[relaxedcrazyman]

Hi All,

Been keeping fish for some time, first time trying to Aquascape.

I just put in bare minimum substrate to try and figure out how to layout some hardscape.
These are three layouts I have come up with so far. Feels kinda sparse, but not sure if I should add more hardscape or use plants to fill in. I have another similar size piece of driftwood, and a few more large chunks of dragonstone. I figure I want to get the big pieces of stone in, then maybe break up a piece to make smaller stones to scatter about?

Not sure what all plants I am using yet, but I know for certain it will be stocked with Rummy Nose and maybe some pygmy corries.

TIA!
Chiraag

 

[minorhero]

Hi All,

Been keeping fish for some time, first time trying to Aquascape.

I just put in bare minimum substrate to try and figure out how to layout some hardscape.
These are three layouts I have come up with so far. Feels kinda sparse, but not sure if I should add more hardscape or use plants to fill in. I have another similar size piece of driftwood, and a few more large chunks of dragonstone. I figure I want to get the big pieces of stone in, then maybe break up a piece to make smaller stones to scatter about?
View attachment 1046243 View attachment 1046244 View attachment 1046245


Not sure what all plants I am using yet, but I know for certain it will be stocked with Rummy Nose and maybe some pygmy corries.

TIA!
Chiraag

I'm a big fan of using a LOT of hardscape. Personally (and this is just my opinion) I don't much like the wood you have selected. It doesn't look much like 'wood' so much as a knobly looking rock. I would either get new wood that was more branching, or get more rock and forget about the wood. Just my thoughts.

 

[relaxedcrazyman]

I'm a big fan of using a LOT of hardscape. Personally (and this is just my opinion) I don't much like the wood you have selected. It doesn't look much like 'wood' so much as a knobly looking rock. I would either get new wood that was more branching, or get more rock and forget about the wood. Just my thoughts.

I didn't even notice it until you said it, that it does just look like a woody knobby stone... 🤔

I was trying to mix both to move away from it looking like an iguwami scape so I could have more plants involved for the comfort of the fish. But I guess I could still do all stone and still plant it a decent amount.

Also have this third piece of wood that has a little more branching? But definitely doesn't look like a "tree"

 

[richard.hayward.melb]

For an Iwagumi Layout try to identify a single large stone and then place smaller stones to create a peaceful and balanced scene. The arrangement as a whole should create a feeling of harmony. If you're creating a tree scene I think the principles still apply, make the tree the focus and build around it. Imagine a forest in which you find a great old tree that you want to sit under.

 

[GreenViews]

I like first best, just preference

 

[relaxedcrazyman]

Added more substrate and moved things around a bit. Any thoughts?

 

[pseudomugil]

Added more substrate and moved things around a bit. Any thoughts? View attachment 1046517

The way it's currently set up, it draws your eye to basically the center of the tank because both sides are pretty evenly weighted visually. If that's what you're going for then that's not a bad thing, but oftentimes drawing the eye towards a point 1/3 the way along the length of the tank (also known as a rule of thirds point) can be more aesthetically pleasing. This can be achieved by putting a lot of the visual weight of the hardscape on the third on one side of the tank, and then leaving the other third open, with just a little hardscape to the side of it. If you want to experiment with that you could maybe move the left piece of wood to the left a bit, move the dragon stone to the left side and keep the right piece of wood more or less where it currently is and see how that looks.

 

[relaxedcrazyman]

The way it's currently set up, it draws your eye to basically the center of the tank because both sides are pretty evenly weighted visually. If that's what you're going for then that's not a bad thing, but oftentimes drawing the eye towards a point 1/3 the way along the length of the tank (also known as a rule of thirds point) can be more aesthetically pleasing. This can be achieved by putting a lot of the visual weight of the hardscape on the third on one side of the tank, and then leaving the other third open, with just a little hardscape to the side of it. If you want to experiment with that you could maybe move the left piece of wood to the left a bit, move the dragon stone to the left side and keep the right piece of wood more or less where it currently is and see how that looks.

I was trying to go for the 1/3 and that is kinda where i have the pieces, what i didnt realize till you pointed it out was that it is basically symmetric. with your idea of moving the stone to the left, would i have it angled the same way as the piece of wood there as well, or contrasting direction?
will move some stuff around snap a few more pics, thanks!

 

[relaxedcrazyman]

I'm starting to feel good about this. Probably will add some small bits of dragon stone in the front area.

Any thoughts?

 

[GreenViews]

looks better than symmetry

 

[relaxedcrazyman]

After many many many iterations I've finally decided to ditch the driftwood. As many stated, it was just too close to the look of the rock to really fit.

Here is my current layout. Thoughts?

Moved the left rock towards the back to create more open space up front.

 

[richard.hayward.melb]

This is really awesome. You captured the dramatic effect of the rock really well. The first one is best since it puts the rocks in alignment. The smaller rock is pointing to the higher peak. You can use the space behind the rocks to place tall plants.

 

[relaxedcrazyman]

Well, I shifted it a bit again, and added another stone. Think this may be the one.

 

[richard.hayward.melb]

Looks amazing!

 

[Sunny22]

Well, I shifted it a bit again, and added another stone. Think this may be the one. View attachment 1046941

Yes, this one is the best! I think you could still do wood but it has to be a different color and/or texture from the rocks. In the first pics I couldn’t even tell it was wood. But with those great rocks you have now adding wood would just compete with the rocks.

I’d love to see the finished scape with plants!

P.S. what’s your substrate?

 

[relaxedcrazyman]

Yes, this one is the best! I think you could still do wood but it has to be a different color and/or texture from the rocks. In the first pics I couldn’t even tell it was wood. But with those great rocks you have now adding wood would just compete with the rocks.

I’d love to see the finished scape with plants!

P.S. what’s your substrate?

I used a bunch of different stuff that I had laying around + ada powersand M + black sand cap

 

[relaxedcrazyman]

5 month update!
Tank has been up and running for 5 months now. I spent so much time trying to make the scape look nice with the rocks and all at the outset. Realized a couple of months in that I definitely like the overgrown jungle look more. 😊

 

[GreenViews]

Thats some healthy looking plants. Do You use CO2? what kind of filtration you have? the water is crystal clear

 

[relaxedcrazyman]

Thats some healthy looking plants. Do You use CO2? what kind of filtration you have? the water is crystal clear

Thanks! So much maintenance, they grow super fast. I have loads of it every week.

Yes, pressurized co2 running into an inline diffuser.
The tank is all in one and has some filtration in the back, but I found that it wasn't enough, so I added a oase biomaster 250.

 

[GreenViews]

Thanks! So much maintenance, they grow super fast. I have loads of it every week.

Yes, pressurized co2 running into an inline diffuser.
The tank is all in one and has some filtration in the back, but I found that it wasn't enough, so I added a oase biomaster 250.

I never heard of biomaster I though ehem and fluval are the top brands