First attempt at Rock Scape

**genes** · 20th May 2007, 17:21

My first attempt in doing a rock scape. Would love to hear ideas on improving it and the plant selection. Tank is going to be simple and zen looking, so will not be using any stem plants.

Using japanese hairgrass for foreground. Was thinking of loading the base of the rocks with anubias nana. Perhaps some long hair grass at the back of the rocks.

Rocks arrangement

Foreground planted with Japanese hairgrass and some anubias nanas inserted to see how it will look like.

Loading the back with Cambomba to slow down algae growth

**Shadow** · 20th May 2007, 21:46

what is that plant floating in the 1st photo?

**Sunfire** · 20th May 2007, 22:11

Cambomba grows very fast and tall. Why don't you try various species of rotala instead?

**genes** · 20th May 2007, 22:33

Hi sunfire, thanks for the suggestion, but ultimately, there will not be stem plants in the tank.

The Cabombas are there only till the tank matures, then its food for the goldfishes or large cichlids. Purpose of the carbomba is to prevent algae from settling in since they are fast growing.

**valice** · 21st May 2007, 00:16

You tore down your 3ft tank?
Might want to create a slight depression between the two rocks, thus creating some depth...

**eddyq** · 21st May 2007, 09:24

Actually for your first attempt the rocks placement is quite good. I think the rocks could be place higher, like on a slope. When the grass starts growing taller they might block the rocks. Of course can trim them but more work. Still its a good start.

I used JBL AmmoEx and active carbon to remove excessive ammonium instead of plants.

**Fei Miao** · 21st May 2007, 10:01

Spread out a few smaller pieces in the bigger group, now they are cluster together a one big lump, work with a few layouts until you feels right, and create mounts for one or both groups, that would give the layout depth.

**Corleone** · 21st May 2007, 14:31

Feel the rocks could have been placed higher to give more perspective and depth to the scape..but overall, its a very beautiful attempt, where did you get the rocks?

**Shadow** · 22nd May 2007, 17:50

look like granite to me, I got couple of them from NA and Biotope

**luenny** · 22nd May 2007, 18:27

Very nice scape for first attempt. Rocks a bit on the low side. Maybe you can shift those on the left side higher to block the surface skimmer (since you're not planning to have the cabomba later) and also to break the symmetrical view which makes it looks a bit artificial. Just MHO.

- Luenny

**leeruisheng** · 22nd May 2007, 23:43

I suggest you have a backdrop behind the tank to hide the pipes.

**genes** · 23rd May 2007, 19:22

I wanted bigger rocks too but not sure if the tank will hold. Tank is 90cm by 45cm by 60cm. 10mm thickness.

Current rocks already weigh 20kg. Plus 27kg (3 packs) of ADA amazonia. Depth is missing and something difficult to achieve in a rockscape in my opinion. Unlike plant scape where you can utilise the plants to create the depth.

**armani** · 24th May 2007, 08:07

i personally feel that putting up a black backdrop will totally change the current feel you have about your tank. it is already very nice, the black backdrop will just deepen the feel.

**Nevada** · 24th May 2007, 23:18

Hmmm, in my point of view you should break the left side group. They are too close to each other, if you can position them wider that would be nice ... and more natural. Well thats my view, however you did a great job already

**Sunfire** · 25th May 2007, 21:30

How does it look like now? Any fishes?

**genes** · 28th May 2007, 23:36

Update...

Decided to tear down the rockscape and here's my re-attempt. Sloping the gravel towards the rocks now to create some form of depth. Gravel is 5cm or more infront and 10cm or more behind.

**Wackytpt** · 29th May 2007, 08:31

Hi,

Definitely much greater improvement compare to the intial scape.

Your scape still lack the height on the left side.

Need 1 or 2 more Taller and sharper rocks..

Cheers