I thought I’d start a journal for my new tank, it’s my first dedicated ‘aquascape’ although I have chucked a few rocks and plants in my other tank recently, just for a bit of practice.
For this tank I’ve had to start from scratch and do it on as much as a budget as possible (the joys of married life!). To keep the costs down I built my own tank (60 x 29 x 29) and sourced most of my hardware as cheap as I could find (mostly ebay). Unfortunately I bought my substrate early on in the process before doing too much research (i.e. finding this site), I wish I’d bought some Amazonia but never mind, maybe for my next scape.
I’ve broken down roughly what I’ve spent so far, it might make interesting reading for some one else starting from scratch like me :
6mm Float Glass: £35
Silicone: £8
Z Series LED: £55
Fluval 106 Filter: £78
Clear Tubing: £3
Lily Pipes: £17
Hydor In line Heater: £30
CO2 Set up (this one): £55
Solenoid: £18
CO2 Glass ware (diff, BC, DC, Stop Valve): £15
Timer Plugs x 2: £11
Substrate: Aquabasis plus x 2 : £34
Gravel: £20
Rocks: Free (Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen)
Total: £379
Right, the next step, hardscape and planting.
A bit of background - I’ve always had a fascination with all things oriental, particularly their philosophy and sense of aesthetics, I even ended up marrying a chinese lady, so we’ve got a house in China as well as the UK, the countryside there has really influenced my ideas. I mention this because it will hopefully highlight the delight I felt when I first came across Iwagumi Tanks.... I’ve always loved watching fish, Japanese and Chinese Landscapes and paintings and these tanks brought it all together - bingo, I’ve got to have one!
After weeks of searching I found what looked like the right stones for my scape (I didn’t want to buy any as the ones in the shops tend to be slightly generic imo) and set up my hardscape which I’m fairly pleased with. It should look a bit better when the other half of the substrate goes in to build up the slopes and fill in the gaps a bit. One thing I don’t really like are Iwagumis that look like some rocks have been plopped onto a lawn, they seem a bit false somehow, I’d prefer something that looks more natural, hopefully I’m on the right track.
That brings me on to the planting, at first I wanted a nice HC carpet like those lovely Japanese tanks but I’m coming round to the idea that they look kind of unnatural.
Actually I’m still undecided about what and how to plant which is why I’m holding off - Two scapes that I really love are George Farmer’s ‘Scree’ and James’ ‘Crimson Sky’ in the Green Machine - they both look like works of art without looking ‘artificial’ if I can achieve anything approaching (unlikely) these I’ll be a very happy man!
Sorry about the long post but there it is. I’d really appreciate any comments regarding my equipment or hardscape but especially and planting ideas.
Cheers
James
For this tank I’ve had to start from scratch and do it on as much as a budget as possible (the joys of married life!). To keep the costs down I built my own tank (60 x 29 x 29) and sourced most of my hardware as cheap as I could find (mostly ebay). Unfortunately I bought my substrate early on in the process before doing too much research (i.e. finding this site), I wish I’d bought some Amazonia but never mind, maybe for my next scape.
I’ve broken down roughly what I’ve spent so far, it might make interesting reading for some one else starting from scratch like me :
6mm Float Glass: £35
Silicone: £8
Z Series LED: £55
Fluval 106 Filter: £78
Clear Tubing: £3
Lily Pipes: £17
Hydor In line Heater: £30
CO2 Set up (this one): £55
Solenoid: £18
CO2 Glass ware (diff, BC, DC, Stop Valve): £15
Timer Plugs x 2: £11
Substrate: Aquabasis plus x 2 : £34
Gravel: £20
Rocks: Free (Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen)
Total: £379
Right, the next step, hardscape and planting.
A bit of background - I’ve always had a fascination with all things oriental, particularly their philosophy and sense of aesthetics, I even ended up marrying a chinese lady, so we’ve got a house in China as well as the UK, the countryside there has really influenced my ideas. I mention this because it will hopefully highlight the delight I felt when I first came across Iwagumi Tanks.... I’ve always loved watching fish, Japanese and Chinese Landscapes and paintings and these tanks brought it all together - bingo, I’ve got to have one!
After weeks of searching I found what looked like the right stones for my scape (I didn’t want to buy any as the ones in the shops tend to be slightly generic imo) and set up my hardscape which I’m fairly pleased with. It should look a bit better when the other half of the substrate goes in to build up the slopes and fill in the gaps a bit. One thing I don’t really like are Iwagumis that look like some rocks have been plopped onto a lawn, they seem a bit false somehow, I’d prefer something that looks more natural, hopefully I’m on the right track.
That brings me on to the planting, at first I wanted a nice HC carpet like those lovely Japanese tanks but I’m coming round to the idea that they look kind of unnatural.
Actually I’m still undecided about what and how to plant which is why I’m holding off - Two scapes that I really love are George Farmer’s ‘Scree’ and James’ ‘Crimson Sky’ in the Green Machine - they both look like works of art without looking ‘artificial’ if I can achieve anything approaching (unlikely) these I’ll be a very happy man!
Sorry about the long post but there it is. I’d really appreciate any comments regarding my equipment or hardscape but especially and planting ideas.
Cheers
James
I'd maybe try blade like plants or maybe in the background some larger ones? 
Having never done a proper hardscape myself feel free to ignore me but i prefer the first layout,can't really put my finger on why maybe because
