new 10" cube FILLED

**mpodolan** · 10-08-2007, 07:17 PM

Hey all, after seeing some of the nice nano tanks here, I decided to try one of my own. Today, I added the flourite substrate that I had leftover from a couple of other tanks. I'm playing around with the hardscape and trying to find a good configuration. I would appreciate any input on the rock placement, as I am not really experienced using mainly rocks in a tank. Any opinions would be great. I'll be planting HC and dwarf hairgrass, and then using the method described by Tom Barr in another post before filling the tank up. I'll post more pictures once i've got them all planted. Thanks in advance for any advice!

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eklikewhoa · 10-08-2007, 07:37 PM

Get bigger rocks.

corbius · 10-08-2007, 07:40 PM

is it glass or acrilyc tank, because if it is acrilyc the side seems to be light... i was using one of these box made of acrilyc and one day "crack".....

**mpodolan** · 10-08-2007, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eklikewhoa

Get bigger rocks.

Well, here are two other options that I was able to find. Either of these look better?

Quote:

Originally Posted by corbius

is it glass or acrilyc tank, because if it is acrilyc the side seems to be light... i was using one of these box made of acrilyc and one day "crack".....

It is acrylic. I have it on good authority that it should be solid. i sure hope so!

**mpodolan** · 10-09-2007, 01:04 AM

OK, I got it all planted and decided on this rock placement for the mean time. I still might change it, so any input would still be appreciated!

Agrippa · 10-09-2007, 01:06 AM

The rocks are okay- of the two on your second post, I prefer the second option. Consider moving the main rock more off-center, and use the smaller rocks along with it to provide a more dynamic scene.

You may consider going out and finding some different rocks. In aquascaping, the more faces and fractures a rock may have, the more character it seems to possess, thus making the layout more interesting. This is especially critical in Iwagumi layouts, as the rocks serve as the sole point of interest.

Good luck.

MARIMOBALL · 10-09-2007, 02:31 AM

IMO I would slope the flourite to the left side of the back, place the large rock there, and add similar rock in the front. But I think the rock should be taller not wider. Otherwise the HC ans Hair grass will cover the rock. The rock should be at least reach 1/3 of the height if the tank but 1/2 the height would be better.

**mpodolan** · 10-09-2007, 09:30 PM

OK, how about this. I switched to the larger rock, moved it to the left and added a smaller one as well. It's just difficult because I don't really have a good source of stones here

Yoshi · 10-09-2007, 09:54 PM

If you can't find nice sized stones, you can always take a "large" stone and get a hammer & chisel and take calculated hits. Sometimes the pieces that break off of the main piece are uniquely shaped and small enough to work with in small sized tanks.

**dufus** · 10-09-2007, 11:36 PM

actually i like that last one the best, and #3.

it'll look neat filled in.

**mpodolan** · 10-09-2007, 11:55 PM

Thanks for all the input and suggestions! If anyone else has any more input, feel free to let me know. Hopefully the plants take of in a couple weeks. I'm excited to have it up and running, and to figure out what fauna I should put in this tank

MARIMOBALL · 10-10-2007, 04:00 AM

The last picture looks a lot better. If you can't find bigger rock then go with the last scape. Just remember to keep the hair grass behind the rock, because it looks like its almost as tall as the large rock.

**mpodolan** · 11-01-2007, 08:41 PM

OK, so I got annoyed with this setup, so I spent some cash and bought some ADA Amazonia II and some more HC. I just added the new HC, so I'm looking forward to using the dry method and watching the progress with the new substrate. I have some Seiryu stones coming soon, so then I'll start working on the hardscape. Here's a quick overhead look. I'll post some more pics with the stones once they arrive. I'm sure I'll need some help configuring them!

Fishyfan · 11-02-2007, 03:11 AM

Just curious why you replaced the flourite with aquasoil?

**mpodolan** · 11-02-2007, 03:17 AM

I guess mainly I just wanted to try something different. I have used flourite in other tanks, and I like it a lot. But, I felt the smaller grain size/color/ease of use for this method(ie. no ferts needed initially) made AS a better choice. Plus, I was buying some AS for a re-scape of another tank, so I figured I could steal some of that to use in this tank (read: I can't stop spending money on this hobby)

10-08-2007, 07:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154	new 10" cube FILLED Hey all, after seeing some of the nice nano tanks here, I decided to try one of my own. Today, I added the flourite substrate that I had leftover from a couple of other tanks. I'm playing around with the hardscape and trying to find a good configuration. I would appreciate any input on the rock placement, as I am not really experienced using mainly rocks in a tank. Any opinions would be great. I'll be planting HC and dwarf hairgrass, and then using the method described by Tom Barr in another post before filling the tank up. I'll post more pictures once i've got them all planted. Thanks in advance for any advice! __________________ Mike 10" Cube 10g Shrimp tank 20g planted 50g planted Last edited by mpodolan : 03-03-2008 at 05:52 PM.

