up... very fake feeling. They don't seem to be working for you on the edge of the larger ones. Rely more on plants to soften the point of contact between the large stones and soil. The mounding of substrate around the larger left stone would also when done right create a patch of growing area between these stones. A short grassy plant between and around them would be nice to accomplish this. A lower carpet, UG or even HC could work well. Glosso is probably a great height, but I feel its leafy structure would not compliment the stones as well as the other options.

To be honest its a fun idea, but I am just not digging this scape. I feel its too open. It reveals everything to readily.