Critique needed: Iwagumi layout "Serenity"

**TKS7011** · 21st May 2009, 06:58

Both are nice!
2nd scape without riccia look more 'typical' iwaguma
I like the idea of adding in riccia but it's profile is a bit high which catches too much attention. Maybe can try mini riccia?

**StanChung** · 21st May 2009, 08:17

With Riccia. Adds another layer and covers the brown spot. Middle small rock should not point up. The left set needs another stone for back up. Seems a little overpowered by right side. proportion 1:3 is not as good as 2:3

**BuTLeR** · 21st May 2009, 08:47

Originally Posted by Shadow

update photo with E.vivipara and riccia. Need suggestion, what should I do with E.vivipara? Should I trim and make the center short or should I leave it as it is? One thing for sure the mass is not there.

wao bro you have a very nice tank there ... do hc need high lights ?

**Shadow** · 21st May 2009, 14:04

Originally Posted by BuTLeR

wao bro you have a very nice tank there ... do hc need high lights ?

All my tank is high light in the first place. however, it was reported that it can grow low light though I'm not sure whether it will grow low or tall.

**mordrake** · 21st May 2009, 14:17

i prefer the scape without riccia. ever considered blyxa japonica?

btw, you mean you guys with successful HC iwagumis have no fish in the tank!

edit: saw the fish in the pics... my bad

here i am trying to do it with CRS in mine... which by the way, HC has been replaced with fissiden foreground due to attack of staghorn algae ---> project failure

**Shadow** · 21st May 2009, 14:19

Originally Posted by StanChung

With Riccia. Adds another layer and covers the brown spot. Middle small rock should not point up. The left set needs another stone for back up. Seems a little overpowered by right side. proportion 1:3 is not as good as 2:3

which brown spot?

**Shadow** · 21st May 2009, 14:28

Originally Posted by mordrake

i prefer the scape without riccia. ever considered blyxa japonica?

btw, you mean you guys with successful HC iwagumis have no fish in the tank!

edit: saw the fish in the pics... my bad

here i am trying to do it with CRS in mine... which by the way, HC has been replaced with fissiden foreground due to attack of staghorn algae ---> project failure

Blyxa japonica will grow tall will overcome the main rock in no time. FYI the water level on this thank was drop to about 2/3 of the tank hight. but because of that the tank look panoramic

There is fish in the tank, as long as no corry also stay away with yamato shrimps.

**mordrake** · 21st May 2009, 14:42

i meant place the blyxa at the two back corners. then use e tenellus to frame the rocks.

**EvolutionZ** · 21st May 2009, 16:06

i would prefer without riccia, overall it looks much natural and iwagumi-ish without riccia. i always feel that riccia and iwagumi does not match. but mini riccia do.
my 0.2 cents.

**Stormy** · 22nd May 2009, 08:10

Hi Robert...

the latest tank photo with riccia is looking a lot better than your photo on 7/May, perhaps it is the color of your hairgrass/photo on 7/May, the riccia's color does not look very matching with the surrounding. but in your latest photo, it somehow blended in pretty well.
therefore, i think if only judging from your latest 2 photo, the one with riccia seems better.
anyway....both are very nice actually. just close your eyes and pick one, can't go wrong either way!

also a very nice touch on trimming the Vivipara....comparing with your previous photo, the latest background look a lot better. but again, i'm never a fan of vivpara so take my comment with a pinch of salt

.
very nice water level too.....makes the tank look bigger!!

congratulations!
this tank looks dreadful in the beginging (sorry no offense

) but i think you have done a fantastic job to turn it into something very nice and classic!

**Shadow** · 22nd May 2009, 08:23

yeah was trying to make something like cliff Hui tunneling effect but total failure

. Probably because not enough E.vivipara mass. One think for sure E.vivipara not really cooperative, try to comb it but does not follow what I want

Trimming on the other hand seem to be a good idea, I can trim what ever hight I want create extra depth. Riccia was added to add extra color. E.vivipara very much blend into the hairgrass. unless you know the background you probably won't know there is vivipara behind

You are right about initial stage. If you notice, there are lots of changes especially those rock. Can't really get really get the right rock. Maybe I shpuld post compilation photo from initial stage till now

**StanChung** · 22nd May 2009, 12:43

Originally Posted by Shadow

which brown spot?

It's where you put the riccia.

**Shadow** · 22nd May 2009, 13:07

o... that. Unfortunately that can't be help. I took the second photo at the same day, just take out the riccia. What I can do is either plant more hairgrass or wait until the hairgrass grow and cover it.