My 20g Iwagumi

Church · 08-04-2008, 08:11 PM

Hello everyone. Now that I want to be an active member of ASW it's time for me to start exposing myself to you all. NO NOT LIKE THAT, that's not what I mean, lol. I mean it's time to show you guys what I am currently working on. I just started up a new tank, as a response to the sudden demise of my previous (and first!) planted tank. Here are a few pictures of my first ever planted tank, which is now no longer in existence. This is just to give you an idea of where I'm coming from, so you can better gauge where I'm heading:

Church · 08-04-2008, 08:14 PM

Anyway, now that you can see what I'm capable of, it's time to post pictures of my current project... the 20g I bought to replace that 10 gallon with...

I decided, rather than just getting another 10 and rescaping it exactly the same way seen in those pics, I should go ahead and take the opportunity to expand my palette. And I've always liked the peaceful, Zen look of a properly-executed Iwagumi. So this is my attempt at just that. This is my Iwagumi!

It consists of Eco-Complete substrate and Zebra rock for my hardscape. I then planted the beginnings of a microsword carpet, which can be seen here. I then threw some homeless Black Neons in there to add some sort of activity to the tank (since I'm currently keeping it snail-free while the carpet fills in). And here it is in its infancy:

I have already connected the pressurized CO2, and I have just begun dosing dry ferts today. I hope you all like it, and that you will accompany me through my iwagumi adventure!

Cheers.

Church · 08-05-2008, 10:14 AM

It just dawned on me that I posted this in the wrong forum. Can a mod move this to the aspiring aquascapers forum please? Thank you!

Hannes85 · 08-05-2008, 10:31 AM

yes thats wrong

but a very interesting project!!! I can't wait to see new pics.
And very sweet avatar.

chillaquaplants · 08-05-2008, 10:39 AM

That's a good start, can't wait to see what it looks like once it fills in. One thing I like that I've seen in Amano's books is a mix of glosso or marselia with the grass. Just something to think about.

One other thing, I recently had a school of the black neons. They LOVE a current to play in. I know it's not aestheticly pleasing to the eye, but adding a Koralia nano powerhead (or something similar) to the tank would give the fish something to play in. My fish would start at one end of the tank and fight through the current, then go back around and do it again. Sometimes they went as a group and other times they took turns. I'm so easily entertained

Church · 08-05-2008, 10:47 AM

Thanks guys!

Actually, there is quite a current in there! The fish do play in it all the time. I have a Eheim 2213 with a sawed-off spraybar (just so it could fit properly in this shallow tank!), and it creates some serious waterflow! I see them playing in it every morning when the sunlight starts filtering in through the window blinds, before the tank light turns on.

I'm very excited about this scape, and I have some big plans for it. I am only waiting at the moment for the microsword to fill in. Once it does, I'll be planting some background plants. I may very well mix in some glosso in there as well! I had an issue with my supplier running out of glosso when I first set this tank up. It was originally going to be nothing but glosso, but then that changed. I'm still very flexible, and open to ideas.

Thanks for looking!

08-04-2008, 08:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Church Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 26	My 20g Iwagumi Hello everyone. Now that I want to be an active member of ASW it's time for me to start exposing myself to you all. NO NOT LIKE THAT, that's not what I mean, lol. I mean it's time to show you guys what I am currently working on. I just started up a new tank, as a response to the sudden demise of my previous (and first!) planted tank. Here are a few pictures of my first ever planted tank, which is now no longer in existence. This is just to give you an idea of where I'm coming from, so you can better gauge where I'm heading:

08-05-2008, 10:31 AM	#4 (permalink)
Hannes85 Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Germany Posts: 41	yes thats wrong but a very interesting project!!! I can't wait to see new pics. And very sweet avatar. __________________

08-05-2008, 10:39 AM	#5 (permalink)
chillaquaplants Senior Aquascaper Join Date: May 2008 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 163	That's a good start, can't wait to see what it looks like once it fills in. One thing I like that I've seen in Amano's books is a mix of glosso or marselia with the grass. Just something to think about. One other thing, I recently had a school of the black neons. They LOVE a current to play in. I know it's not aestheticly pleasing to the eye, but adding a Koralia nano powerhead (or something similar) to the tank would give the fish something to play in. My fish would start at one end of the tank and fight through the current, then go back around and do it again. Sometimes they went as a group and other times they took turns. I'm so easily entertained __________________

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08-04-2008, 08:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Church Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 26	Anyway, now that you can see what I'm capable of, it's time to post pictures of my current project... the 20g I bought to replace that 10 gallon with... I decided, rather than just getting another 10 and rescaping it exactly the same way seen in those pics, I should go ahead and take the opportunity to expand my palette. And I've always liked the peaceful, Zen look of a properly-executed Iwagumi. So this is my attempt at just that. This is my Iwagumi! It consists of Eco-Complete substrate and Zebra rock for my hardscape. I then planted the beginnings of a microsword carpet, which can be seen here. I then threw some homeless Black Neons in there to add some sort of activity to the tank (since I'm currently keeping it snail-free while the carpet fills in). And here it is in its infancy: I have already connected the pressurized CO2, and I have just begun dosing dry ferts today. I hope you all like it, and that you will accompany me through my iwagumi adventure! Cheers.

08-05-2008, 10:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
Church Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 26	It just dawned on me that I posted this in the wrong forum. Can a mod move this to the aspiring aquascapers forum please? Thank you!

08-05-2008, 10:47 AM	#6 (permalink)
Church Junior Aquascaper Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida, USA Posts: 26	Thanks guys! Actually, there is quite a current in there! The fish do play in it all the time. I have a Eheim 2213 with a sawed-off spraybar (just so it could fit properly in this shallow tank!), and it creates some serious waterflow! I see them playing in it every morning when the sunlight starts filtering in through the window blinds, before the tank light turns on. I'm very excited about this scape, and I have some big plans for it. I am only waiting at the moment for the microsword to fill in. Once it does, I'll be planting some background plants. I may very well mix in some glosso in there as well! I had an issue with my supplier running out of glosso when I first set this tank up. It was originally going to be nothing but glosso, but then that changed. I'm still very flexible, and open to ideas. Thanks for looking!