[Jim_PA]

So I posted the other day about some hardscape advise, and now I have started to make changes and would like some more advise. Mostly starting new post because someone else started to post asking advise on what they should do with the tank they had and I would like to keep this on topic with my hardscape only.

First Picture is the old scape.

 

[Jim_PA]

This picture is start of the new scape. Please ignore misc rocks in the middle and the back.

Should I keep the pile of rocks on the right?
Should I move the wood over to the right more and move all rocks to the left side of the tank?

Left side is not shown right now as I have moved my plants to that side of the tank while I re-scape.

 

[ChadRamsey]

the "stacked" rocks do not look natural.

the DW is a beautiful piece btw

good luck

 

[Jim_PA]

the "stacked" rocks do not look natural.

the DW is a beautiful piece btw

good luck

I agree, not a lot of room on that side of the tank since I moved the DW. Wondering if I just need to move rocks to one side of the tank. I have ton of rocks. Mostly need to have some type of cave for my loaches to hide and mostly for my elephant nose.

Yeah I love the DW, thanks

 

[bikinibottom]

I like the driftwood placement. With a tank that long you need a secondary focal point on the left side, otherwise the right side is going to look too heavy and the left will seem barren. But I wouldn't move all your rocks to the left. Maybe a few of them, not stacked by scattered, with another small piece of driftwood would be nice if you can get your hands on another small piece... and then a well placed, smaller rock by the large driftwood.

And as others have already said: that driftwood is awesome.

 

[ChadRamsey]

agreed, just knock that stacked pile of rocks over and see how it looks. literally, knock it over. it will provide hides the loach that way as well.

i also like the rocks that you stated above to disregard, the ones on the left side of the DW.

I too agree that a couple smaller pieces of DW would look nice as well

 

[Jim_PA]

Thanks everyone so far, great advise

I made a few more changes with the drift wood, I moved some of the rocks around I am working on everything you see in the picture right now, from rocks that are just left to the center all the way over to right.

Not sure if I am crazy about the rocks on the right still.

I would love to add more DW, but now or anytime soon I think that out, the DW that in the tank broke the bank and think wife will break me if I get some more. :flick:

 

[Naisi]

I'm not a fan of the rocks on the right not looking natural. If thats the look your going for I would lose the background to for a black background. It looks like the dw will be the main focus in your tank, you should look up the "golden ratio" and see what you think.

Great start so far tho!

 

[Jim_PA]

I'm not a fan of the rocks on the right not looking natural. If thats the look your going for I would lose the background to for a black background. It looks like the dw will be the main focus in your tank, you should look up the "golden ratio" and see what you think.

Great start so far tho!

Thanks for the input, the background taking off is not an option, it would be very very difficult to remove. It is siliconed to the back.

So I think the main thing I need to focus on at this point is to figure out something with the rocks on the right.

 

[houseofcards]

This is what I would do if it was my setup.

1.Move the DW a little more to the left so it adheres more to the golden ratio (what Naisi was alluding to. The main part of the wood should be off-center.

2.Take the rocks out and build a mound (if you can) around the wood. One by one add back the rocks digging them into the substrate. Use the larger rocks first and spread them out randomly as you go down the slope you created.

3.Take the tallest plants and cluster them behind the DW. Take the smaller plants and spread them around the midground and foreground.

You can fine-tune from there, but that should give you a cohesive setup that uses the DW nicely as a focal.

Good luck!

 

[UDGags]

I agree put the rocks around trunk of your dw...create caves by leaning them against the wood.

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[zoragen]

Houseofcards nailed it.

 

[Jim_PA]

Thanks everyone, I am reading about "golden ratio" before making changes, and will make some more changes later today at post.

 

[Jim_PA]

This is what I would do if it was my setup.


2.Take the rocks out and build a mound (if you can) around the wood. One by one add back the rocks digging them into the substrate. Use the larger rocks first and spread them out randomly as you go down the slope you created.

Good luck!

Don't think I am understanding what I should do with the rocks though in 2. Are you saying put the rock all the way around the DW front and back then stack them higher? Not enough room to put them and then create a slope all around. Kinda confused.

Thanks

 

[Jim_PA]

Ok made some more changes....let me know what you think.

 

[Jim_PA]

Anyone else have any thoughts before I start the otherside? Need to replant the tank on Thursday.

 

[zoragen]

Still not liking the right side.

Maybe it's the shape of the rocks?
or just they way they are piled?
or the color difference between them & the substrate?

Most likely it's the last one. And the light color in the pic may not look exactly the same in person.

Of course once you get plants in front of them they will blend in better & the plants will soften the look.

 

[houseofcards]

OK you need to bring everything together. You have 3 elements (wood, rock, substrate) that are just kinda there and not working together. Take the rocks out and use one of the big ones to push the substrate toward the base of the wood. Once you do that the rock should be partially buried by the substrate and at the same time it will keep the slope (do you follow?) than try the same method with some more rocks around the main area and further away.

 

[Jim_PA]

Ha i will try again. What about wood place ment, before i start other again.

Thanks

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[houseofcards]

Ha i will try again. What about wood place ment, before i start other again.

Thanks

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To me it looks like the wood should be alittle to the right. Looks a little too centered right now. Word of caution. Are you capping soil? If you push the substrate it might get messy so be careful. Whenever I do substrate moving with water already in the tank I go slow and have a 1/2" filter hose ready and suck out any cloud that develops.