Please give me some feedback on my hardscape

[Wolfgangs246]

Hi Bros,

I'm trying to do up a new aquascape and would like your feedback on my initial layout. The current plan is the inhabitants of this tank will be CRS and BDS with a mixture of US and Mini Fissiden along the slopes and flats to create a mountain and fields contrast.

I'm currently trying to get the look of the mountains just right. Please let me know what you think!



Thanks in advance.

[Shadow]

looking good, you might want to add couple of smaller stones around.

[eviltrain]

Yapz i agree. Maybe some smaller rocks of the same kind. Will make it looks like weathering

[Wolfgangs246]

Thanks for all your feedback Shadow and Eviltrain.

Here is the Hardscape V1.1. I originally had reservations about using these smaller rocks because I felt they either didn't match in terms of color (when wet), or didn't have a matching grain of stone. I've added more shots so you can see, but the three main rocks have got crevices that look a lot like caves. Anyway I've tried to maintain a 'uniform look to the rock formation so let me know what you think. Thanks once again.

[Fei Miao]

based on these pictures, here's my 2 cents worth.....
Firstly, you should have a main rock, by that I mean having one that is larger than the rest, better texture or shape, one which you would want to highlight, this is the one that determines the flow of the layout.
Second, the supporting rocks must have what I termed as the "flow connection" withy the main rock.... the positions of these rocks must somehow be in sync with the main rock in terms of the size, shape and texture or grain of the stones.
Third, the layouts here is too rigid, things do not occurs in a straight line in nature. to come to a layout that is natural, you must observe and study how these elements occur in nature.

I suggest you remove these rocks, place them on a rectangular board or base(newspaper or whatever, try out different layouts and photograph them and study to come up with the best layout. Hope this helps.

[benjidog]

The rock formation is mostly at the background, leaving a big foreground.

I think your intent is so that is easy for you to view Your big herd of grazing shrimps.

The metaphor of grazing "cows" on the plains with the "mountain" behind comes to mind.

You can temper the harshness of the grassy plains by introducing some "step up" small hills for the shrimps to rest and gather around.

Or just shift one of the middle rocks so that it leads the eye up to the biggest mountain.

Break the lineup into a staggered line, with some smaller rocks to help shore up the
substrate. Otherwise the slope will flatten out over time.

The green water outlet may be distracting to the overall look.
Can you change it to a black colour?

Great job and look forward to more photo updates on your project!

[Wolfgangs246]

Hi Bros,

Thanks for all the feedback so far. How does this look now? Tried to emphasis the large rock which has a nice cave feature I'm trying to bring out. moved all the rest down and spread them further apart to diminish their presence. Not sure if I managed to maintain a feel of a mountain range. Also introduced smaller rocks to break the contrast a bit more. Sadly I don't have any more rocks that match the pattern of the big daddy. Nevertheless, what do you think now?

[carlfsk]

I like the 1st scape. The 3 rocks looked like skull to me. Very unique scape. : )

[Wolfgangs246]

Hi Bros,

Thanks for all your feedback. I've finally decided on a layout that I felt I felt the most 'me' about. I appreciate all the suggestions and feedback. Sadly I wasn't able to incorporate all of it. Hope it will look better after the grass is grown and the shrimp are introduced. (T-minus 30 days for cycling beginning now)

Please have a look at the final layout. Please do not comment about the ugly filter intake and CO2 diffuser setup ok? I totally gave up trying to think how to tube the CO2 diffuser outside of the tank and the placement of the filter intake was dictated by fear of shrimp suckage.

Thanks everyone once again for all your help. Maybe one day I'll post pics of the fully grown tank.

[eviltrain]

Looks like you can find some rocks of the same kind to make groupings. If not it has too much focus point around. You just need to use a sponge to cover the inlet to prevent shrimps from sucking in.get whole load of frogbit to suck up all the excess ammonia after two weeks of cycling.
Just my 1 cent worth of thoughts

[Wolfgangs246]

Looks like you can find some rocks of the same kind to make groupings. If not it has too much focus point around. You just need to use a sponge to cover the inlet to prevent shrimps from sucking in.get whole load of frogbit to suck up all the excess ammonia after two weeks of cycling.
Just my 1 cent worth of thoughts

Thanks bro eviltrain. I'll keep an eye out for more rocks. Think I need to comb Singapore from end to end to find more suitable rocks to add. Something to spend my weekends on while waiting for the tank to cycle.

Can't wait to release shrimp into it liao. Think I've been poisoned too much.

[eviltrain]

Better don't put any of them in before you really cycle finish hor. Oh by the way, how you going to cover your foreground with us fissiden ah? cut to shape mesh?

Well, you can buy your shrimps and keep with me first until you finish cycling. Mua Haha.

~evil grin~

[|squee|]

Probably shift the whole set in the latest pic you posted up to the left.

Then you need to find 1 or 2 other rocks to "stablise" the main rock.

However having said that, imho v1.1 looks better than the latest one. But it might just be too much trouble for you to shift things again.

[Wolfgangs246]

Hah hah thanks Squee. Saw your recent scape and was very envious. I'm thinking I might still be able to put more support rocks for the main rock while the water is still cycling. At least the damage and impact won't be as bad as when the tank is stocked.

Any recommendations where I can find this kind of rocks?

[fireblade]

the big rock on the right (the 2nd biggest rock) somehow looks like a skull to me... skull with opened mouth.. :O



especially in this picture..

[Wolfgangs246]

Hah hah to be honest, I hadn't noticed that before. And it doesn't look like that at all in real life. Dang it. Now I'm not going to be able to sleep with the thought of that 'face' staring at me.

Crap. I've consigned Skeletor to the corner of my tank.

[fireblade]

hehe
sorry to point that out... but somehow it looks scary.. :P

[Shadow]

now that you mention it, but isn't that cool

[eviltrain]

new Halloween theme CRS tank? haha just in time.

[Navanod]

the big rock on the right (the 2nd biggest rock) somehow looks like a skull to me... skull with opened mouth.. :O



especially in this picture..

That was my exact thoughts the second I opened this thread! It reminded me of castle greyskull! ahhaha!
Looking forward to the plants (you're not going to wait till end of cycling to introduce plants right?)