This weekend, ADG Online is hosting it's first multimedia based event - the One Man Iwagumi Challenge. We are taking a 120-H tank and going all out with an Iwagumi scape for everyone to enjoy. The only problem is, we're having trouble deciding on what to use: Hakkai Stone, or Seiryu Stone? The solution? we want your feedback and to see what you'd most like to see, so let us know! You can place your support for the holy Hakkai Stone or the rough-and-ready Seiryu Stone at our adgonline facebook page simply by commenting on our latest post: Aquarium Design Group | Facebook
Interactive aquascaping! Great idea. Please keep us posted on how it turns out and progresses. -John N.
We are pleased to bring to you guys the first Hakkai Stone Iwagumi made in America, please sit back, relax and enjoy the experience from ADG Vibe: [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJdMXgW0E2I]YouTube - Iwagumi Challenge yt.mp4[/ame]
Amazing stones... nice gift from mr Amano, Jeff. The hardscape seems natural and shaped by the water flow. PS: I have problems with you twitter account, can't following it... EDIT: Twitter problem is solved, I'm following you now. Ciao
I saw you join us on twitter Enrico! I'm glad you're in tune with the Vibe now Supercoley1, that's pure Glosso. We ordered 50 pots. Of those 50 pots we used 48 - however, we used less than that, since when dividing the pots up into clumps like that we used only the best and most uniform clumps of glosso to get a nice even carpet in. So I'd say of the 48 pots used, only about 24 were fully used.
Aaah Glosso. Yes I've seen it like that before. A little leggy sometimes when you get it. Thanks for the info. Can I be cheeky and ask you which program you edited the video in and what file type for video and audio you use. My effort on movie maker is absolute pants compared to your videos which are pretty impressive to say the least AC
We use Final Cut Express on the Mac for both video and audio. The file format is pretty typical - just MPEG-4.
One thing I learned from watching Jeff, it's not necessarily about the software, but learning finesse with the program. Obviously there are some program limitations to take into consideration, there's definitely no 'magic button' software that just makes it work. Express is pretty annoying to work with from what I saw.
We've updated the Hakkai Stone Iwagumi video for you guys, you can watch it here! Some added little tidbits are some basic trimming techniques, fertilizer dosings after water change, et cetera. Please enjoy!
My source is going to the mountain they come from and pulling them out Quite rare even there. Jeff is getting his from a garden shop I found here in Niigata that has a whole lot of them, but we are not talking about small stones-- like the smallest being at least a foot and a half across! This is also not a light rock, but one of the densest/heaviest people use for iwagumi. ie. I got no use for that shop because there's no way I could get an aquarium big enough to even think of using the stuff they got.
Very interesting stones, and great video. Curved scissors really made trimming the scape seem very easy too. Steven, couldn't you bust the rocks up with a big hammer or would you lose the smooth texture of the Hakkai stones? It's kind of funny...back about 5 years ago people hated to use smooth stones, and likewise people disliked seeing smooth stones in aquascapes. It was highly textured and pointy Shou Stones, Ohko Stones, Maten Stones, Ryuoh Stones, Seiryu Stones, etc. or nothing. Now you ADA guys on your way to making smooth rocks "trendy". Good stuff. -John N.
Well, they're not exactly smooth, and this is not exactly new. This stone has a nickname in Japanese-- "mushi-gui" or "bug-eaten" for the characteristic holes and dimples etched into its surface. It also has a lot of character in shape, not just an oval or something like that. Hakkai has always been a much-sought after stone often used by Amano too. The only problem is that it is extremely hard to get a set, while the others mentioned above, while expensive, are largely accessible. Unfortunately, and Amano-san even commented on this too in regards to one of the entrants for this year's IAPLC, Hakkai is not a stone that plays nicely with other design elements. It has such a strong impression, that using it with stem plants, wood, or other features that also try to make a strong impression, often just results in imbalance and conflict for attention. Ie. It's hard to do anything but a simple iwagumi with it. :/
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