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I'm in need of some composition advise

Joined
14 Dec 2014
Messages
99
Hi all,

I'm creating this new Iwagumi aquascape with Amazonia & Seiryu stones.
For now ill stick with one plant called Eleocharis sp. Mini

I've been working on this composition but i would love some pro scapers advise!
The pictures are stored on my OneDrive so please take a look with this link;
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AnYSOrM4d4MPrHJ_8YjlyCVn-0y7
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AnYSOrM4d4MPrHJ_8YjlyCVn-0y7
You pro's can probably see wich adjustments i can make to make this a typical fingerlicking Iwagumi!
p.s. the last picture is the current composition.

Thanks in advance! :)
 
Not a pro myself but as I'm doing an Iwagumi atm I thought I would pitch in. :)

I like the start and you have some interesting rocks there, but I think you need some more rocks in the slope in front to build upwards to the main stones. I would also play a little bit more with the 2 main stones, maybe swap the curvy one out for something with a bit more character. In my current hardscape the main stone is created with 4 seperate stones as I could not get hold of a big main rock, maybe something you can try too?

Hope my feedback helps you out :)

Michael
 
Thanks for your reply!

It was my intention to stick with 5 stones because i would like to have the Eleocharis to grow in a field arround the stones. I have some more stones but there bigger and have less character (imo).

With the curvy one you mean the primary stone (oyaishi)
Ah I see and yes I meant the primary stone (I actually thought it where 2 stones put together).
 
That's already a lot better. Try making your rocks point to one direction, preferably the direction of the water flow in your aquarium. When stones in real life spend a lot of time in one place they will automaticly be pointing in the direction of the flow.

Have a look at this scape for example. You can see how almost all rocks go with the flow.

43.jpg
 
Thanks for your compliment. Funny that you come with this picture! It is one of my favourites...
I'll try to implement your advise! Flow will be going from right to the left so some are in good position.

The front one is laying flat,
Im going to tilt the one on the left leftwize :)

My wife said i should make the soils level on de leftside corner 4-5 cm higher. In her opinion it would be more natural, like hill side lowering down to the front of the window. I thought that is not such a bad idea. You?
 
I can't see the original photo but based on the last one but a great start - I feel like the 2 main stones are too similar in size though. You might be better off swapping one of them with a stone 1.5x larger than the second largest stone, vice-versa, and incoporating other stones of different sizes. I also think it's a bit left-heavy right now, it might look more balanced if you moved the furthest stone to the right, a bit further to the right and down more. The stone in the very center also might look more natural by angling it more. Please see my photoshopped photo below... I'm at work so I can only do so much but maybe something like this? Right now the stones are too similar in size so its harder to create scale. If you add some smaller ones in to fill in some areas I think that could also help!

tcfkWFQ.png
 
Last edited:
Wow, stunning picture! I didnt expect this; many thanks!!

The center stone looks like two stones but they are not. So i cant make that adjustment there...
Your totally right about smaller stones. I wished i had those, i only have bigger ones that look very different to the stones i am using now.

Im going to rethink the whole composition. The last picture is how it looks now;
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AnYSOrM4d4MPrH-TIh82n_EAz-NH
 
Wow, stunning picture! I didnt expect this; many thanks!!

The center stone looks like two stones but they are not. So i cant make that adjustment there...
Your totally right about smaller stones. I wished i had those, i only have bigger ones that look very different to the stones i am using now.

Im going to rethink the whole composition. The last picture is how it looks now;
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AnYSOrM4d4MPrH-TIh82n_EAz-NH

It's really starting to come together/appear more balanced. Small stones will help sooo much. What my friends did was actually take a screw driver + hammer and smashed his stones into smaller pieces - it actually worked quite well. I haven't tried as I haven't needed to yet... but it's something you can also consider =D
 
Thank you so much for your reply!
Like a writhers block, yesterday i had a scapers block... Did not know what to do to aprove it anymore.

Today is a new day!
i'm going to make some of my stones smaller...

These are five foto's of the current situation from different angles;
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AnYSOrM4d4MPrQUA4j29fZmepDKB

Keep your comments comming, it really helps me finding the right direction!!
 
I think this works - and if it was your vision to have stones as it is now you should trust yourself (you have to try something before you know whether you like it or not). If I had to make a suggestion, you may want to lay some stones a bit more horizontal (as a majority of your stones are at the same angle). I'm hesitant to say or suggest too much because I feel like the process of finally coming up with what you want is the most fun aspect of this hobby and I don't want to take away from your experience. I know I've changed my mind a million times and it takes a lot of tries to figure out what exactly you want. I'm going to bet the stones will be moved eventually again anyway... If you are still not completely satisfied, I would say google natural landscapes and see how their stones are positioned =D.
 
I think this works - and if it was your vision to have stones as it is now you should trust yourself (you have to try something before you know whether you like it or not). If I had to make a suggestion, you may want to lay some stones a bit more horizontal (as a majority of your stones are at the same angle). I'm hesitant to say or suggest too much because I feel like the process of finally coming up with what you want is the most fun aspect of this hobby and I don't want to take away from your experience. I know I've changed my mind a million times and it takes a lot of tries to figure out what exactly you want. I'm going to bet the stones will be moved eventually again anyway... If you are still not completely satisfied, I would say google natural landscapes and see how their stones are positioned =D.

Thank you very much for your comment :)

Exactly how you said it " it works ". And your conclusion is right, i am still not 100% satisfied. In one way its fun but i love how some scapers have the natural flow of scaping and it takes me much more time.
I will try the angles to make it more natural. I'm not going to stop till i get this right.

I liked my first scape but it just wasnt good enough. This time it has got to be perfect. This was my first scape;
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AnYSOrM4d4MPrRTsjvuQXj5ajxV2
 
Hi there,. I have enjoyed reading this post...and I have learnt a lot - not least that I need a LOT more patience and need to not rush my set-ups... I need to "play, leave, look, repeat". I am not artistic... Which makes it tougher! But I guess that's why I need to take my time more!!

Anyways, just wanted to say that it's reassuring for a newbie to hear and learn the thought processes of those more experienced... I am going to have a thorough rethink about my next scape(s)...

Out of interest, at the back/behind the stones in your set up there a gap between the rocks and the back of the tank... Is that just filled with the same plants... Or taller ones? Just curious!?

Thanks for an enlightening thread.
 
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