Journal Frodo Stones Iwagumi - 90 cm Scape

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vijay_06

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Got back into the hobby a month ago after a 3 year break and would like to document/share the setup and progress of my new scape.

I had a standard 75 gallon from 2017 to 2020. It was an amateurish Dutch style high tech setup, but I learnt a lot during those years. Life/work got super busy, and I took it down and sold everything. Still, I stayed close to the hobby by constantly reading articles and watching video content published by knowledgeable hobbyists and scapers.

Now feels like the right time to start again, and I would like to setup Nature Aquarium style scapes this time around. Iwagumi style has always appealed to me due to its minimalism, and that is the first style I am going to try.

Here are some technical details about the new setup:

ADA 90P Aquarium
Archaea Wood Cabinet
Week Aqua P900 Pro suspended from ONF Light Hanging Kit
ADA Light Screen
Oase BioMaster Thermo 850
GLA Dual Stage CO2 Regulator
10 lb CO2 Cylinder
Aquario Neo Flow Lily Pipes
ADA Amazonia Aqausoil Version 2
ADA Power Sand
Frodo Stones
Monte Carlo Carpet
Espei/Lambchop Rasbora

The aquarium was planted on 11/15. Attached are photos of just the Hardscape, scape on Day 1 and Day 33 (today). It has been near perfect so far, but there were a couple of twists and turns which I will talk about in the next post.

Hardscape - 11:9.jpg

Day 1 Pic - 11:15.jpg

Day 33 Pic - 12:17.jpg
 
Welcome and nice start. That red of the light though :unsure: :rolleyes:
Dont let the HC get too long. I'd say no more than 3/4 an inch or it will start to float. AKA the floating carpet everyone talks about.
 
BigWave said:
Welcome and nice start. That red of the light though :unsure: :rolleyes:
Dont let the HC get too long. I'd say no more than 3/4 an inch or it will start to float. AKA the floating carpet everyone talks about.
Click to expand...
Thank you! I will keep the carpet height in mind.

The picture is overly red, and does not reflect how it looks like in person. Grey and Brown are the dominant colors on the stones even under the light. I will try to edit the picture to make it look closer to real life.
 
BigWave said:
Welcome and nice start. That red of the light though :unsure: :rolleyes:
Dont let the HC get too long. I'd say no more than 3/4 an inch or it will start to float. AKA the floating carpet everyone talks about.
Click to expand...
Also, it is Monte Carlo which I have read roots better compared to HC.
 
Very nice! Yea watch the HC. Mine turned into a mountain. I removed nearly all of it about two months ago and it’s already getting back to where it was. Monte Carlo definitely does better rooting than the HC, but I’ve never experienced any issues getting it to stay put with black diamond media.
 
The overly reddish pic posted above was due to the light being set in the inbuilt 'Red' mode. It does not make the setup look this Red in person though.

I am now running the light in the inbuilt 'Green' mode at a certain power that will produce similar PAR at the substrate as the 'Red' mode was producing at its set power. Below is the latest pic Day 35 pic in the Green mode. The green looks super saturated, but it looks a bit more subtle in person.

Day 35 Pic - 12:19.jpg
 
Hi @vijay_06,

Absolutely beautiful tank. I love the ADA 90P and you've added Power Sand! Love it!

Where did you pick up the Frodo stones?

I used Monte Carlo in my last tank. It does root better and is easier than HC. However, like most carpet plants, if you don't keep it trimmed, it will mountain up on you. Definitely worth staying after it so that it remains a carpet.

Will you be adding anything to the stones or allowing some algae on them?
 
Art said:
Hi @vijay_06,

Absolutely beautiful tank. I love the ADA 90P and you've added Power Sand! Love it!

Where did you pick up the Frodo stones?

I used Monte Carlo in my last tank. It does root better and is easier than HC. However, like most carpet plants, if you don't keep it trimmed, it will mountain up on you. Definitely worth staying after it so that it remains a carpet.

Will you be adding anything to the stones or allowing some algae on them?
Click to expand...
Thank you! The carpet is half an inch in height at most places. I am planning to do the first trim in a couple of weeks. Thinking to keep it at an inch in height for the long term.

Most of the Frodo stones were bought from Aquarium Design Group. Just one stone is from Aqua Forrest Aquarium.
 
ADG has great hardscape. I've only been to AFA once but they seemed to have a good selection as well.

It's funny how you go through phases. I remember being in love with Iwagumi aquascapes and finding the perfect stones was what it was all about. Then their placement became the most important thing.

Now I'm into stems and snails are the closest thing to hardscape that I have. Go figure...
 
Art said:
ADG has great hardscape. I've only been to AFA once but they seemed to have a good selection as well.

It's funny how you go through phases. I remember being in love with Iwagumi aquascapes and finding the perfect stones was what it was all about. Then their placement became the most important thing.

Now I'm into stems and snails are the closest thing to hardscape that I have. Go figure...
Click to expand...
Yes, I certainly agree with going through phases. I was enamored of Dutch style scapes when I had my previous tank. There is something about seeing different stems growing to their full potential.

My mind is into trying out Nature aquarium style scapes with this 90P tank. I guess the tough part for the next several months will be to be content with such a simple scape plant wise.
 
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Hi & welcome @vijay_06, beautiful rocks and great plant growth!
About rock positioning, i found main rock appear unstable. Your Soeishi stone is too far from your Oyaishi (main stone). By placing those 2 stones close to each other (using Soeishi as a support) you get much more stable appereance of the rock work.
1703362651965.png
 
Bolbi said:
Hi & welcome @vijay_06, beautiful rocks and great plant growth!
About rock positioning, i found main rock appear unstable. Your Soeishi stone is too far from your Oyaishi (main stone). By placing those 2 stones close to each other (using Soeishi as a support) you get much more stable appereance of the rock work.
View attachment 3762
Click to expand...
Thank you! I read about the principles of classic rock placement. I somehow liked how the large stone leans to the right, and the smaller stone to its right sort of tries to counteract it. I loved the tension those two rocks create and just went with this layout.
 
*Ci* said:
I did not realize there was a formal aesthetic to rock placement! Is there a tutorial or write up about this aspect of the art where we can learn more? @Bolbi
Click to expand...
Not so much but its based on the art of Japanise sand gardens so thats where I'd start. There are a few actual aquarium related iwagumi tutorials that define the so called rules that everyone breaks but not anything in depth. Its more of placing the stones in a way to sway your attention and gaze to the main rock. Very minimalstic apprach.
 
Not to hijack your thread or anything but here are my Iwagumi's. As you can see I have a thing for this style of aquascaping. Ill prob make another sooner then later.

1st one around 2017ish
20180523_062647~2.jpg

My 2nd one 2018
9-2018.jpg

3rd one 2021 - 2022
IMG_20210531_175753.jpg
 
*Ci* said:
I did not realize there was a formal aesthetic to rock placement! Is there a tutorial or write up about this aspect of the art where we can learn more? @Bolbi
Click to expand...
Here is something I wrote a long time ago on George Farmer's One-Pot Iwagumi. If you search Google for Iwagumi, you will get plenty of information.
 
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