Opinions sought on these rock scapes

Personally I didnt love any of them. What i would suggest is using you three largest stones and try again. Too many stones makes a small tank too busy before theres anything else added.

I'm thinking of "binding" together the small group of darker rocks with mini pellia or similar, leaving the higher points as bare peaks.

For the larger, lighter-colored rocks, I like the way they seem to fit together vertically, so I'm inclined to have a cloudlike layer of moss at the sand-rock boundary.

See the notch running vertically on the largest rock? How would a waterfall of willow moss running down it look? Or perhaps on either side of it to emphasize the notch?

The rounded rock seen in the center of one picture could be laid flat and used to create a contrasting field of moss - notocyphus (if it will survive these conditions) or fissidens/mini-fissidens.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

chad320 said:

Personally I didnt love any of them. What i would suggest is using you three largest stones and try again. Too many stones makes a small tank too busy before theres anything else added.

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Thanks for the feedback, Chad. I'm inclined to agree but I'm unsure how to "weld" them together to create a larger whole otherwise, as I mentioned later regarding the darker stones.

Out of those three you posted, the 3rd one feels the best to me.

Rainer said:

Here's another possibility - wish the software would let me add it to the original post.

Click to expand...

can you not add them if you do an advanced edit of your OP

It's a hosting issue apparently. I'll work around it when I'm back on the laptop.

The first post all pictures have the large rock too far to one side. Make it off center, but not so far from the center. Then play around with the other rocks.

Minimalistic: Use One or Three rocks.

In the last pic, post # 6, the littlest rock is going to get lost. Also, do not separate the rocks into 3 areas. Way too busy for that small a tank. Use the big one they way it is, and the second rock. Then find one that is about as large as the second one, and lay it down near the second one so they look like a pair. Maybe the twirly looking rock. (4th from the left in the first picture)

Thanks for those suggestions, Diana. I'll set if I can find a better third rock - the twisting one isn't suitable.

I'd originally planned to cover that small, easily lost rock in a contrasting moss not used elsewhere in the tank.

I don't know why but I really like the first one original one.

#3 would be good if you place a single rock slightly larger than the last onto the right hand side.

It's all a little short for the tank itself though. will you be adding any driftwood or more vertical elements?

No plans for driftwood - not enough free space left to support it.

In fact in the last picture there isn't enough room for standard size moss squares.

To add a vertical element, I'll probably go with a layer of long-rooted AF or DWL.

Otherwise planting is still a big question mark.

I like the last picture in the first post. It reminds me of a beach in Cornwall where we used to go on holiday. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/carnewas-and-bedruthan-steps/ Couldn't find the right view but this is the place

It is a bit short for the tank but if you added a very active, top level shoaling fish it would make a great open swimming space up top.

really diggin the latest one you posted, with such a small tank like that its not the best idea to have so many rocks especially if you are going to add plants, it will just make it look to crowded, how you have the rocks in that picture looks very appealing to me in my opinion

Thanks, it's starting to grow on me too. As for planting, I'm not sure how that would work since the area is so small. Other than moss, I can't think of other good options:
HC - no CO2 planned, floaters would reduce lighting
UG - bad news for shrimplets
Riccia - too many people say it's a real pain
DHG belem - wouldn't look right
HG - same

There isn't even from for normal squares of moss on SS. Still thinking about how to approach that one. Aside from the usual moss accents on the rocks themselves, of course.

I've chosen a layout and started a journal at http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/showthread.php?t=190638. Thanks to all who have participated and I hope you'll continue there.

Is that coral ?

It's locally collected rock.