30cm Iwagumi Scape

[gregyeoh]

Hi guys, this is my first attempt at Iwagumi scraping. I'll be doing a UG carpet. Below are pictures of the hard scape. Please give me some feedback! Can't wait to start planting!
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1397847456.833840.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1397847495.055108.jpg


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[limz_777]

try to take a frontal shot

[gregyeoh]

Frontal shot

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1397873808.062362.jpg


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[limz_777]

your support rocks behind might be redundant , shift in front might be better , also more slope up

[gregyeoh]

The main stone is kind of oversized. Should I move it backwards to make space for the support in front? Also, the size of the main rock could be downplayed if I increase the substrate level and cover the base of the main rock with substrate. Do you think I should do that? I'm using ADA Aquasoil powder.

[gregyeoh]

Updated hard scape. Please feel free to comment!
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1397879904.436376.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1397879920.339463.jpg

[Urban Aquaria]

Just an idea... maybe try putting more soil at the back, perhaps up to 70% height of the main rocks, then arrange the smaller rocks around the main rocks to create multiple "paths" for the plants to carpet.

A higher slope makes more of the scape visible, otherwise without a slope most of the hardscape and plants behind the main rocks will tend to be hidden.

Raising the substrate height level at the back will make it more of a mountain side "cascading carpet" style scape though (less of a flat iwagumi style), so it depends on your preference.

[Urban Aquaria]

Btw, have you managed to test the rocks underwater with the LED lights on to check if all their colors match? It'll be easier to swap out rocks that have non-matching colors at this stage, before you confirm the hardscape layout and start planting.

[gregyeoh]

Updated rock scape
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1397889448.000651.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1397889492.139826.jpg

[gregyeoh]

Btw, have you managed to test the rocks underwater with the LED lights on to check if all their colors match? It'll be easier to swap out rocks that have non-matching colors at this stage, before you confirm the hardscape layout and start planting.

Yup, checked them yesterday and they looked okay to me. I don't have other rocks to swap out with so I'm sticking with these anyway (:

[Low Tech Tan]

I think your newest scape is much better than the first.
I have 2 humble opinions:
1) Personally I prefer the height of the soil right in front of the tank to be lowest or much lower than what it is now.
2) The rock placements may be better, but I think their distances apart are a little too "evenly distributed". I feel that a more "random spacing" of the rocks are better. My suggestion is to divide the rocks into 2 groups. Space the rocks of each group close together while spacing the 2 groups further apart. Maybe one group can be towards the background left corner, and the other group consisting of lower rocks could be off center leaning to the right or further right in a diagonal or triangular placement.

Or maybe I'm completely wrong and just giving crap suggestions and opinions....lol...

Wishing you the best in your setup!

[gregyeoh]

I think your newest scape is much better than the first.
I have 2 humble opinions:
1) Personally I prefer the height of the soil right in front of the tank to be lowest or much lower than what it is now.
2) The rock placements may be better, but I think their distances apart are a little too "evenly distributed". I feel that a more "random spacing" of the rocks are better. My suggestion is to divide the rocks into 2 groups. Space the rocks of each group close together while spacing the 2 groups further apart. Maybe one group can be towards the background left corner, and the other group consisting of lower rocks could be off center leaning to the right or further right in a diagonal or triangular placement.

Or maybe I'm completely wrong and just giving crap suggestions and opinions....lol...

Wishing you the best in your setup!

Great suggestions! I'll try them out now

[gregyeoh]

Final scape
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1397893871.777165.jpgImageUploadedByTapatalk1397893929.721847.jpg

[Low Tech Tan]

Looks better to me Frontal view now has one main valley. Creating more randomness with plants should help complete the look

[Urban Aquaria]

Looks good, agree with LTT... try further reducing the substrate in front and fill in more soil behind, create a steeper slope to give the impression of depth.

I noticed a smaller rock behind on the back right side, since it seems to be blocked by the 2nd biggest rock and relatively hidden out of view, maybe try shifting it to the front and perhaps create another split path amongst the rocks, see if works to ehance the scale.

[Low Tech Tan]

Looks good, agree with LTT... try further reducing the substrate in front and fill in more soil behind, create a steeper slope to give the impression of depth.

Yup, agree. I think a very steep slope will greatly improve the overall look of the current rock layout. Especially since your tank is small, it creates more "depth" to your tank....more 3D....won't look as "flat"...and because you are exposing more surface area of your tank, you are also increasing the visual area of your tank (because you can view more of the background portion), thus maximizing the viewable area of a relatively small tank. So then you can see from the front all the way to the back, and your finished tank will look "bigger" in appearance because you have "more to see".

Just my humble 2 cents.

[gregyeoh]

I noticed a smaller rock behind on the back right side, since it seems to be blocked by the 2nd biggest rock and relatively hidden out of view, maybe try shifting it to the front and perhaps create another split path amongst the rocks, see if works to ehance the scale.

The rock being blocked is actually an extension of the second biggest rock lol. Looks more normal in real life when viewed in 3D 8D

[gregyeoh]

Yup, agree. I think a very steep slope will greatly improve the overall look of the current rock layout. Especially since your tank is small, it creates more "depth" to your tank....more 3D....won't look as "flat"...and because you are exposing more surface area of your tank, you are also increasing the visual area of your tank (because you can view more of the background portion), thus maximizing the viewable area of a relatively small tank. So then you can see from the front all the way to the back, and your finished tank will look "bigger" in appearance because you have "more to see".

Just my humble 2 cents.

Thanks so much for the advice! Really helped to improve my scape The tank has been planted!

[Low Tech Tan]

Thanks to Limz and UA for their early contributions so I can add my humble 2 cents

Can't wait to see your planted photos cheers

[gregyeoh]

Still deciding what filter to use. GEX M HOF rated at 430 l/h or should I get a eheim 2211, 300 l/h. Because their flow rates are relatively high, my main issue is whether they will create too much surface agitation and off gas co2, and if they might turn my tank into a washing machine. Please share your opinions (: