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The Gates of Gaia - IAPLC 2015 (121th)

Francisco Matos

Seedling
Joined
2 Jul 2015
Messages
6
Hi,

This aquarium is still running until i decide what to do next

I open this topic to share with all of you what were this last few months from setup until the final shoot. Indeed, we know the final result - IAPLC 2015 Winning prize at the 121th position)

This result is far from amazing, It just shows that i have to work harder and harder and proves that um of my favorite phrases are more than true … Good enough is not enough.

Let me just be fair… Nothing of this would be possible without Aquaeden and my great friends Rui Alves, Pedro Rosa and Miguel reis. Their incondicional support, the fair critics and the team spirit are the pillars for everything… Aquascaping also, and i feel privileged to be a part of this team.

I this topic, i will present:
  1. Photoshots from the setup (today)),
  2. Photoshots from the planting and the evolution until final shoot (09.05.2015);
  3. Final shoot and some details from that day;
  4. The tank actual stage, with a small video with the help of a great friend of mine and well known Pedro Rosa :)

So, lets get started:

During January, i have been looking for ideias of what I could do. I was looking for something new and innovation. I search the internet for Landscapes, Shores, etc, etc, etc.

Until I find this:

20875355579_8014411e8d_b.jpgalien shore by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

This is what i wanted to do.

I picked the stone - Petrified wood and put my hands on the job. It took me 5 days to work the layout. Everything was made very calmly.

I leave you the shoots from those days…

21061634075_915fe2a300_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8076 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21061674565_77b089ce9e_b.jpg20150128-IK6A8036 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21035449596_f9d0999d65_b.jpg20150128-IK6A8037 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20873580150_9c94b276ee_b.jpg20150128-IK6A8039 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21051689052_bb31778082_b.jpg20150128-IK6A8040 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21051686982_ec052fd964_b.jpg20150131-IK6A8042 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20439042304_8e7f2cfd80_b.jpg20150131-IK6A8043 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20874874079_971bef74cf_b.jpg20150131-IK6A8045 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

This would be the final layout. Neverthless the left elevation were to big for the tank.

21051680732_4d5626a88d_b.jpg20150131-IK6A8048 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

So, I decided to change..

21051667702_0949658c6b_b.jpg20150201-IK6A8061 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21051678682_679526f9e7_b.jpg20150131-IK6A8049 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20874867089_37aebf6739_b.jpg20150131-IK6A8050 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20874865379_09b1ed180f_b.jpg20150131-IK6A8051 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20873560850_35b9df8485_b.jpg20150131-IK6A8052 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

This is the final result…

20873559370_4203eb7bb4_b.jpg20150201-IK6A8060 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21051665452_cdece62036_b.jpg20150201-IK6A8062 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20439021614_c7e01e4618_b.jpg20150201-IK6A8063 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21051662082_00a4fb229f_b.jpg20150201-IK6A8064 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21035416136_591376d3e6_b.jpg20150201-IK6A8066 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20874849919_51637a865b_b.jpg20150201-IK6A8070 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21061636075_88e1ab2069_b.jpg20150201-IK6A8071 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

Finally, with sand and some details …

20874843579_0c6f3ee543_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8079 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21061626335_d43a686bcb_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8084 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21069279231_c873dab2c0_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8081 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20439005764_8d815c09a9_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8082 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20440572063_3220d7f93a_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8085 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21061622045_c386f82df3_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8086 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21061620395_40bece0df8_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8087 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

21069267881_197b0fb8d4_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8091 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20874828409_0f1d697243_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8092 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

20873523060_0213d8c458_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8093 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

The tank and the environment …

20874824899_f5dd573542_b.jpg20150202-IK6A8097 by Francisco Matos, on Flickr

Sorry for the, too many, shoots…

In the next days, I will post the rest of the evolution

Thanks to all of you
Francisco
 
This is really a great work i had the luck to follow since the start.
A great hardscape work and great plant growth on the right places and giving a great natural look. Well... on these photos we still see a creepy look :D

Pedro.
 
Thanks guys for all your comments.



You are right! Looking at the last picture from the layout and the picture that i sent to IAPLC, there are some things that I would do different. Patience, This is a learning process. But once again, thanks for the comment.

Tomorrow, I will share more pictures.

Cheers,
Francisco

This is really is a great idea and an awesome scape. One thing i also noticed with the last photo was that your towers looked awesome from that angle taken from the right side of the tank. In the straight on fts the two middle towers ended up so close together and hurt the perspective a bit.

Congrats on a great scape and ranking.
 
The bar has just been raised for rock work, you may have just ruined my tank now.... i feel like i need to rip it apart and start again, the only thing stopping me is the girlfriend. Really nice layout, can't wait to see more pictures :clap:
Jim
 
:clap: Wow what a great concept!

How did you glue those rocks together? I would be terrified of it coming loose and crashing.....
 
I saw the first bit and thought...uh oh its another Avtar scape...

But no, its actually looking quite original, exciting and well thought out. The left bit that was higher could have lent itself to emersed growing, but maybe that would totally change what you were planning.

Great the way the root placement already gives it a natural aged look.
 
Hours and hours of stacking, glue-ing and fiddling makes for a great hardscape...awesome and congrats on you result.
I agree,

A lot of thought and patience gone in to this.

Any photo updates? Any plants in it yet? Any plants in it yet? Any plants in it yet? Any plants in it yet? Any plants in it yet?

I don't suppose you have any plants in it yet?;);)

Steve
 
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