10-08-2007, 07:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
eklikewhoa Wannabe Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: houston,TX Posts: 1,323	Get bigger rocks. __________________ FUNction over form

10-09-2007, 01:04 AM	#5 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154	OK, I got it all planted and decided on this rock placement for the mean time. I still might change it, so any input would still be appreciated! __________________ Mike 10" Cube 10g Shrimp tank 20g planted 50g planted

10-09-2007, 02:31 AM	#7 (permalink)
MARIMOBALL Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 312	IMO I would slope the flourite to the left side of the back, place the large rock there, and add similar rock in the front. But I think the rock should be taller not wider. Otherwise the HC ans Hair grass will cover the rock. The rock should be at least reach 1/3 of the height if the tank but 1/2 the height would be better. __________________ 120g ,planted ,discus, . ADA 60 Iwagumi 3.5 nano 100gal koi pond

10-09-2007, 09:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154	OK, how about this. I switched to the larger rock, moved it to the left and added a smaller one as well. It's just difficult because I don't really have a good source of stones here __________________ Mike 10" Cube 10g Shrimp tank 20g planted 50g planted

10-08-2007, 07:40 PM	#3 (permalink)
corbius Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: france Posts: 18	is it glass or acrilyc tank, because if it is acrilyc the side seems to be light... i was using one of these box made of acrilyc and one day "crack".....

10-09-2007, 01:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
Agrippa Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (8) Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: COSP, CO Posts: 178	The rocks are okay- of the two on your second post, I prefer the second option. Consider moving the main rock more off-center, and use the smaller rocks along with it to provide a more dynamic scene. You may consider going out and finding some different rocks. In aquascaping, the more faces and fractures a rock may have, the more character it seems to possess, thus making the layout more interesting. This is especially critical in Iwagumi layouts, as the rocks serve as the sole point of interest. Good luck.

10-09-2007, 09:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Yoshi Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (2) Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 216	If you can't find nice sized stones, you can always take a "large" stone and get a hammer & chisel and take calculated hits. Sometimes the pieces that break off of the main piece are uniquely shaped and small enough to work with in small sized tanks. __________________ --Daniel

10-09-2007, 11:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
dufus Always busy (View User Tanks) PTrader: (11) Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: san antonio texas Posts: 1,861	actually i like that last one the best, and #3. it'll look neat filled in. __________________ -Devin- Steve irwin- a father, a hero, a memory now. Peace homie-We'll miss you mate. Knowledge is the one thing a man is entitled to be greedy with.

10-09-2007, 11:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154	Thanks for all the input and suggestions! If anyone else has any more input, feel free to let me know. Hopefully the plants take of in a couple weeks. I'm excited to have it up and running, and to figure out what fauna I should put in this tank __________________ Mike 10" Cube 10g Shrimp tank 20g planted 50g planted

10-10-2007, 04:00 AM	#12 (permalink)
MARIMOBALL Planted Tank Obsessed (View User Tanks) PTrader: (5) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 312	The last picture looks a lot better. If you can't find bigger rock then go with the last scape. Just remember to keep the hair grass behind the rock, because it looks like its almost as tall as the large rock. __________________ 120g ,planted ,discus, . ADA 60 Iwagumi 3.5 nano 100gal koi pond

11-01-2007, 08:41 PM	#13 (permalink)
mpodolan A work in progress (View User Tanks) PTrader: (52) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Lenox, MI Posts: 1,154	OK, so I got annoyed with this setup, so I spent some cash and bought some ADA Amazonia II and some more HC. I just added the new HC, so I'm looking forward to using the dry method and watching the progress with the new substrate. I have some Seiryu stones coming soon, so then I'll start working on the hardscape. Here's a quick overhead look. I'll post some more pics with the stones once they arrive. I'm sure I'll need some help configuring them! __________________ Mike 10" Cube 10g Shrimp tank 20g planted 50g planted

11-02-2007, 03:11 AM	#14 (permalink)
Fishyfan Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0) Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: CA Posts: 103	Just curious why you replaced the flourite with aquasoil?