I'm not going for Iwagumi specifically, or any particular style, but I pulled some of the guidelines from Iwagumi. Center stone, odd number of stones, initial focal point that draws your eye across the tank.
Tried a few configurations and this is what I ended up with. What do you guys think?
Are the stones too large?
Does the wood work? (The wood is indirectly from Tom Barr, gorgeous piece) The wood sort of becomes the initial focal point instead of the stone which I'm okay with.
Stones: After the initial investment of the tank/equipment I couldn't bring myself to drop the money on the ADA stones so I went to a local contractor supply shop and picked up ~120LB of basalt boulders for $22.
I played around with the 2 stones on the left a bit, pic attached.
I'm thinking the tree might need to go.. it creates two focal points at equal distances from the center like you said. It also throws the proportions all off unless I were to try the "mountainscape" look like Kathyy suggested.
I think I would probably try to move the center rock behind the two on the left and angle it up to give some depth opposite the "tree". If you move the left two stones toward the front to accommodate, you'll end up with three layers of depth, also: near (front L), mid (wood / stones)' and far (back left).
Then again, it might look like kaka when this is actually tried
It actually looks like you could try a mountain scape with tree as in #89 and 156 here. http://en.iaplc.com/results12/top200vote/ Place the largest rock where it belongs and the secondary stone then place the tree. The other stones will support the three main elements and might need to be partly buried to reduce bulk or consider breaking one up so you have more variety.
Hmmm yeah, burying the rocks deeper would make it more natural, good thinking. I'm in a condo so breaking one up is going to be tough.. unless I drop it off the balcony.
Going to try a few more changes. Thanks everyone for the feedback!
I think I would probably try to move the center rock behind the two on the left and angle it up to give some depth opposite the "tree". If you move the left two stones toward the front to accommodate, you'll end up with three layers of depth, also: near (front L), mid (wood / stones)' and far (back left).
Then again, it might look like kaka when this is actually tried
It actually looks like you could try a mountain scape with tree as in #89 and 156 here. http://en.iaplc.com/results12/top200vote/ Place the largest rock where it belongs and the secondary stone then place the tree. The other stones will support the three main elements and might need to be partly buried to reduce bulk or consider breaking one up so you have more variety.
Tried moving the 2 stones on the left forward, rotating #1 back to how it was earlier. There are huge shadows in the forward position as the stone is so big. Also, dug the stones on the right in a bit more.
Here I've removed the wood and moved the lighting forward ~75% towards the front.
Hmmm... I think I might take it all apart and try moving the large stone (#2) a few inches to the right.. Right now it's at 1/4 the tank and I'm thinking it should really be at the 1/3rd mark. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thirds) That will bring the focal point inwards.
This one has really nice proportions and interest. :smile:
That is also a cool looking tree. I could see it used with the larger vertical stone immediately behind and to the side of the tree to reinforce the vertical element (like in the pictures that Kathyy referenced).
eg:
Good luck, I look forward to seeing what you do with it!
I just took it down again but I'll keep that in mind. I'm not set on one mass, but I'm finding that my "center stone" is a bit narrow so I've been trying to "prop" it up a bit with other stones.
Just tried a few 3 stone configurations.. Not really liking it.. that damn center stone is just too awkward.
I think I'll give it a rest for now and then go back to 5 stones, 2 + 3 like you suggested. Thx!
Personally I love that tree. I keep getting a picture in my mind of one of those twisted and windswept scrub pines clinging somehow to a craggy hillside.
The first rock grouping looked promising, but the tree moved the focus away from that main rock with the deep crevice.
I don't think you can have the wood on the right and then the most prominent rock on the left that just doesn't work. From the first setup if you just remove the wood I think you can have a nice layout. If you want to keep the tree than you need to incorporate the tree in and around the dominant rock grouping and then have other rocks support that, but not compete with the main focal area. That's pretty much what's going on in the pics you attached. The main grouping with the trees are slightly off-center and inside the main focal area.
I like the way the tree fits over the rock in the first scape but it fights with the largest stone. Wonder how it would look on the other side of the tank near the largest stone.
Whatever you come up with is going to be nice. Your stones have multiple interesting faces, each arrangement you have come up with has been interesting. I like the mystery when there is a concave face to the stone especially.
120 pounds of rock? Might want to do this in a cardboard mockup so the glass isn't in danger and you don't have to reach in to move things around. I have no idea how many pounds of rock are in my tank but once a big one was placed I sure didn't want to move it again! Lucky for me the stones were never intended to be very visible once the tank was grown in.
I would tackle it this way: First, cut out a piece of cardboard the size of the tank's footprint. Play with the stones there until you come up with an arrangement you like enough to keep overnight, look at again the next day, and so on. There is no real benefit to doing this in the tank; it only slows down the changes and risks the glass.
First, decide on the best position for the biggest rock; I personally think it is close to the original way it sat. Given the size of the pieces, I agree that the tree and biggest rock need to be part of the same focal point, much like the second contest tank shown. So work the next rock and the wood into the picture once the big rock is set. The rest should just be a matter of experimenting until you get one worthy of getting wet.
Post #11, last one, minus biggest rock, plus tree, I think would look the best. You don't want two focal points, either the tree or largest stone,otherwise it will look unbalanced.
To me the rocks are all sort of the same "too big" size. That "tree" doesn't work at all in there, especially considering the size of the rock. With the five stones, I would do two groups, one with two stones and one with three. Arrange to minimize size and to portray a "eroded" feeling. Those stones are very sharp and young looking, it will be difficult to find an angle that makes them appear weathered . Good luck, I think you have good intuition for this.
The rocks lack a certain character. I would also suggest sloping the substrate higher in the rear and shallow as you can in the front, over time, this will slide forward unless the plant roots are established quick.
You can moss the rocks by chopping up some moss, and spreading the moss with some tank water and and about 10% yogurt. and then keep the rocks moist with plastic wrap outside on the north side of the house if the temps are not freezing, or in a window sill etc.
Some folks do a dry start method and mist the moss daily for about 2 weeks, then they fill the tank.
Mossing the stone will add an old natural feel and moss is a different color of green than the other plants. You can and should leave some spots bare so the rock shows through.
Tom, this was suggested by Kathyy on the first page, and I think incorporates some moss like you suggested as well:
I think he has the rocks that can accomplish a similar look, if that's what he's going for. :smile:
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