After a gentle nudge by @CooKieS , I've decided to make a micro journal for a tank build I'm doing.
(Tropica Substrate used as a base layer in case the scape is run longer term)
The tank is a WIO 60F (60cm x 30cm x 22cm) loaned to me by @LondonAquascaper and is being set up as part of a planted aquarium gallery at Roots and Shoots Makes a Splash! on Saturday 10th June which I'm co-organising with @shangman . It's a whole day event of aquatic life celebration in the heart of London, and the gallery will be there as a source of inspiration and education.
(Tropica Soil used as the main body of substrate, as well as a filter bag of lava rock and media to support the largest stone)
This particular tank is supposed to reflect an achievable high energy aquarium and so I went for a classic Iwagumi, which I'll admit isn't that easy to do, but is what enticed me into aquascaping because of its boldness and simplicity. I've done a few tanks that I guess could be technically defined as Iwagumi but I consider this to be my first proper Iwagumi, where I've given significant thought to rock choice and placement. I've used Frodo stone previously used in my 2022 IAPLC tank so they already have a bit of patina and character.
(The rocks in place with a top layer of Tropica Soil Powder to make it easier for the plants to plant and root and also enhance the scale)
Someone pointed out to me (and I think I agree) that there's been a recent influx of people doing Iwagumi in this style; not as a snippet of a mountain ridge, or as a recreation of the gates of hell, but as a formation you could stumble upon in a field perhaps. I guess it's still relatively far flung but I feel it's a bit easier to imagine in a real setting. I was of course inspired by the works of Adam Paszczela who uses Frodo stone extensively to recreate whole mountain ranges with expert precision. He also recently highlighted the value in using some flat-surfaced rocks alongside rounded and pointy ones and that stuck with me and hopefully translated into the end result of this tank.
(Not my picture: photo credit presumably to Adam Paszczela. An example of his work).
There's only 8 weeks or so until the event day so I've actually decided to grow this as a dry start as it should fill in quickly and avoid a lot of startup issues, needing only to be flooded on the day. I also have several other aquariums and two ponds at home and so keeping maintenance to a minimum is ideal! I've grown many plants emersed but never done a full dry start, although I can't imagine it's much different. I've chosen Eleocharis acicularis 'mini' as the main carpeting plant with 'wilding accents' using Eriocaulon 'Vietnam' and Littorella uniflora. I did also think about adding small accents of Cryptocoryne albida 'Brown' for contrast but I'll try that out later.
(Splitting the Eleocharis acicularis into tiny clumps took hours but will massively speed up the time it takes to carpet)
Our forum sponsors Riverwood Aquatics, Horizon Aquatics and Aquarium Gardens kindly supported this project in aid of the whole event, kudos to them! 💚
(Day 1 of the fully planted scape!)
Photo Dump
(Tropica Substrate used as a base layer in case the scape is run longer term)
The tank is a WIO 60F (60cm x 30cm x 22cm) loaned to me by @LondonAquascaper and is being set up as part of a planted aquarium gallery at Roots and Shoots Makes a Splash! on Saturday 10th June which I'm co-organising with @shangman . It's a whole day event of aquatic life celebration in the heart of London, and the gallery will be there as a source of inspiration and education.
(Tropica Soil used as the main body of substrate, as well as a filter bag of lava rock and media to support the largest stone)
This particular tank is supposed to reflect an achievable high energy aquarium and so I went for a classic Iwagumi, which I'll admit isn't that easy to do, but is what enticed me into aquascaping because of its boldness and simplicity. I've done a few tanks that I guess could be technically defined as Iwagumi but I consider this to be my first proper Iwagumi, where I've given significant thought to rock choice and placement. I've used Frodo stone previously used in my 2022 IAPLC tank so they already have a bit of patina and character.
(The rocks in place with a top layer of Tropica Soil Powder to make it easier for the plants to plant and root and also enhance the scale)
Someone pointed out to me (and I think I agree) that there's been a recent influx of people doing Iwagumi in this style; not as a snippet of a mountain ridge, or as a recreation of the gates of hell, but as a formation you could stumble upon in a field perhaps. I guess it's still relatively far flung but I feel it's a bit easier to imagine in a real setting. I was of course inspired by the works of Adam Paszczela who uses Frodo stone extensively to recreate whole mountain ranges with expert precision. He also recently highlighted the value in using some flat-surfaced rocks alongside rounded and pointy ones and that stuck with me and hopefully translated into the end result of this tank.
(Not my picture: photo credit presumably to Adam Paszczela. An example of his work).
There's only 8 weeks or so until the event day so I've actually decided to grow this as a dry start as it should fill in quickly and avoid a lot of startup issues, needing only to be flooded on the day. I also have several other aquariums and two ponds at home and so keeping maintenance to a minimum is ideal! I've grown many plants emersed but never done a full dry start, although I can't imagine it's much different. I've chosen Eleocharis acicularis 'mini' as the main carpeting plant with 'wilding accents' using Eriocaulon 'Vietnam' and Littorella uniflora. I did also think about adding small accents of Cryptocoryne albida 'Brown' for contrast but I'll try that out later.
(Splitting the Eleocharis acicularis into tiny clumps took hours but will massively speed up the time it takes to carpet)
Our forum sponsors Riverwood Aquatics, Horizon Aquatics and Aquarium Gardens kindly supported this project in aid of the whole event, kudos to them! 💚
(Day 1 of the fully planted scape!)
Photo Dump